Bangkok bombing suspects won't be tried for terrorism

[webfact]

Bangkok Bombing Suspects Won't be Tried for Terrorism
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Bombing suspect Mohammed Bilal is led today into a military court in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Thai police are not pursuing terrorism charges against two men accused of staging a deadly bomb attack in Bangkok two months ago, a police commander confirmed.

Despite the scale of the attack, which killed 20 people of six nationalities and is considered the worst attack of its kind to strike Bangkok in living memory, the suspects will only be tried on charges of premeditated murder and explosives-related charges, said Sriwarah Siripramnakul, chief of Bangkok metro police.

“We are not charging the suspects in this case with terrorism,” police Lt. Gen. Sriwarah said.

Mohammed Bilal and Yusufu Mieraili, who hold Turkish and Chinese passports, respectively, will stand trial in a military court for their alleged role in the bombing of Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine on Aug. 17. According to police, Bilal planted the bomb at the popular place of worship and Mieraili detonated the device after Bilal left the blast area.

Bilal was arrested in an apartment in Nong Chok district on Aug. 29, reportedly along with a large cache of bomb-making materials, while Mieraili was taken into custody near Thai-Cambodian border on Sept. 1.

The two men have been held without bail at 11th Infantry Regiment barracks, which has been converted into a special prison for the bombing suspects, since Sept. 15. Police have yet to send their cases to the prosecutor.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445258925&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-10-20

[webfact]

Court extends detention of two Erawan Shrine bombing suspects
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The military court yesterday extended the detention period of the two foreign suspects held in relation to the Erawan Shrine bomb attack.

The suspects, Bilal Mohammed and Mieraili Yusufu, can be detained till October 31 under the latest approval. They were nabbed for their alleged role in the two August bombings in Bangkok. The blast at the shrine killed 20 people and injured more than 100 others, while the bomb that exploded the following day at the Sathorn Pier caused no casualties.

Following the bombings, Bilal was arrested at an apartment in Bangkok, while Mieraili Yusufu was nabbed in a border province.

Both have already made partial confessions, though investigators say they need more time to question witnesses and receive results of scientific tests.

The two suspects showed up at military court yesterday. They were handcuffed and remained expressionless.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Court-extends-detention-of-two-Erawan-Shrine-bombi-30271210.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-20

[Somtamnication]

Tried for what then? Not enough evidence to be tried as a terrorist?

[Seastallion]

If they truly believe these are the guys, then terrorism is going to be easier to prove than pre-meditated murder.

A bomb in a public place IS terrorism.

A bomb placed randomly may not kill anyone (like the one off the bridge) and so would be hard to prove they intended to kill.

Right from the start I have had my doubts that the BIB have the right guys. This news doesn't alter my view. It's as if they are being charged with something that the BIB expect to lose.

[NongKhaiKid]

So it's denial to the bitter end ?

Almost every other country in the world would be throwing terrorism related charges around but LoS doesn't want to lose face by admitting such things could happen here unless it suits the agenda of the day.

[waldroj]

If not terrorism, then definitely collusion (between TAT and RTP)!

[smedly]

If they truly believe these are the guys, then terrorism is going to be easier to prove than pre-meditated murder.

A bomb in a public place IS terrorism.

A bomb placed randomly may not kill anyone (like the one off the bridge) and so would be hard to prove they intended to kill.

Right from the start I have had my doubts that the BIB have the right guys. This news doesn't alter my view. It's as if they are being charged with something that the BIB expect to lose.

sorry I don't understand what you are saying, assuming for a moment these are the people that planted the bomb are you honestly saying it was not designed/intended to kill ? seriously

Now if they had given a warning and people were evacuated then that is entirely different, the place was packed with people some sitting right next to the device clearly seen on cctv

[clockman]

Whats in a name?

[Always18]

So it's denial to the bitter end ?

Almost every other country in the world would be throwing terrorism related charges around but LoS doesn't want to lose face by admitting such things could happen here unless it suits the agenda of the day.

Absolutely right.

The RTP/junta actually believe that the rest of the (tourist) world are so stupid that they can't recognise a terrorist act when it's staring them in the face...............

