Thai DPM Prawit visits China on behalf of PM Prayut

[webfact]

DPM Prawit visits China on behalf of Thai PM

BANGKOK, 2 September 2015 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan is visiting China from September 2nd to September 5th at the invitation of the Chinese government, hoping to tighten security and economic ties.

Deputized by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Gen Prawit left Bangkok for China on Tuesday for a 4 day visit. He was accompanied by Deputy Minister for Defense Gen Udomdej Sitabutr and National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Anusit Kunakorn.

Prior to his departure, Gen Prawit said he would pay a courtesy call on the Chinese Premier on behalf of the Thai PM as well as hold discussions and exchange opinions on national security with high-ranking officials of China.

He went on to reveal that he would also be following up on government-to-government rice agreements between the two nations. Under the agreements, China is obliged to import 2 million tons of rice and 200,000 tons of rubber from Thailand.


-- NNT 2015-09-02

[webfact]

BANGKOK EXPLOSION
Prawit heads to China, rules out talks on blasts
THE NATION



Arrest warrant issued for husband of Thai suspect; Turkey's embassy awaits confirmation on nationality of arrested duo

BANGKOK: -- EVEN as police and other concerned authorities continue to dismiss media reports linking the Erawan Shrine bomb suspects with the Uighurs or China, Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday left for Beijing but denied any plan to discuss the recent Bangkok bombings with the Chinese government.

"I don't think the incidents are related to China. In addition, they are our domestic affairs. There's no point having discussions on the issue there," said Prawit, who is also the deputy prime minister overseeing security affairs.

Two bombs exploded in Bangkok last month. One rocked the popular Erawan Shrine on August 17, killing 20 people and injuring more than 100 others. The other happened the following day near Sathorn Pier but caused no casualties.

In the wake of the blasts, speculation has mounted that the bombings might have been staged in retaliation for the Thai government's decision to deport more than 100 Uighurs to China in late June.

The speculation gained traction partly because an angry mob attacked the Thai consulate in Istanbul in early July to protest the deportations.

Thai authorities have arrested two suspects in connection with the Bangkok bombings. Both are foreigners, whose nationalities have yet to be identified.

Speaking before he boarded his flight to China yesterday, Prawit said the authorities had not yet determined the motives behind the attacks.

"Our main focus now is to unravel the network of attackers. Who are involved? We need to do that first to ensure public safety in Thailand," he said.

He assured that relevant authorities were conducting thorough investigations in a bid to nail down all the culprits.

Eight arrest warrants have been issued to date, with the latest issued yesterday for Emrah Davutoglu, the husband of Thai suspect Wanna Suansan. Several of the wanted men are Turkish.

Wanna, who is in Turkey, reportedly expressed her intention to report to Thai police as soon as the warrant for her was issued on Monday.

Meanwhile, Tharit Charungvat, Thailand's ambassador to Turkey, said yesterday that Wanna had not yet contacted the embassy.

Wanna's brother, E-cha Suansan, urged the public not to rush to judgements about his sister before all things could be proven.

"I'm confident that my sister and others in our family are not involved in the bombing," he said.

The Turkish Embassy in Bangkok said it has sought confirmation from Thai authorities on whether the arrested suspects and other wanted persons are Turkish nationals.

"The embassy is awaiting an |official reply from Thai authorities," it said yesterday. Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang, the National Police commissioner, said he believed the network behind the Bangkok bombings was big.

"And definitely, they are not terrorist attacks," he said.

Separately, police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri said it would take time to verify the nationality of the suspects now in custody.

"The process requires help from experts and relevant embassies," he said.

Regarding the foreign suspect arrested in the border province of Sa Kaew on Tuesday, Prawut said identification by witnesses, DNA tests and latent-fingerprint tests would be used to identify if he was the man suspected of planting the bomb at the Erawan Shrine.

One tuk-tuk driver, one taxi motorcyclist and one taxi driver have told police that they provided transport for the suspected bomber on the day of the blast.

Prawut said the latent-fingerprint test results would come |out later yesterday, and DNA |test results within two days.

"After we get the official results, we will publicly announce them," he said.

Prawut also disclosed that a big meeting of all immigration police chiefs would take place next Monday to ensure stricter screening of immigrants.

