Thai police probing bombing link to southern violence

[webfact]

Thai police probing bombing link to southern violence 

 

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities said Monday they are investigating whether bombings last week at several popular tourist destinations were related to long-term separatist violence in the country's far south, backing away from assertions that partisan politics were behind them.

 

Police have made no formal arrests in the bomb and arson attacks in seven towns that killed four people and wounded dozens, including several foreign tourists. They told a news conference that several people have been detained by the military for questioning, but declined to provide details. Those detained have been identified in by Thai media as political activists opposed to the country's ruling military junta.

 

The attackers' tactics have led to speculation that the bombings were carried out by Muslim separatists in Thailand's south who have staged a low-level insurgency since 2004. Thailand is overwhelmingly Buddhist, but its three southernmost provinces have Muslim majorities.

 

National police chief Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda acknowledged Monday that there were similarities between the tourist spot bombings and those carried out by the separatists.

 

"I've always said since the beginning and I've never said anything else, there are similarities in bomb-making methods and the equipment used," he said in response to reporters' questions.

 

Senior Thai officials suggested strongly soon after the Thursday and Friday attacks at Hua Hin and other holiday spots that they were carried out by political opponents of the military government. The comments suggested the perpetrators were linked to supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. His supporters and opponents have since then carried out a sometimes-violent struggle for power. The army in 2014 toppled an elected government that had been led by Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

 

Evidence pointing toward southern militants includes at least one recovered cellphone used as a trigger in last week's bombings that originated in Malaysia, which is on the other side of a porous border from Thailand's southernmost provinces and hosts sympathizers to the separatist cause.

 

Malaysian police chief Khalif Abu Bakar confirmed that they received details from Thai police and are trying to track the phone's dealer and buyer.

 

Several new attacks took place Sunday and Monday in two of the deep south provinces where bombings and drive-by shootings have become almost a daily occurrence over the past decade. Three homemade bombs exploded Sunday night in Yala town, causing property damage but no casualties, while roadside bombs detonated Monday morning in Narathiwat province injured two patrolling soldiers.

 

A pro-Thaksin group, the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, on Sunday accused the government of using the investigation of last week's attacks to crack down on its opponents.

 

"They accuse us of being responsible for the violent acts without any evidence or claim to support the accusations. Their intent is to destroy their competitors so that support would be given to a government that came into power from force," said a statement from the group, also known as the Red Shirts.

 

Questioned Monday about the group's allegation, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan denied any political bias, and said that "in regards to the finding of the phone and SIM card from Malaysia, we will have to keep investigating because everything has its origins. All the officials have collected all the evidence, just give us some time to work."

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-08-16

[Thechook]

This is extremely bad news for junta huggers, if it isn't the boogey man Thaksin then there just isn't anything left to live for.

[canuckamuck]

54 minutes ago, Thechook said:

This is extremely bad news for junta huggers, if it isn't the boogey man Thaksin then there just isn't anything left to live for.

It won't take much to spin it back to Thaksin. He was even in the garden teaching the snake how to bring down Adam and Eve.

[The stuttering parrot]

Yes they will be disappointed however on a serious note if it was the Muslim separatists who pepertratraed the violence this could signal dark days if they do a repeat in major tourist destinations and pick soft targets like bars and markets.

Strange no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks and if it was the south its way out of their comfort zone and without out a swift outcome it might just spur them on to cause further chaos.

[Eric Loh]

Now the junta leaders and the police chiefs will snake themselves out of their earlier statements about political involvement. More humble pies to be eaten.

[halloween]

Nobody should be ruled in or out of the investigation until convincing evidence is presented.

[robblok]

2 hours ago, The stuttering parrot said:

Yes they will be disappointed however on a serious note if it was the Muslim separatists who pepertratraed the violence this could signal dark days if they do a repeat in major tourist destinations and pick soft targets like bars and markets.

Strange no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks and if it was the south its way out of their comfort zone and without out a swift outcome it might just spur them on to cause further chaos.

 

I read somewhere that there was also a DNA link to the insurgents ? Its now more likely that these are southern insurgents. You are right that if they escalate and start doing more damage outside the normal comfort zone this might well get dangerous. It would be a huge blow for tourism if this is a continued campaign. 

 

I am still going to the south for my holiday later on this year but its a bit scary. Though i drive in BKK traffic on a motorbike. I am sure I am risking more then. 