Edited October 20, 2015 by Always18

[oneday]

"...Thai police are not pursuing terrorism charges against two men accused of staging a deadly bomb attack in Bangkok two months ago..."

Of course not, this might hurt the image of the country and most importantly, the almighty baht as represented by tourism.

[soalbundy]

They could be prosecuted for trying to hurt the TOURISM INDUSTRY, must be worth the death penalty

[godden]

Taking care of the tourist dollar perhaps.

[Nicolas32]

Hmm Thai police are not pursuing terrorism charges against two men accused of staging a deadly bomb attack in Bangkok two months ago...

[TheKnave]

Whats in a name?

A million tourist arrivals, plus or minus a few...

Thai spin, always protect tourism, because they have absolutely nothing else to offer.

Down and down we go...

[zaphod reborn]

Notice now that Somyot is out of the picture, no one is talking about "Aod" anymore - the "mastermind" of 3 bombings.

[Tatsujin]

If they call it "terrorism", that paints the country in a more negative light (in their minds), and also opens the door for any of the "protest bombings" to also be called "terrorism" which opens a whole new can of worms.

After all, they said from the beginning that no Thai could ever do such a terrible thing (despite their now being 2 x foreigners and 15+ x Thai's involved in this), and to then have to also charge a Thai national with terrorism would go against how they want people to perceive this country and its people.

[user82374298374]

The RTP/junta actually believe that the rest of the (tourist) world are so stupid that they can't recognise a terrorist act when it's staring them in the face...............

Most of the rest of the world don't know the difference between Thailand and Taiwan.

[Chao Lao Beach]

It could be as simple as this will still bring the death penality but why risk a charge that might have a weaker case, can allways charge them with terror later if need be eh...

[Estrada]

So it's denial to the bitter end ?

Almost every other country in the world would be throwing terrorism related charges around but LoS doesn't want to lose face by admitting such things could happen here unless it suits the agenda of the day.

Happens in the US also as they do not charge persons who enter schools and movie theatres, armed to the teeth and kill students and patrons with semi-automatic assault rifles as terrorists either. This, despite the fact that it is an act of terrorism.

[canuckamuck]

" Have no fear, Thailand is completely safe from terrorism. Admittedly there are people here who detonate explosives in crowded tourist areas but they are not terrorists so there is no reason for concern."

[Bobobirdiebuddy]

Yes, let's not call it terrorism as that may frighten away those tourist dollars.

[kotsak]

This is similar to the official line that there is no harloting going on in this place..

[brucec64]

The reasoning behind this is quite simple. If they call it a terrorist act, it was done because of the deportation of the Urghers back to China. This was a bad move by the junta that received international condemnation. If they don't call it terrorism, the bombing can ba attributed to junta efforts to stop trafficking. This is all about face saving for the junta.

[dcpo]

Why aren't they being tried in a civilian court?

[borisloosebrain]

Playing political semantics. Predictable and pathetic.

[Srikcir]

Not charging suspects for terrorism is nonsense.

Go to http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777951-thailand-ranked-10th-among-162-countries-in-global-terrorism-index/

Posted 2014-11-20

"The Global Terrorism Index defines terrorism as “the threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a non-state actor to attain a political, economic, religious or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation."

It's not that there is any State secret that there is terrorism in Thailand. Thailand is ranked #10 out of 162 countries on the Global Terrorism Index, with Iraq ranked #1 and Russia #11.

[arrowsdawdle]

Tried for what then? Not enough evidence to be tried as a terrorist?

Sounds too much to Thai ears like tourism.

[chilli42]

The overseas image thing does not hold up as the reason. The horse has left the barn on that - there was a bomb, lots of people died. Nobody cares under what legal jurisdiction the perps are being tried. There must be another reason. Could it be the burden of proof is a bigger hurdle under charges of terrorism or perhaps there are details that the government would rather not have public (which would come out under charges of terrorism). Who knows but I am sure that there is method in their madness as it's such a deliberate move.

I also wonder what has happened to all of the other mischief makers. It's gone completely silent. Are they being charged and with what?

[AGareth2]

what do they mean by partial confession?

[Always18]

what do they mean by partial confession?

That's the part that can be distinguished from the rest of the noises you make when you have a plastic bag tied over your head..............