Bomb Outside Bar In Thailand Injures 30

[george]

Bomb Outside Bar in Thailand Injures 30

BANGKOK: -- A bomb attached to a motorcycle in a Hotel parking lot exploded Saturday in southern Thailand, injuring about 30 people, according to police and hospital workers.

Three of those hurt were in serious condition after the blast in Sungai Kolok, a town on the border with Malaysia, said police Capt. Pibul Wattanatham.

The bomb exploded at about 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Marina Hotel, injuring patrons at the Top Ten bar and coffee shop, said Pibul.

Most of those hurt were Malaysian tourists, according to a worker at the local hospital.

Three southern Thailand provinces are the only ones with Muslim majorities in Buddhist-dominated Thailand. Officials have blamed the violence on Muslim separatists, although no groups have taken responsibility for it.

Thai Muslims have long complained of discrimination in jobs and education by the central government. They also say their culture and language are being suppressed.

A decades-old separatist movement in the south was contained in the late 1980s, but violence began to resurface two years ago.

--AP 2004-03-27

[udon]

Next could be Nana Plaza, use of a motorcycle in Nana makes (idiotic) sense.

Has anyone ever noticed the pisspoor security at Nana Plaza?

Try sitting in the bar opposite Big Dogs and just observe for 30 minutes.

Just my 2 B......

[Pepe']

Certainly, not to minimize current events but "next" may be slipping in the shower or chocking on some food alone in your apartment. What to speak of traveling in traffic on the roads, anywhere!

It it wise to be prudent and not walk into on coming traffic or spend a lot of time in the troubled southern provinces. 9/11 was troubling to us all especially here in the US.

Now terror is as much a part of our lives as the weather. I remember reading through some statistics. I don't remember the details but the bottom line was that you've got a much better chance of being hit by lightening or certainly killed in a car crash than by some terrorst activity.

I am a firm believer in karma. It's all the way the cards come out of the deck, based on actions in this and previous lives. What better place to remember this than Thailand.

There is an old saying in India that goes like this, "Who ever God wants to kill no one can save." "Who ever God wants to save no one can kill."

I have my own opinions on what should be done with radiclal muslims I will not voice here. Unfortunately because of people like this terror is part of our daily lives now.

[Moving]

The really scary aspect of terrorism is that no amount of security can stop a group of extremists from murdering anyone anywhere and for any reason...look at the Mid-east where it occurs on a daily/weekly basis. There are any number of soft targets they can bomb at anytime in Thailand.... North, South and any city.

Perhaps the best way to keep it contained rests along the border provinces in the south and it appears the PM isn't doing to hot of a job there.

[Pepe']

When a terrorist is caught they should hang at sunrise.

[Membrane]

This is really sickening news... I hate to hear of terrorism anywhere, but I have such a soft spot in my heart for Thailand, I especially hate to hear about it here. If it is the Muslim separatists, why can't they just work things out like anyone else, if they have issues to be dealt with? Sickening...

[organic]

Sheeesh, I did my border run down to Malaysia only yesterday at Sadao. Walking back to Thailand someone had draped a banner saying something like 'no shooting or bombings in Songkhla' (it's probably the least affected of the provinces down there). I don't know what Sungai Kolok's like, but Sadao is a huge mass of karaoke bars and massage parlours, obviously catering for Malaysian blokes on a day trip. Can easily imagine it being the sort of place fundamentalists (if it was them) wpuld like to hit.

Thoughts go out to the victims.

[BossOriginal]

When a terrorist is caught they should hang at sunrise.

I wouldn't wait that long!

[Pepe']

Boss,

When you're right, you're right...

[eyespan]

I stay in southern thailand and I tell you.... business is really bad given the string of events. instead of banding together, they are killing one another. I do hope they hang them troublemakers and let em dry out in the sun.

[Moving]

This will undoubtedly upset some....but let me ask this question, however rhetorical it is...What religion is, and has been associated with, and in most instances CLAIMS responsibility for murdering innocent people through indiscriminate bombings?

Islam, a religion that urges the protection of human life, honour, property, religion and intellect...and yet kills and is killing hundreds and perhaps thousands in the name of Mohammed...I just do not understand???? One indisputable fact, at least in my opinion, is that they are doing just that!!!

AND, oh by the way...on the map, don't put a 'square' on Bangkok...put a "bulls-eye"

[george]

Update:

SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: BLAST TARGETS CIVILIANS

Malaysian tourists among 27 injured by motorcycle bomb

A bomb that exploded under a motorcycle parked outside the "Top Ten 2004" Karaoke bar led to the explosion of six others parked nearby in the Thai-Malaysian border town of Su-Ngai Kolok last night.

SUNGAI KOLOK: At least 27 people were injured, six seriously, when a powerful explosion ripped through a popular strip of beer bars in the Thai-Malaysian border town of Sungai Kolok last night, police officers at the scene said.