[baboon]

4 minutes ago, halloween said:

Nobody should be ruled in or out of the investigation until convincing evidence is presented.

I agree entirely. However I have a funny feeling that even if nobody is caught, that will be all the evidence some on here will need that Thaksin is responsible. 

[Eric Loh]

3 minutes ago, robblok said:

 

I read somewhere that there was also a DNA link to the insurgents ? Its now more likely that these are southern insurgents. You are right that if they escalate and start doing more damage outside the normal comfort zone this might well get dangerous. It would be a huge blow for tourism if this is a continued campaign. 

 

I am still going to the south for my holiday later on this year but its a bit scary. Though i drive in BKK traffic on a motorbike. I am sure I am risking more then. 

 

I am off to Trang this morning. Normally there be more security and vigilance after major incidents. The trouble makers unlikely to strike so close to these majors and with the security extra alert. Go have a good time in the South.

 

I think the latest bombs are a remainder to the junta that they are still a force to be reckon and to be paid attention. Think also the consistent rambling of the leaders that they are in control and violence have decline are wrong and they showed them. Hua Hin is another symbolic reason if you read about the Royal re-settlement projects.     

[halloween]

5 minutes ago, baboon said:

I agree entirely. However I have a funny feeling that even if nobody is caught, that will be all the evidence some on here will need that Thaksin is responsible. 

There are 2 groups with a history of bombings and violence. Both should be considered. Yes, some will allow inherent bias to sway their initial thoughts towards one group, equally others will claim that it could not possibly be their favourites for any number of silly reasons.

Edited August 16, 2016 by halloween

[baboon]

2 minutes ago, halloween said:

There are 2 groups with a history of bombings and violence. Both should be considered. Yes, some will allow inherent bias to sway their initial thoughts towards one group, equally others will claim that it could not possibly be their favourites for any number of silly reasons.

I think false flags should be considered too. Nothing ought to be off the table.

You are absolutely correct about bias swaying thoughts - that goes for me too - but you know as well as I do that in the demented minds of some posters, it was Thaksin, it is Thaksin, it will always be Thaksin and don't waste my time with any conclusions which say otherwise: clearly Thaksin paid them to reach  that conclusion...

[Thailand]

That will be the southern redshirts then?

 

And I echo the words of others. An escalation of violence from the southern insurgents with perhaps an IS link up is not a good scenario,hopefully not.

[mesterm]

flip flop flip flop

[Khun Paul]

Any change to who did what to whom and why, will NOT be greeted warmly by the Thai govt, they were convinced that it was a sole person with two gangs, now having to admit they are wrong will be huge loss of face. Anyone who has been following the troubles in the South and the Juntas tight hold on power and freedom of speech will k now that political factions are playing a wait and see game until fresh elections are held and the balance of pwer has shifted to allow freedom of speech.

So it was always a probability that somehow the Southern insurgency ( because that is what it is ) is now expanding to MAKE the Thai Govt sit up and do something rather than just pedalling gently hoping it will all die down. 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, baboon said:

I think false flags should be considered too. Nothing ought to be off the table.

You are absolutely correct about bias swaying thoughts - that goes for me too - but you know as well as I do that in the demented minds of some posters, it was Thaksin, it is Thaksin, it will always be Thaksin and don't waste my time with any conclusions which say otherwise: clearly Thaksin paid them to reach  that conclusion...

Of course bias swings thought.. and as long as there is no conclusive evidence you can reason it anyway you want. But I read (think BKK post) something about DNA link on a bomb to a Southern Insurgent. Now if I wanted, i could say he was hired by Thaksin and you could say he was bribed to do so by a government official (both of these examples are nothing more then an example and in no way rumors or anything I heard).

 

Though if that DNA link proves real it again indicates more to the insurgents, but you guys are right nothing can be ruled out until the investigation is done. 

[Winniedapu]

1 hour ago, baboon said:

I think false flags should be considered too. Nothing ought to be off the table.

You are absolutely correct about bias swaying thoughts - that goes for me too - but you know as well as I do that in the demented minds of some posters, it was Thaksin, it is Thaksin, it will always be Thaksin and don't waste my time with any conclusions which say otherwise: clearly Thaksin paid them to reach  that conclusion...

