Three More Bombs Explode At Central World, Pratunam, Khao Sarn Road

[Jai Dee]

A passenger stands near a bus stop at the Victory Monument, that was damaged by a bomb attack on the New Year's eve Sunday. A garland was placed there in memory of a passenger that was killed in the attack.

Source: The Nation - 1 January 2007

[IAMSOBAD]

Dear Bombers,

Please strap the bombs to your crotch...walk into a toilet area...and detonate!

That way you will still cause SHOCK and AWE...without hurting anyone but yourself. We will get your point and you will die a martyr. That takes guts...which you clowns totally lack. Any fool can hide a bomb and walk away. Show us your pride...PLEASE...ONLY BLOW UP YOURSELVES.

Leave a note and some DNA evidence.Like all your blood.

This is just a thought for so-called professional terrorists...NORMAL PEOPLE DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL GOOD PEOPLE...WE DESERVE BETTER!

[aussimike]

Sad.

Just saw the news report on tv here in Cda. It's so much worse somehow with the pictures of broken glass, blood-stainted road and cops looking through debris with flashlights.

It's only the start of a protracted political struggle in our beloved Thailand. It might be a replay of the mid-70s.

if the motive for these cowardly attacks on both Thai and foreigners was to scare - well it worked. There is not one thai or farang who will venture out today and the streets are quiter that 3 am in the morning -- will be interesting to see what the impact on tourism will be as most foreign govt have issued travel advisories agaist travel to Bkk unless absol necessary - for those of us who remember the tsunami aftermath and the impact on tourism in the south -well it's happening to bkk now -- such a pity - Bkk was renowned to be one of the safest cities in SEA - well not any more - whether its policical and i am sure it is - the seperatists have been using more deadly bombs down south - sure its not them - these were ment to scare and thank god they did not kill or injure more innocent people - so sad to see the young girl in hospital = being annoyed by some local govt member who just wanted to get his face on TV.

so = so much for a happy New Year in the land of smiles - Bangkok has become another Beirut = such a pity -

See the army is now guarding Saphan Khwai BTS today -- sure this is ment to discredit the current admin - and i think it is --

[lor]

The poster who said that if Tourists stop coming then at least prices will start to fall. How well do you know Thailand? Less tourists means less money so the Thais will INCREASE prices to keep their margin up!!! If this means even less tourists they will increase the prices again. Thai logic. TIT.

Chris

[Jai Dee]

Public urged to inform officials about irregular things

Government Spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp Monday urged the public to remain calm following Bangkok bomb attacks but sought public cooperation to alert officials over irregular things.

He said the public could alert officials at the following phone numbers:

1) PM's Office Call Centre at 1111

2) Army's Disaster Mitigation Centre at 0-2297-7648-9

3) Royal Thai Police at 191

4) Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Public Complaints Receiving Centre at 1555

Source: The Nation - 1 January 2007

[Zen]

Pity the foreigner who had his leg amputated by the blast....

[apalink_thailand]

I tend to agree with Batman. These bombs were all small, placed in obscure places and clearly designed to creat panic amongst Thais (not so much the foreigners). The other question that comes to my mind is why they were timed to go off so early? If they were meant to create mass havoc/death,they would have been timed to go off closer to midnight when EVERYONE is out on the streets.

Additionally, I would not be surprised to hear that they were set off remotely by mobile phone which could indicate that only a single person was the culprit.

There were rumours that this was some kind of counter coup but to me, that makes little sense as well.

All we can do now is wait for the forensics guys to come up with the answers.

[onethailand]

Breaking news: In at least three locations, graffiti was discovered with the letters I.R.K.

I would not be surprised to hear that they were set off remotely by mobile phone

Most of the bombs have been identified as timed devices.

Edited January 1, 2007 by onethailand

[mitrapaap]

i wonder why any prime targets to kill farangs didn't get hit! any ideas anyone? i dont think its political, perhaps more sinister or cowardly reasons might be the answer

What would be a prime target to hit farangs? (By the way, there were farangs hit). And if it is not against farangs and it is not political, then what is it? Or why would it be only political if farangs get hit? I think its purely Thai internal and VERY political.