A bomb placed on a motorcycle parked on a narrow road lined with makeshift beer joints and open-air karaoke bars exploded at 7.30pm, Lieutenant Paibul Wattanatham said.

At least 20 of the victims were female employees of the two bars hardest hit by the explosion.

The injured included 22 Thais and five Malaysian tourists.

Paibul said the bomb was planted on a motorbike parked outside the "Top Ten 2004" karaoke bar, and that the blast destroyed six motorcycles that were parked nearby.

Sungai Kolok is popular with Malaysian tourists but police said most of those injured were believed to be Thai, including local residents, bar customers and workers in the nightlife district.

Maj-General Thani Thawidsri, deputy commissioner of Ninth Police Region, which oversees the South, ordered the road to be sealed off and dispatched bomb experts to search for more explosives.

The commander of the Fourth Army Region, Lt-General Pisarn Wattanawongkiri, arrived in Sungai Kolok shortly after the explosion to inspect the scene.

Martial law was imposed in the three southernmost provinces following a January 4 raid on an Army camp in Narathiwat.

The raid is believed to have been carried out by Muslim separatists looking to humiliate the government.

Acting police chief General Sunthorn Saikwan said last night's incident was part of the ongoing violence that has claimed the lives of about 55 government officials, mostly police officers, since the beginning of the year.

Sunthorn said powder gel was used to make the bomb.

Sungai Kolok is on the Thai side of the Kolok River in Narathiwat. It is a popular destination for Malaysian vacationers and day-trippers.

National Intelligence Agency chief Lt-General Chumpol Manmai said that a major attack was expected after the arrest this week of nine alleged ringleaders of the raid on the army base, which sparked the unrest.

"We expect the violence to continue for some time," he said.

At least 55 people have been killed in hit-and-run attacks in the provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala since the raid on the army armoury, in which four soldiers were killed and hundreds of weapons stolen.

As in other towns along the Thai-Malaysia border, smuggling and the sex industry are important components of the local economy.

Foreign prostitutes from as far away as Russia and southern China, as well as Thai prostitutes, openly ply their services around the town.

List of the injured:

1. Ms Sumasa Mukwat

2. Ms Yuvadee Photibun

3. Ms Vassana Baobutr

4. Ms Pirasorn malivat

5. Ms Nattha Kongkeun

6. Toli Kinpeng (Malaysian)

7. Abd Sliukor (Malaysian)

8. Chiani (Malaysian)

9. Ms Kavimol Jaejai

10. Ms Praewpan Paradorncharernsuk

11. Ms Pornthip Tippayanusorn

12. Ms Pattama Kongwatmai

13. Ms Siriporn Inprabhumi

14. Navi Bin-abdul

15. Ms Jitmali sodsuma

16. Ms Namfon Ploykrai

17. Ms Jitawan Kaithong

18. Ya Mala

19. Mudeng Binmasa

20. Siow Gow Fui (Malaysian).

21. Ms Vanida Torsanicharern

22. Sompong Pongtadsawad

23. Kamar Yosoh (Malaysian)

24. Armara Tueramae

25. Mongkol Charernpol

26. Ms Pornthip Srivichai

27. Machani Bin-isamael (Malaysian)

--The Nation 2004-03-28

[lofu2]

Has any group practicing terrorism ceased these activities as a result of negotiations? From my observation, violence against innocent people appears to become the end in itself, rather than said group's originally stated goal. If I am correct, what good does any negotiation or appeasement do to eliminate such atrocities?

It appears that if no concessions are made, the violence continues. If some concessions are made, more concessions are demanded while the violence continues. If the violence is indeed the end in itself, is there any feasible solution, short of eliminating the terrorists?

Perhaps there are examples of terrorist activity (as opposed to actual military conquest) resulting in positive change through negotiations. I would be most interested to hear of such scenarios.

Unfortunately, the world deems to be in a period of increasing terrorism with no end in sight.

Lofu2

[Padkapow Guy]

What is the reason behind all of these murders and bombings?

I was told it was because the want to make a Islamic state out of southern Thailand. If this is correct , how come they just don't cross the border to Malaysia. Isn't Malaysia mostly muslims.

If they get southern Thailand, whats next? Central Thailand!

[BossOriginal]

What is the reason behind all of these murders and bombings?

I was told it was because the want to make a Islamic state out of southern Thailand. If this is correct , how come they just don't cross the border to Malaysia. Isn't Malaysia mostly muslims.

If they get southern Thailand, whats next?  Central Thailand!

Padkapow u r right, I would support a switch as well, lets get 20% of the Malaysian population, the Buddhists, switch with Thailand's muslims.