 

 

Suthep didn't own any of the buildings that got burned down did he? That would have been a promising lead...

 

Winnie

[Winniedapu]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Now the junta leaders and the police chiefs will snake themselves out of their earlier statements about political involvement. More humble pies to be eaten.

 

Staple diet for these yoyo's.

 

It must be truly delicious, they can't seem to get enough of it...

 

Winnie

[Krataiboy]

If anybody needs a Saachi & Saachi it is this lot.

[dieseldave1951]

47 minutes ago, robblok said:

Of course bias swings thought.. and as long as there is no conclusive evidence you can reason it anyway you want. But I read (think BKK post) something about DNA link on a bomb to a Southern Insurgent. Now if I wanted, i could say he was hired by Thaksin and you could say he was bribed to do so by a government official (both of these examples are nothing more then an example and in no way rumors or anything I heard).

 

Though if that DNA link proves real it again indicates more to the insurgents, but you guys are right nothing can be ruled out until the investigation is done. 

sorry remind me again how long does it take to profile D&A

[dieseldave1951]

2 hours ago, baboon said:

I agree entirely. However I have a funny feeling that even if nobody is caught, that will be all the evidence some on here will need that Thaksin is responsible. 

or a scapegoat (s)

[sjaak327]

What a surprise. Since the redshirts quite clearly have no motive, one wonders why they were suspects in the first place.

 

The regime has done it again, blaming a terrorist act on their political enemies, happiness, reconciliation and all of that other nonsense.

[Artisi]

9 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

What a surprise. Since the redshirts quite clearly have no motive, one wonders why they were suspects in the first place.

 

The regime has done it again, blaming a terrorist act on their political enemies, happiness, reconciliation and all of that other nonsense.

Seems they never know which foot should be in the mouth at anyone time, so figure it's better to put in both. 

[geriatrickid]

3 hours ago, halloween said:

Nobody should be ruled in or out of the investigation until convincing evidence is presented.

 

 

Where were you when your Australian cohort Dj Jamie was  accusing "Redshirts" of the bombing?

Is your sudden restraint caused by the likelihood that there was no "Redshirt" involvement?

 

What is this "convincing evidence", anything that validates your bias against a segment of Thai society?  Look at where the bombs were placed. They were smack dab  in allegedly secure places. The police box  on Bangla in Patong is staffed most of the time. The  Hua Hin locations are high traffic and one was outside the police station. That's quite a message sent to the police.   Why would the police be targeted?

[geriatrickid]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

Of course bias swings thought.. and as long as there is no conclusive evidence you can reason it anyway you want. But I read (think BKK post) something about DNA link on a bomb to a Southern Insurgent. Now if I wanted, i could say he was hired by Thaksin and you could say he was bribed to do so by a government official (both of these examples are nothing more then an example and in no way rumors or anything I heard).

 

Though if that DNA link proves real it again indicates more to the insurgents, but you guys are right nothing can be ruled out until the investigation is done. 

 

Desperate aren't you? What is this DNA evidence you speak of? Do you actually believe that DNA can be collected from one of the bomb fragments, that would link the bomb to an insurgent or even a redshirt? Here? In Thailand?  Unless the bomb maker left his saliva, semen, or a chunk of flesh behind, there is no DNA to be collected. Heat and humidity causes a rapid degradation of organic material. The "forensic" specialists have neither the expertise nor the equipment to isolate this DNA. People watch too many crime drams on the telly. That's not how it works in the real world. 

[bkkcanuck8]

9 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

What a surprise. Since the redshirts quite clearly have no motive, one wonders why they were suspects in the first place.

 

The regime has done it again, blaming a terrorist act on their political enemies, happiness, reconciliation and all of that other nonsense.

 

I would not say no motivation -- but with no evidence or anything in the methodology to actually indicate that it was the red shirts.... the regime only shows it's bias (which shoots holes in the claim of reconciliation -- though that is long gone).  Those in government or police should really just be sticking with the investigation is ongoing and we are following leads that we expect to come to an arrest....  and leave the speculation and blame assignment to the peanut gallery and/or politicians.

