Mounting Evidence Links Bombing to Turks, Uighurs
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK — Moments after word began to spread yesterday of a new arrest in the Erawan Shrine bombing, an image said to be of the man’s passport began circulating, only to be quickly disavowed by authorities.

The quick denial matched the pattern of tight-lipped mouthpieces sticking to the script in the face of information released from porous back channels, but was unsurprising as the passport provided the first direct link between the bombing, Turkish operatives and an ethnic group in China’s far west.

Mounting evidence, including a fourth arrest warrant issued for a Turkish national this afternoon, supports these associations that, if openly established, could provide new challenges to Thailand’s military government.

Whether the passport is authentic and came from the suspect, who investigators suspect is that most-wanted man seen leaving the shrine three minutes before 20 people died in a blast there, has yet to be confirmed since his arrest yesterday.

The document, which was received by Khaosod English and other media outlets, identifies its holder as 26-year-old Yusufu Mieraili from Xinjiang, China. The passport photograph appears to match a new photo just released this afternoon of the man arrested Tuesday.

Police spokesman Lt. Gen. Prawuth Thawornsiri, the public face of the investigation, rejected it outright instead of a customary refusal to confirm it.

“It’s just a photo that you shared on social media," he said last night. "We don’t have that."

This morning, junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak was more circumspect, acknowledging there was a passport without confirming nor denying its authenticity.

“We still have to inspect passport, whether it’s genuine or fake,” he said. “Right now evidence has to follow procedure. We have to see if the passport is fake. We cannot conclude anything yet.”

Unlike the obvious forgeries of Turkish passports recovered Saturday in a Bangkok raid, the passport photo appears much more convincing, with security features including holographic elements.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1441185005

-- Khaosod English 2015-09-02

Police spokesman, Lt. Gen. Prawuth Thawornsiri: “It’s just a photo that you shared on social media ... We don’t have that."

Junta spokesman, Maj. Gen. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak: “We still have to inspect passport, whether it’s genuine or fake, ... Right now evidence has to follow procedure. We have to see if the passport is fake. We cannot conclude anything yet.”

It's obvious which mob is straight-out lying... And they wonder why a lot of people don't believe a word any of them say!

This horrible tragedy could have been avoided if the junta government had honored their Human Rights treaties and repatriated the Uighurs to Turkey, Instead of bowing down to their new Chinese overlords.

why did they get sent back to china? just wondering

I think China thought some of them were terrorists. There have been numerous Uighur terrorist attacks in China.

At least now they'll have a solid reason to prevent Uighurs from entering Thailand.

This horrible tragedy could have been avoided if the junta government had honored their Human Rights treaties and repatriated the Uighurs to Turkey, Instead of bowing down to their new Chinese overlords.

Making excuses for terrorist scum who mass murder innocent civilians.

So yet again it looks like a Muslim terrorist group do what they always seem to do if they do not get what they want ,blow people up.

I ask a turk bloody despise uyghurs, they're bunch of terrorist <deleted>

This horrible tragedy could have been avoided if the junta government had honored their Human Rights treaties and repatriated the Uighurs to Turkey, Instead of bowing down to their new Chinese overlords.

Making excuses for terrorist scum who mass murder innocent civilians.

No excuses, I will gladly see the terrorists hang for this, but- just a tragedy that one immoral act was followed by another immoral act.

So yet again it looks like a Muslim terrorist group do what they always seem to do if they do not get what they want ,blow people up.

I think you'll find that's what all terrorist organisations do.

Quite a few countries as well.

Of all faiths.

This horrible tragedy could have been avoided if the junta government had honored their Human Rights treaties and repatriated the Uighurs to Turkey, Instead of bowing down to their new Chinese overlords.

What if they had a Chinese passport just like the guy the caught last night?

This horrible tragedy could have been avoided if the junta government had honored their Human Rights treaties and repatriated the Uighurs to Turkey, Instead of bowing down to their new Chinese overlords.

What if they had a Chinese passport just like the guy the caught last night?

That's where they're from. CHINA!!

This horrible tragedy could have been avoided if the junta government had honored their Human Rights treaties and repatriated the Uighurs to Turkey, Instead of bowing down to their new Chinese overlords.

What if they had a Chinese passport just like the guy the caught last night?

That's where they're from. CHINA!!

So why did bruce64 say that the Thai government didn't honor human rights if they are from China and were sent back to China?

Edited September 2, 201510 yr by Nickymaster

Because it is wrong to send genuine refugees back to face torture and persecution no matter where they are from.

Edited September 2, 201510 yr by Bluespunk

I think Thailand has made a strategic error in cooperating with China on the issue. They would have been much better off to keep the Uighurs here and not extradite back to China. Terrorism such as this requires a significant amount of intelligence gathering and international cooperation.

It's fairly obvious they didn't get the prime shakers and movers when they returned some and sent the remaining ones on to Turkey.

Why would Thailand want to keep foreign Muslim terrorists in Thailand when they have entered the country illegally?

Thailand is doing what all countries should do. Send all illegal migrants back to their country of origin

Edited September 2, 201510 yr by NCFC

This horrible tragedy could have been avoided if the junta government had honored their Human Rights treaties and repatriated the Uighurs to Turkey, Instead of bowing down to their new Chinese overlords.

What if they had a Chinese passport just like the guy the caught last night?

That's where they're from. CHINA!!

So why did bruce64 say that the Thai government didn't honor human rights if they are from China and were sent back to China?