[Ketje]

but let me ask this question, however rhetorical it is...What religion is, and has been associated with, and in most instances CLAIMS responsibility for murdering innocent people

Moving check the Christians and the crusades 1000 years ago untill the end of the Middle Age and you'll get the answer.

Islamist terrosits weren't the first one to kill in the name of God.

Don't missunderstand me, I totaly condemn islamist integrism which is a real threat and obviously the biggest one actually, terrorism from anywhere is insane and has to be fought out.

Killing any innocent people in the name of God (?) is insane; those people are brainwashed assassins and all nations have to fight them and get rid of them.

Fortunately Mister Bush is protecting us and we've no reason to be scared ...

[Boon Mee]

Aw, maybe we should just try to understand these frustrated souls. You know, it's probably the West's fault anyway with all the bad cultural influences we impose.

Put Bin Laden and Al Quida on trial before a court of their peers - let the UN supervise so it's fair. Permit the southern provinces of Thailand to enact Sharia Law...

[Wash]

What really puzzles me is the lack of any kind of serious action by the genuine Islamic membership. If you have cancer you cut it out and at least try to leave things cleaner than they were of that disease. It is the same with any group. It is inconcievable that those whose reputations are lumped in with these radical groups don't do something about it themselves.

I can not imagine any other group allowing such behavior amongst its membership. So why isn't there more action within the Islamic movement to rid itself of this cancer? The rest of the world has to do the dirty work for them and I find that beyond logic.

[BossOriginal]

but let me ask this question, however rhetorical it is...What religion is, and has been associated with, and in most instances CLAIMS responsibility for murdering innocent people

Moving check the Christians and the crusades 1000 years ago untill the end of the Middle Age and you'll get the answer.

Islamist terrosits weren't the first one to kill in the name of God.

Don't missunderstand me, I totaly condemn islamist integrism which is a real threat and obviously the biggest one actually, terrorism from anywhere is insane and has to be fought out.

Killing any innocent people in the name of God (?) is insane; those people are brainwashed assassins and all nations have to fight them and get rid of them.

Fortunately Mister Bush is protecting us and we've no reason to be scared ...

Right Khun Ketje,

they have to go through it just the way we Europeans did centuries ago, but we carried it out with ourselves.

Bye the way, your last sentence I know, you ment sarcastically but you are not far from the reality:

Where would we Europeans have been without American hardliners in the 1st World War, where would we have ended in the second one and what would have happened to us during the cold war. Europe would have been wiped away several times during the last hundred years.

And the time when we will be crying for help again is not far away.

[dplast]

I question whether more volience in an effective way to stop more violent events from occuring in the future.... Concider this - back to basics now and the eye for an eye adage. The net result for an eye for an eye, if taken literaly would be two half blind men, now how is that a benifit to the origainal injured party or there community.

We hear so often "why do people do these things?", well why? Let us, as a people, spend spend more time and energy on seeking out effective ways to halt the cancer, then attempting to remove more and more of the diseased parts.

That is not to say that the muderers should'nt be made accountable for their actions. While we have to carefully concider the price they should pay, it solves nothing to end up with two blind men.

[somboon]

From "Membrane"

"If it is the Muslim separatists, why can't they just work things out like anyone else, if they have issues to be dealt with? Sickening..."

I "and anyone else with even half a brain" would agree with you but it ain't gonna work. The problem is they "can't work the issues" out. If they could there would be no problem.

And if they were to do so and they were successful Kofi Annan will have a job for you Mr. Membrane

[castelleone]

Anyway, let`s look at it from any angle. The militant muslims are approaching southern Thailand with their blasting way of crusade and the aim is to conquer whole Thailand.

I am simply scared.

[meemiathai]

We hear so often "why do people do these things?", well why? Let us, as a people, spend spend more time and energy on seeking out effective ways to halt the cancer, then attempting to remove more and more of the diseased parts.

Because it is their religion telling people that killing innocenr non-muslims is a holy war!

[meemiathai]

That is not to say that the muderers should'nt be made accountable for their actions. While we have to carefully concider the price they should pay, it solves nothing to end up with two blind men.

What is this?

Leave them with both eyes so that they can come and dig the remaining eye away?

[possom]

common sense from dplast , more violence is not the answer!!! violence fuels hatred , hatred fuels extremism . it needs people with an understanding of the problems in the region ( whatever they are ) to sort them out rationally for the benefit of all . yes ,punish the people who kill and injure . but dont presume thats the problem solved, because there will be others to come .

[kurgen]

Treat them as the vermin they are,exterminate them. Let their so called 'supporters' share the same fate. Problem solved

[pipchatel]

Religion has just about F##ked up the whole world, and in the end the problems go back 1000's of years, theres no sign of it getting better at all. Im happy we live up here in the north.

Pre Bus was at the airport and a man with white beard, long hair robe, carry stone tablets. Mr Bush says "are you mosses?, the old man turns away, Mr Bush says hey you, Im talking to you, are you mosses? the old man turns away.

