Police Link Bomb Attack to Uighurs, Deep South and Thai Politics

[webfact]

Police Link Bomb Attack to Uighurs, Deep South and Thai Politics
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Domestic and international politics motivated those who last month bombed one of Bangkok’s landmark attractions, police said today as they laid out the attack's links to a Chinese ethnic group, separatists in Thailand’s Deep South and a radical Redshirt bombmaker.

Officials made a largely circumstantial case this afternoon against 17 people they believe were behind last month’s bombing of the Erawan Shrine, an attack they said brought disparate groups of Chinese, Turkish and Thai nationals together in a common cause to carry out the worst attack of its type in Thai history.

“They shared the same objective. They shared the same benefits,” police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang said this afternoon. “One may have used the other to carry out the attack.”

Investigators said the two perpetrators, both Chinese Uighurs, were aided by a network of Turkish nationals as well as Yongyuth Pobkaew, a Thai man accused of building bombs for politically motivated attacks in 2010 and 2014.

Six weeks on from the bombing police officials today seemed on the verge of calling the investigation a wrap as they pored over an organizational chart of the “network” behind the blast in a nationally televised address.

Frequently citing “luck” in bringing breaks to the case, top brass took turns recounting their efforts in bringing those responsible to justice but did not provide any “smoking gun” evidence.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1443430363


-- Khaosod English 2015-09-28

[Reigntax]

So now 3 groups, having completely different agendas came together to plan this event.

And let me guess, each group was funded by an ex Thai citizen based in the middle east.

No, it appears they are using the KT police training manual title "how to make a fool out of youself with trying".

[Jingthing]

But not terrorism.

[daveAustin]

All very neat?

[apetley]

So a Chinese Muslim people smuggling network has connections with a Red Shirt bomber. It's so obvious when you think about it.

[Loptr]

But of course it wasn't a terrorist attack...

[Jingthing]

But of course it wasn't a terrorist attack...

Perish the thought.

[Hardback]

Complete nonsense. Personally I would have thought the Tak Bai and Kru Se incidents would have precluded any collusion between reds and southern separatists. I guess they had to find some way to pin this on ol' squareface

[swissie]

And tomorrow the headlines will read: " A highly suspect group of disgruntled Farang English Teachers" has been taken in for questioning.

Cheers.

[Bellacissa]

Covering all the bases there, aren't they? I wonder who will come out with tomorrow's rebuttal saying it was definitely not anyone from these groups.

[Fat Haggis]

Thank God Somyot is out of here in a few more days, apparently he's taking over from Ronald MacDonald, what a clown!!

And yet there will be people here who believe him too !!

[peterjackson]

So, the unelected, Supreme Leader and ex-military general who installs himself as the autocratic PM, without any diplomatic credentials whatsoever. Then decides a way of showing his allegiance to his Communist buddies in Red China, decides (against a human rights outcry) to deport a load of Uighurs to Communist China.

What ensues is the worst attack of its type in Thai history.

Directly created by a delusional ex-general, way out of his depth.

Bringing happiness to the Thai people. Mr. P. style.

[worgeordie]

Take your choice,pick one and you maybe right,cover all the possible

suspects,not been a terrorist attack is unbelievable,there are people

in Guantanamo for just been drivers.you could be charged with terrorism,

in the West just for joking you had a bomb,while in an airport.

regards Worgeordie

[mrrizzla]

Thank God Somyot is out of here in a few more days, apparently he's taking over from Ronald MacDonald, what a clown!!

And yet there will be people here who believe him too !!

EnglishJohn and Jamie to be in here posting with glee soon.

It must be conflicting for them though because the very same cops are all 'tomato' red sympathizers according to them.

[anon467848]

They forgot to include a certain influential, Dubai based man, then they would have definitely had all the bases covered....

Have the police given back the 3 million reward now, as they clearly haven't got a clue whodunit

[chainarong]

When a bomb goes off it is nothing short of terrorism, what else can it be, a reminder to pick up the milk , bombers have an agenda, no matter what it is, it is an act of terror , just be in the area when one goes off and see the terror on the faces of the people, the generalisation of three completely different set of groups just adds to the fact that they haven't a clue.

[manarak]

The police's scenario is not unrealistic.

Muslim groups are likely to have links to each other.

Maybe the "involvement" of the southern Muslims was just in helping to locate a bomb maker in Bangkok, who just happened to be Muslim and a red shirt too.

[docshock13]

LMFAO! I like the shotgun approach to investigating.

Though, they forgot the most dastardly and dangerous group that poses a threat to national security: the IMPLF (Illegal mushroom pickers liberation front).

Will we ever be safe from this scourge?

[webfact]

Police believe political motives linked to Erawan Shrine blast
The Nation, Agencies

BANGKOK: -- Police investigators are convinced political motives were also behind last month's Erawan Shrine bombing, in addition to possible revenge by human smugglers upset by a government crackdown, the national police chief said Monday.

One of the Thai suspects was previously involved in "political bombings" during the unrest in 2010 and last year, national police chief General Somyot Poompanmuang told a press conference at the Royal Thai Police headquarters Monday afternoon.

The suspect, identified as Aod Payungwong or Yongyuth Pobkaew, was arrested in 2010 in connection with an explosion at an apartment building in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district. Last year, an arrest warrant was issued for him in connection with an explosion in Bangkok's Min Buri district.

