Hospital blast exposes junta's frailty

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Hospital blast exposes junta's frailty
By The Nation

 

If the generals were more tolerant of dissent, perhaps we’d see fewer violent expressions of umbrage

 

BANGKOK: -- The bomb attack this past Monday at Bangkok’s Phramongkutklao Hospital that left at least 20 people injured must be condemned in the strongest terms. It was a cowardly, inhuman act of terror. The fact that the Army operates the hospital, which is frequented by retired officers, in no way justifies the attack. It was a gross violation of international practices and humanitarian laws and principle.

 

The blast area covered about three metres. It appears that the perpetrators placed the bomb in an open area near the entrance of the hospital dispensary. No one has claimed responsibility, as is normal with political violence here, particularly when it coincides with an anniversary of note.

 

Monday’s attack came on the third anniversary of the 2014 coup that brought the Army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to power. From this it can be surmised that the bomb was a venting of anger against the military and the ruling junta. Most of the damage was done to the Wongsuwan Room reserved for VIP patients and guests. The room bears the family name of General Prawit Wongsuwan, who, as Defence Minister, is in charge of the country’s security.

 

Deputy police chief Pol General Srivara  Ransibrahmanakul savaged the perpetrators, saying not even the Malay insurgents in the far South carry out attacks on hospitals. To this, Angkhana Neelaphaijit of the National Human Rights Commission added that hospitals and medical workers are usually safe from such dangers even in wartime.

 

The assault came as the NCPO strives to convince the public that its three years in power have not been wasted. The timing and target of the bomb attack could not have been worse for the generals. 

 

It raises concerns about the junta’s ability to keep innocent civilians and public places safe. It was also the third bomb attack in Bangkok within two months, following the one in front of the National Theatre last week and the April 5 attack on the Government Lottery Office. 

 

Not helping matters is the top brass’ insistence that the same perpetrators are behind all three incidents. The assumption comes too soon after the most recent event to be credible, and it could hamper the investigation.

 

Regardless of the motivation behind Monday’s attack and the fact that no one was killed, the perpetrators obviously had no qualms about using the safety of innocent people as a bargaining chip to advance their agenda, whatever it may be. If they have an axe to grind with the military, this is certainly not the way to wield it. 

 

Meanwhile the NCPO needs to relax its grip on dissent so that grievances can be aired openly instead of festering in secret with potentially explosive results. Instead, for three years we have seen the junta steadily increasing pressure on critics and sealing off outlets for debate. It has created an atmosphere that is toxic to political discussion and thus prone to desperate expressions of frustration. How can anyone feel safe under such circumstances?

 

The irony this week is lost on no one. The junta justified its 2014 coup by saying that order had to be restored after a decade of politically motivated violence. And yet Thailand remains dangerously polarised and, in spasms at least, disorderly. The junta must acknowledge as much and share in the blame.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/today_editorial/30316128

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-24

[YetAnother]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

The junta must acknowledge as much and share in the blame.

a military dictatorship would never do that; they just spin it

[PBScott]

Power should never be given to people who blow up hospitals, I prefer the junta any day, and every day.

We should never forget the chaos that preceded the military taking over the nation.

Edited May 24, 2017 by PBScott

[rkidlad]

Yeap, Thailand is already a suppressed enough society. Keep eroding any of the few freedoms they do enjoy and and it will only get worse. Worst thing is that the people in charge have no idea how to rule and have zero interest in learning. 

[mtls2005]

1 minute ago, PBScott said:

Power should never be given to people who blow up hospitals, I prefer the junta any day, and every day.

 

Yes, the Thai military has proven adept at killing their own citizens over the years.

[Eric Loh]

If this junta government that promise stability as the reason to stage a coup, they should now resign enbloc, bow to the country in shame and admit they fail. Then I woke up. 

[realenglish1]

He is never going to give up power 

[yellowboat]

This is appalling .   But the junta is starting to smell like fish and is getting in the way of the country's prosperity and reputation.  Thais are very patient until they are not, but few resort to this sort of violence. 

[eggers]

Terrorism knows no boundaries or divisions, whether an elected Gov't or Junta makes no difference. Monday was attack on Thai hospital, country under Junta rule, Tuesday was attack on concertgoers in Manchester UK, a democracy & seat of democratic parliamentary system.

These terrorists are just that terrorists; people with no conscience or concern for anybody other than themselves; the world has become a sad place.

Despite world leaders & politicians  "huffing & puffing" about peace & stamping out terrorism, it just continues b/c no one stops the money flow to these terror groups....No one!! 