 

As far as I am concerned, the red shirt hotheads on the fringes tend to use hand grenades or grenade launchers and have had no history of co-ordinated or well executed attacks.  The pattern of the explosions follow the same pattern as the southern insurgency, and there is far far more activity related to southern insurgents than there is from red shirts (not even close).  The location of the attack is closer to the heartland of the southern insurgents than it is with the red shirts.  The PM followed the same line as previous that it is not related to muslim terrorism -- which in itself could be carefully worded to be true but deceptive.  The southern insurgency has more to do with nationalism -- and when the government talks about muslim terrorism they are usually referring to ISIL, ISIS, Al Queda....  BTW.  The new constitution relegates the muslim religion to a secondary religion in constitutional law (in addition to in fact) -- which could have added gas to the fire.

 

I don't think we have reached a new reality, the attack was far outside the "comfort zone" -- which would take planning and organization (to make sure they don't get picked up in immigration checkpoints etc.)..... so I expect that a level of calm will return for the foreseeable future....  (maybe a spurt.... calm for a while... then a spurt).  

[seajae]

I know I am biased to the reds due to what they have done before & with no one claiming responsibility to me it left them being a  good prospect as they do not claim responsibility and always deny they did  it. The insurgents do claim responsibility usually,  when I first heard of the bombs they were my first choice of guilt but then as no responsibility was claimed they dropped back with the reds. These two are to me at least the obvious choices, the reds due to the vote and the court cases, the insurgents due to their usual claims & also as the govt was claiming they have them under control now although these bombings are well out of their comfort zone, possibly there is fresh blood now involved with them which could be bad news for everyone. I still consider both as possibles until such time as we see definitive evidence pointing one way or the other, after seeing the reds kill innocent children before and then being cheered on by the ptp govt and members I have no doubt they have no qualms about taking anyones life as long as they get the  results they want but the insurgents are the same, even more so, the phones/dna link is still only circumstantial till people are linked to it. The question remains, why havent they claimed responsibility,  the police need to pull out their fingers and actually do some serious investigating to catch those responsible without their usual ineptitude getting in the way.

[robblok]

5 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

 

Desperate aren't you? What is this DNA evidence you speak of? Do you actually believe that DNA can be collected from one of the bomb fragments, that would link the bomb to an insurgent or even a redshirt? Here? In Thailand?  Unless the bomb maker left his saliva, semen, or a chunk of flesh behind, there is no DNA to be collected. Heat and humidity causes a rapid degradation of organic material. The "forensic" specialists have neither the expertise nor the equipment to isolate this DNA. People watch too many crime drams on the telly. That's not how it works in the real world. 

I have always stated its most likely that it were the Southern insurgents so not desperate at all. I dont really get why you think otherwise. I was just responding to Baboon who said rule nothing out and about bias. Just saying you can reason anything you want (based on bias) and until all evidence is collected we wont know for sure (if ever).

 

Below what i got from the BKK post

 

Meanwhile, results of DNA tests show that a sample of DNA collected from the Phuket blast on Wednesday matches that of a 35-year-old man identified as Ahama Lenga from Narathiwat's Tak Bai district, the source said.

 

 

I am the one who came here with this evidence saying it pointed ot the insurgents, now why does that make me desperate ? (probably because only one quote is shown its all out of context)

[Brer Fox]

I think they have switched horses and now claiming a link to the separatists for three reasons.

1. They can't find any clue which can lead them to political activists.

2. Much easier for police to nab and blame some poor southern revolutionary soul in order to collect the reward.

3. Politically better for the PM to blame the south rather than admitting it may have been people protesting his form of government.

[jayboy]

4 hours ago, halloween said:

Nobody should be ruled in or out of the investigation until convincing evidence is presented.

 

 

The problem with these kind of people is that that combine a hysterical hatred of Thaksin in particular and redshirts in general with a deep and impenetrable ignorance.They never repeat never examine the evidence or do any homework.It was clear from the outset that Southern secessionist fingerprints were all over the recent bombing outrages.

 

http://thediplomat.com/2016/08/whos-behind-thailands-deadly-bomb-blasts/

 

Yet these ignorant bigots simply ignore or deny reality - or in this case attempt ridiculous back pedalling (see his earlier posts) - because they live in a tiny obsessive bubble.

 

Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returns to his vomit, so fools repeat their folly"

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Now the junta leaders and the police chiefs will snake themselves out of their earlier statements about political involvement. More humble pies to be eaten.

 

Don't cream yourself yet Eric. Wait until it's being discovered, and the perps prosecuted.

 

Never over till the fat lady sings.