Mr bush gets angry, why wont you talk to me?

The old man says "The last time i talk to a bush, I spent 40 years in the desert!

[valentinoxxx]

Has any group practicing terrorism ceased these activities as a result of negotiations? From my observation, violence against innocent people appears to become the end in itself, rather than said group's originally stated goal. If I am correct, what good does any negotiation or appeasement do to eliminate such atrocities?

It appears that if no concessions are made, the violence continues. If some concessions are made, more concessions are demanded while the violence continues. If the violence is indeed the end in itself, is there any feasible solution, short of eliminating the terrorists?

Perhaps there are examples of terrorist activity (as opposed to actual military conquest) resulting in positive change through negotiations. I would be most interested to hear of such scenarios.

Unfortunately, the world deems to be in a period of increasing terrorism with no end in sight.

Lofu2

The creation of the state of Israel. Whether that was something positive is debatable.

This thread is full of reactionary **** and unbalanced opinions.

What a terrorist looks like, depends on the side of the fence you are standing on.

Is it the USA who have utilised more WMD than ANY other nation in history as well as being guilty of 'moving the goalposts' whenever it suited them. (Supporting Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, Ariel Sharon......., flouting international laws, vilifying Saddam Hussein for mistreating his people, holding without trial etc and then, Guantanamo Bay, Bagram Airbase... Over 10,000 held without trial, tortured. Support of a country that has 68 UN Security Council resolutions against it, Israel, of which some 32 or so, have been vetoed by the Americans. Support of a country in the Middle East which holds more undeclared WMD than all of the rest put together.)

We are fed the story that all of the horrific killing that the West do are for the good of the world and all the killing the others do is evil terrorism.

Only an idiot would believe that.

So how about a little less of this religion **** and more of a wider understanding as the roots of the problems on our planet.

A little delve into history would reveal a 'civilisation' with more blood on its hands than the civilisations you are so quick to criticise.

[Bangkok Barry]

Remember how John Lennon was often ridiculed for writing stuff such as:

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace...

He had it exactly right, but the chances of it happening are approximately zero. I can imagine if the human race did eventually manage to start going out into the stars and trying to colonize other planets (like explorers did hundreds of years ago in their ships across the oceans), there would be some greater force that would very quickly send us back where we came from so the virus that is the human race wouldn't pollute the universe. There's probably never been a day of peace on this planet, and eventually I guess we'll self-destruct.

Valentinoxxx raised a good point. Why don't we try more to understand why these terrorists do what they do. Sure, there are sometimes huge cultural differences. But it works for them, so why should they adopt our ways. The whole world over, mothers love their babies the same, people are out just trying to make money for their families. Everywhere. And most people you talk to are okay. But somehow, when people become politicians, they lose touch with the people they are supposed to be representing. Everywhere. Why?

[drbones666]

1) He had it exactly right, but the chances of it happening are approximately zero.

2) Valentinoxxx raised a good point. Why don't we try more to understand why these terrorists do what they do. The whole world over, mothers love their babies the same, people are out just trying to make money for their families.

1) No, they are EXACTLY zero. While there is war, huge corporations (aka the Military Industrial Complex) makes huge money. While there is war, politicians have more power and security. Anyone who thinks otherwise has not been a serious student of WW2.

2) Valentinoxxx is spot on and so are you. People don't just go out and kill and die for the fun of it. They don't even do it because their religious leaders tell them to do it. People kill and die because they are pissed off and / or want to protect their families. The terrorist state of Israel is a prime festering point. What the Nazi's did to the Jews (and gypsies and the mentally ill and many others) can not compare to the holocaust they have subjected the Palestinians to for going on 50 years now. As for Osama buddy, I still suspect he's working for Bush.

Islam is starting to feel it's oats (note: oats are mainly fibre and little nutrition) and they are taking a big dump on that they see as the xtian world. Religion is stupidity and the 'slums tend to be the least bright of the lot. Who else believes that if they die under the right circumstances the are going to be eternally molested in that big Nana Plaza in the sky, by 70 odd eternal virgins? First off, virgins are a pain in the ass with all the blood, pain and ineptitude that go along with the condition and no one who knows anything about virgins and sex would want this. Secondly, the Koran was channelled / translated / understood incorrectly. It isn't 74 virgins, it's 74 Virginians and these Jihad boys are looking at an eternity of ass whoopin'.

As a final note, here in Malaysia it's the Bangladesh workers who have put everything in it's proper perspective. These guys all look like Bollywood film stars, it's just the basic genetics. They are also muslim. They do not however spend their days planning Jihad. They spend their days screwing the Malay women who find them so handsome compared to the local muslim monkeyboys. Now THAT is putting Islam to good use!

Can I get an Amen?