[onthesoi]

If the generals were more tolerant of dissent, perhaps we’d see fewer violent expressions of umbrage

 

Nonsense, there is plenty of dissent which is tolerated in the Thai media, what exactly do you call this article and other like it on khaosod etc?

 

Only recently Thaksin was threatning legal action for anyone daring to suggest he was involved in a bombing....so it seems the red shirts only like freedom of speech when it suits their agenda.

 

[williamgeorgeallen]

i suspect the army did not do this one.

[stephen tracy]

1 hour ago, eggers said:

Terrorism knows no boundaries or divisions, whether an elected Gov't or Junta makes no difference. Monday was attack on Thai hospital, country under Junta rule, Tuesday was attack on concertgoers in Manchester UK, a democracy & seat of democratic parliamentary system.

These terrorists are just that terrorists; people with no conscience or concern for anybody other than themselves; the world has become a sad place.

Despite world leaders & politicians  "huffing & puffing" about peace & stamping out terrorism, it just continues b/c no one stops the money flow to these terror groups....No one!! 

The two attacks are completely unrelated.  One was conducted by an ISIS supporter and the other was conducted by a "government" to avoid losing power.

Edited May 24, 2017 by stephen tracy

[stephen tracy]

30 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

i suspect the army did not do this one.

Who else stood to benefit?

[williamgeorgeallen]

1 hour ago, stephen tracy said:

Who else stood to benefit?

well i suppose the army still stands to benefit by staying in power longer but surely it would be a stretch that they bombed their own hospital.

[stephen tracy]

14 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

well i suppose the army still stands to benefit by staying in power longer but surely it would be a stretch that they bombed their own hospital.

Why not? Whatever works.  No stretch at all. A common practise throughout history, even here in Thailand. Blatantly obvious in fact.

[pattayadgw]

A 'Blind man' can see what's going on... 

[brucec64]

Power should never be given to people who blow up hospitals, I prefer the junta any day, and every day.
We should never forget the chaos that preceded the military taking over the nation.

You must be referring to the orchestrated chaos that was used to induce a coup, according to Suthep, the leader of the chaos.

Sent from my SM-J710F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[ksamuiguy]

Same shit, same people.

Just enough to keep the same old bull shit alive.

Gives their supporters another injection of hope.

It has been going on for over 30 years in one form or another.

Look at the methods and targets, not designed to kill anyone (unless they make a mistake) just to "stir the pot" so to speak.

It's about time some one ended this, they know who, but no one has the balls to go after them.

Easy to find a "fall guy" to do the deed for them, again, follow the money!

[HungWell]

On 5/24/2017 at 10:39 AM, PBScott said:

Power should never be given to people who blow up hospitals, I prefer the junta any day, and every day.

We should never forget the chaos that preceded the military taking over the nation.

You mean the chaos caused by the military to benefit the military

[Rancid]

On 5/24/2017 at 4:13 PM, stephen tracy said:

Who else stood to benefit?

That's always the question isn't it even asked in Roman times, however this simplicity generally leads us to the answer. Of course one looks at multiple events around the world and if you actually think objectively in a non partisan manner, one often comes to a different conclusion that is generally offered by the media. That is why I like to stir the pot a little, just want to get people thinking for themselves rather than the oft parroted media headline.

 

As to this, terrorist attacks really started in Thailand after Taksin was ousted, so one needs to consider whether that is a coincidence. Also consider who supported Taksin and whether they finance ISIS, if so do they have access to that network? The Philippines has recently had an increase in terrorist attacks since adopting a more individual foreign position, is that a coincidence? Terrorism is a weapon, when used consider who benefits (cui bono), and who is really the power behind the terrorist that funds, trains and arms him? Because that is the one telling him where and what to attack.

[stephen tracy]

27 minutes ago, Rancid said:

That's always the question isn't it even asked in Roman times, however this simplicity generally leads us to the answer. Of course one looks at multiple events around the world and if you actually think objectively in a non partisan manner, one often comes to a different conclusion that is generally offered by the media. That is why I like to stir the pot a little, just want to get people thinking for themselves rather than the oft parroted media headline.

 

As to this, terrorist attacks really started in Thailand after Taksin was ousted, so one needs to consider whether that is a coincidence. Also consider who supported Taksin and whether they finance ISIS, if so do they have access to that network? The Philippines has recently had an increase in terrorist attacks since adopting a more individual foreign position, is that a coincidence? Terrorism is a weapon, when used consider who benefits (cui bono), and who is really the power behind the terrorist that funds, trains and arms him? Because that is the one telling him where and what to attack.

ISIS is not financed from Thailand.