On Tuesday, the chief of Sa Kaew Immigration, Pol Colonel Pairach Pukcharoen, was transferred to an inactive post along with five other police officers very likely over their alleged role in the smuggling of Uighurs.

National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree urged homeowners and the operators of hotels and apartments to report foreign guests to the authorities within 24 hours after they check-in.

"It's a way to boost safety," he said.

He also appealed to a man wearing a blue shirt who was spotted on a security camera taking a photo at the Erawan Shrine on August 17.

He should urgently contact police as he may have taken a photo of the bomber.

"Police want to see the photos taken by the man in a blue shirt to obtain a clear view of the bomber," Winthai said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Prawit-heads-to-China-rules-out-talks-on-blasts-30268028.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-03

[BigBadGeordie]

Pol Gen Somyot said "And definitely, they are not terrorist attacks."

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations defines terrorism as "the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives" (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85).

So dear General, what would you call them?

[kiwikeith]

Comment from James hookway ,Wall St Journal " we are trying to find out more, but like you suggest - China seems to be constraining the Thai's willingness to discuss many of the details.

The man is a Uighur.

He was possibly deported from Cambodia with other Uighurs in 2009 some were executed and some recieved 4/5 year jail terms.

He has a Valid Chinese passport and a bank book.

The gang were most likely involved in people smuggling as well.

The Thai woman and her Husband is now a prime suspect and Turkish citizen.

The 2 arrested so far speak Turkish.

The chief of Sa Kaew immigration transfered along with 5 others over alleged smuggling of Uighurs.

This has been going on at this border crossing for some time.

The denial that Cambodia arrested the suspect at Phnom Phem airport---- cambodia want to save face as dont want to upset China.

If this guy had of been handed over to China he probably would have disapeared.

There is egg all over Chinas face for the treatment and execution of Uighurs some of which were executed after being deported.

There is egg all over Thailands face over the deportation that allowed the executions to happen.

There ie egg all over Thailands faces over the Sa Kaew border corruption.

The bombing most plausible motive was a message to China about the cruelty and treatment of Uighurs/ part one.

A message to Thailand for deporting them and letting the Chinese execute and torture Uighurs/ part two.

This does not detur from the fact that these people have teemed up with terror organisations and are now terrorist murderers and people smugglers.

Thailand -- believe it or not this was more than likely an Uighur revenge terrorist attack.

[Srikcir]

Maybe the Junta can use the Shrine bombing to improve Thailand's economic trade with China.

For example,

Each Uighur deported back to China from Thailand will require China to buy one ton of Thai rice, regardless of quality.

The government can sell off all of Yingluck's pledged rice.

Thailand can become the Hub for human trafficking bounties.

[Thai at Heart]

I don't think these are related to China. U obviously don't think very much....

This is like reading Pravda

[Praematura]

Pm is turning this place more like China each day. Thaksin and his sister went there and now these guys are groveling for resources.

The more they force a Chinese style system here the more the masses will oppose it. Next they will block social media in the run up to the election.

Propaganda, censorship, diminution of representative political system sounds like China than a western oriented country.

[user82374298374]

There is egg all over Chinas face for the treatment and execution of Uighurs some of which were executed after being deported.

There is egg all over Thailands face over the deportation that allowed the executions to happen.

There ie egg all over Thailands faces over the Sa Kaew border corruption.

There is also egg all over Thailand's face regarding their 'rebalance' towards China, but of course none of this will ever be acknowledged.

[ratcatcher]

There is egg all over Chinas face for the treatment and execution of Uighurs some of which were executed after being deported.

There is egg all over Thailands face over the deportation that allowed the executions to happen.

There ie egg all over Thailands faces over the Sa Kaew border corruption.

There is also egg all over Thailand's face regarding their 'rebalance' towards China, but of course none of this will ever be acknowledged.

What a waste of good eggs.

[Thai at Heart]

There is egg all over Chinas face for the treatment and execution of Uighurs some of which were executed after being deported.

There is egg all over Thailands face over the deportation that allowed the executions to happen.

There ie egg all over Thailands faces over the Sa Kaew border corruption.

There is also egg all over Thailand's face regarding their 'rebalance' towards China, but of course none of this will ever be acknowledged.

This is what happens when you partner with the baddies.

[MZurf]

DPM Prawit visits China...

-- NNT 2015-09-02

I certainly hope he doesn't fall too much in love with his Chinese counterpart!