Aod was also allegedy involved in many other criminal cases, according to the national police chief.

Both of the explosions occurred at times when protesters took to the streets against separate governments at that time - in 2010 against Abhisit Vejjajiva's administration and in last year against Yingluck Shinawatra's.

"A motive was the authorities' crackdown on an Uighur human trafficking racket. Investigators believe that there are people who hired the perpetrators. Different groups of people were involved and they shared the same objective and desire," Somyot said Monday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Police-believe-political-motives-linked-to-Erawan--30269723.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-28

[phoenixdoglover]

There must be some other disgruntled groups or individuals that can be added to the mix. Time for more Facebook browsing to check out all the friends of friends of friends.

[balo]

So now 3 groups, having completely different agendas came together to plan this event.

And let me guess, each group was funded by an ex Thai citizen based in the middle east.

No, it appears they are using the KT police training manual title "how to make a fool out of youself with trying".

Yes 3 groups . but at least one of them is Thai so we can forget the "No Thai could ever do this" bashing.

[lujanit]

You can expect to hear a lot more from Somyot in the next two days. He really loves his 15 minutes of fame. I am going to miss his daily infantile ravings. They always make me shake my head in disbelief.

[Chang_paarp]

Pity we cannot quote the BP article on the retiring Police generalisimo (or chief clown) it gives a slightly different view on this.

[Thian]

They forgot to include a certain influential, Dubai based man, then they would have definitely had all the bases covered....

Have the police given back the 3 million reward now, as they clearly haven't got a clue whodunit

In a European newspaper i read they gave themselves another reward today of 74.000 euro

[Oziex1]

I am lost for words.

An extremely violent act and then these guys show up to investigate.

The people of Thailand deserve better.

Tourists please boycott.

[webfact]

ERAWAN BOMB BLAST
Political motives 'partly behind bombing'
The Nation, Agencies



While sticking to smuggler-revenge theory, police now also include local motivation

BANGKOK: -- POLICE INVESTIGATORS are convinced political motives were also behind last month's Erawan Shrine bombing, besides possible retaliation by human smugglers at the government for cracking down on them, the National Police chief said yesterday.

One of the Thai suspects was involved in the "political bombings" during the unrest in 2010 and last year, Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang told an afternoon press conference at the Royal Thai Police headquarters.

The suspect, identified as Aod Payungwong or Yongyuth Pobkaew, was wanted in 2010 in connection with an explosion at an apartment building in Nonthaburi's Bang |Bua Thong district. Last year, |an arrest warrant was issued for |him in connection with an |explosion in Bangkok's Min Buri district.

Aod was also allegedly involved in many other criminal cases, according to the police chief.

Both of the explosions occurred |at times when protesters took to |the streets against the government at that time - in 2010 against |Abhisit Vejjajiva's administration and last year against Yingluck Shinawatra's.

"A motive was the authorities' crackdown on a Uighur human-trafficking racket. Investigators believe that there are people who hired the perpetrators. Different groups of people were involved and they shared the same objective and desire," Somyot said.

"We can't rule out political motives," because Aod was also involved.

The man is one of the 17 people wanted in connection with the bombings at Erawan Shrine and at Sathorn Pier.

The shrine attack left 20 people dead and more than 100 wounded - mostly foreign tourists.

The two arrested foreign suspects, Bilal Mohammed (earlier identified as Adem Karadag), and Mieraili Yusufu, had confessed - Bilal to planting the bomb at Erawan Shrine on August 17 and Yusufu to assembling the device and then detonating it remotely, according to police. Somyot said yesterday that Adem Karadag was a fake name.

"We'd gathered so much evidence that the suspects could no longer deny their involvement and had to admit that they were involved," Somyot said.

Police did not coerce them, he said.

Somyot, who retires tomorrow, also presented Bt3 million to his deputy and designated successor, Pol General Jakthip Chaijinda, to reward the police and military |officers involved in the arrest of the prime suspects.

Yusufu told police investigators that Aod had provided him with materials to make the explosive device used in the bombing, Somyot said.

Police are hunting for Aod, who has no 13-digit identification number, Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Sriwara Rangsipramanakul said.

Bilal has claimed he is a Turkish citizen and has lived in Istanbul with his family for the past decade. He said he was born in Urumqi in western China. He previously told his lawyer he came to Thailand four days after the bomb attack.

However, the Turkish Embassy so far has been unable to confirm his nationality, his lawyer Choochart Khanphai said yesterday.

The lawyer said he had not had access to his client since Wednesday, as police had the case moved from a civilian court to a military court because of the severity of the crime.

Choochart said the military court granted him permission yesterday to a request in writing for him to meet his client in a day or two.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Political-motives-partly-behind-bombing-30269754.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-29

[canuckamuck]

So the Uighurs were mad at Thailand 5 years ago already?

The good thing about Thailand is that you are always given opportunity to use your imagination.

[NongKhaiKid]

Not only this bomb incident but in any investigation the BIB / govt will link the crime to whatever best suits their purposes and the truth is irrelevant.

Edited September 28, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[JAG]

With these disparate yet coordinated threats to security, peace, order and happiness the junta had better stay on for a few years - only for security reasons.

[Chang_paarp]

Not a single policeman or military officer on the plan-o-gram.