The principle of 'non-refoulement' is considered the cornerstone of international protection. This principle is enshrined in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and has acquired the status of customary international law, meaning that it has become binding on all States, regardless of whether or not they are signatories to the 1951 Convention - which Thailand isn't.

All countries must respect the principle of non-refoulement, which includes:

1. Not returning asylum seekers or refugees to a place where their life or liberty would be at risk;
2. Not preventing asylum seekers or refugees—even if they are being smuggled or trafficked—from seeking safety in a country, if there is a chance of them being returned to a country where their life or liberty would be at risk;
3. Not denying access to their territory to people fleeing persecution who have arrived at their border (access to asylum).

The principle of non-refoulement therefore applied to the Uighur repatriation, which was condemned by the the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees as "a flagrant violation of international law.”

The separation of these families, and the refoulment of the men to almost certain persecution at the hands of the Chinese government also drew harsh condemnation from Turkey's Foreign Ministry, saying the deportation violated international humanitarian laws and came despite "numerous initiatives" by Turkey to prevent their repatriation.

And, no, I'm not rationalising, condoning, or otherwise making excuses for this abhorrent terrorist attack.

Edited September 2, 201510 yr by jamesbrock

Why would Thailand want to keep foreign Muslim terrorists in Thailand when they have entered the country illegally?

Thailand is doing what all countries should do. Send all illegal migrants back to their country of origin

80 years on, the west is still paying penance and sharing in the collective guilt of doing exactly what you propose. Who's going to be paying the penance 80 years from now?

China defines them as terrorists and criminals simply because they have embarrassed the CCP by seeking a better life.

Why would Thailand want to keep foreign Muslim terrorists in Thailand when they have entered the country illegally?

Thailand is doing what all countries should do. Send all illegal migrants back to their country of origin

The issue I suppose is that Turkey was willing to accept them as they are a Turkic people. Perhaps the terror threat they may pose against Chinese and now Thai targets was not concerning to Turkey. But now things are hotter in Thailand over all this.

I doubt many of them want to live in Thailand permanently. Turkey is preferred.

Edited September 2, 201510 yr by Jingthing

Why would Thailand want to keep foreign Muslim terrorists in Thailand when they have entered the country illegally?

Thailand is doing what all countries should do. Send all illegal migrants back to their country of origin

A: No evidence those refugees fleeing persecution were terrorists. None at all.

B: They didn't want to stay here and turkey agreed to take them in.

C: No genuine refugee should be sent back to face persecution, torture and state sanctioned murder. .

China defines them as terrorists and criminals simply because they have embarrassed the CCP by seeking a better life.

That 'seeking a better life' includes the following statement made by Uyghur leader Abdullah Mansour:

"We have to conquer our own country and purify it of all infidels. Then, we should conquer the infidels’ countries and spread Islam. The infidels who are usurping our countries have announced war against Islam and Muslims, forcing Muslims to abandon Islam and change their beliefs."

I'm not surprised that China defines them as terrorists.

China defines them as terrorists and criminals simply because they have embarrassed the CCP by seeking a better life.

That 'seeking a better life' includes the following statement made by Uyghur leader Abdullah Mansour:

"We have to conquer our own country and purify it of all infidels. Then, we should conquer the infidels’ countries and spread Islam. The infidels who are usurping our countries have announced war against Islam and Muslims, forcing Muslims to abandon Islam and change their beliefs."

I'm not surprised that China defines them as terrorists.

Have you ever even met a Uighur? I suppose we should also condemn all Christians because of the few of their leaders that advocate dragging black folks behind a moving car?

What about this guy? Accusations of terrorism look familiar?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/19/dalai-lama-prayers-tibetans-terrorism

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/dalai-lama-a-terrorist-china/2008/04/02/1206851012042.html

Edited September 2, 201510 yr by impulse

Did somebody mention the Uighurs? This is not allowed.

Obviously not all Uighur people are terrorists. Duh. Nobody said that.

Have you ever even met a Uighur? I suppose we should also condemn all Christians because of the few of their leaders that advocate dragging black folks behind a moving car?

No, I don't think I have ever met a Uighur. Hundreds of people near the Erawan shrine on August 17 have, it seems, and I'll bet that most of them are wishing they hadn't -- assuming they're still alive to have an opinion on the matter.

The person I quoted was not just 'a Uighur'. He is the leader and spiritual guide of the Uyghur separatist movement Turkistan Islamic Party, which has committed hundreds of terrorist attacks in China and has formal links with Al Qaida.

Sure they have a gripe with the Chinese government. But we're talking hard core terrorism now.

So yet again it looks like a Muslim terrorist group do what they always seem to do if they do not get what they want ,blow people up.

I think you'll find that's what all terrorist organisations do.

Quite a few countries as well.

Of all faiths.

You can stick up for Muslims all you like ,but the truth though it may hurt you is that Muslim terrorism around the world far far out ways any other religion or nationality

Why would Thailand want to keep foreign Muslim terrorists in Thailand when they have entered the country illegally?

Thailand is doing what all countries should do. Send all illegal migrants back to their country of origin

The issue I suppose is that Turkey was willing to accept them as they are a Turkic people. Perhaps the terror threat they may pose against Chinese and now Thai targets was not concerning to Turkey. But now things are hotter in Thailand over all this.

I doubt many of them want to live in Thailand permanently. Turkey is preferred.

Of course they prefer to live in Turkey. They have been marginalised in China, homeland invaded by Han Chinese, religious and cultural observances restricted, opportunities for their kids limited

They have been radicalised by oppression in the same way as Palestinians

Palestinians,you mean those people who have been sending rockets into Israel daily,?