[Nawtilus]

Irish Republic Katoeys...... now we are in for it

[Zen]

Breaking news: In at least three locations, graffiti was discovered with the letters I.R.K.

I would not be surprised to hear that they were set off remotely by mobile phone

Most of the bombs have been identified as timed devices.

Graffiti with I.R.K? Where did u see this news? Can u provide the link please, I couldn't find it on the net. Would like to read more..

Thanks.

[onethailand]

Irish Republic Katoeys...... now we are in for it

LMFAO...

Graffiti with I.R.K? Where did u see this news?

iTV - just reported, not yet available online as far as I know.

[PeaceBlondie]

Irish Republic Katoeys...... now we are in for it

I don't blame you for the joke, Nawtilus; I had one about 'Ireland, Rwanda and Chechnya,' on the premise that Thais can't spell foreign words well, using Roman alphabet. Not really a laughing matter, though.

[dogleg]

Thanks to the Aussie government for their helpful knee jerk response. would they be so quick to tell tourists and investors to stay away from Aussieland if, God forbid, this happened over there?

Note the posted numbers for reporting suspicions and please go about life normally, thats the best those who love Thailand can do.

If we "cave in", who's won?

All the best, Love to All

Dogleg

[mitrapaap]

No need for ANY speculation now...That would be paranoid,to belive someone else did it...Muslims and nobody else...Not first time but not the last one...That is for sure and to think someone else do that just to put the blame on muslims - would be childish...It is more then clear what they are trying to make here in Thailand and same old story as it ever was... but i hope Thai will handle all ,before all be out of control...This is against Thai nation and this is try to start some kind of war here.This is introduction in something bigger but we will see response of Thai Gov. now.Too long this peoblems are going on...

ASAP ... Brut*** ,member,sent me reply on Thai forum but i lost that mail...can i retrive it any way?

A bit quick for a definitive answer, don't you think so? I guess we are lucky that present government is approaching this with less emotion and more reason excluding quick conclusions. Many people have been condemned to death because authorities needed somebody to blam quickly rather than to investigate properly.

I agree with you, no need for speculation - and even less need for instant conclusions.

[mitrapaap]

Breaking news: In at least three locations, graffiti was discovered with the letters I.R.K.

I would not be surprised to hear that they were set off remotely by mobile phone

Most of the bombs have been identified as timed devices.

Graffiti with I.R.K? Where did u see this news? Can u provide the link please, I couldn't find it on the net. Would like to read more..

Thanks.

I'm afraid my interest/curiosity forces me to unveal my lack of knowledge. What does I.R.K. stand for?

[jii]

The poster who said that if Tourists stop coming then at least prices will start to fall. How well do you know Thailand? Less tourists means less money so the Thais will INCREASE prices to keep their margin up!!! If this means even less tourists they will increase the prices again. Thai logic. TIT.

Chris

well your right on that one if we use the TIT formula. but maybe when they have 10 percent hotel occupancy maybe not. or what will they do just completely shut down the hotels.

but if you look at other countries such as bali. indonesia the bargains that were available after the bombings were unbeliavble. fact is too thailand has experienced incredible inflation in the 13 years ive been here. im not joking when i say 300 percent in baht terms. look at the departure tax at the airports. 13 years ago it was 200 baht. then 250 then 500 then this new airport very soon will be 700 baht. then look at the price of hotels, guest houses. before i got a bungalow in krabi for 40 baht. now according to my friends you cant find this kind of thing there. all you can find is 100 usd places. dont know just accurate that is. but definetly the hotel price has went thru the roof. then there drinking prices in thailand. then we come back to cambodia and i can still get $1 usd drinks. and pay actually the same or even less for hotels, guest houses in cambodia than i did some 13 years ago. why there is way to many tourists in thailand.

[onethailand]

I'm afraid my interest/curiosity forces me to unveal my lack of knowledge. What does I.R.K. stand for?

Still unknown. I'm sure we'd all like to know what IRK stands for.

[thaigene2]

I'm a bit uncomfortable with the speed at which the police dismissed the possibility of Muslim militants from the South. If these were crude devices and a few grenades, then why not?

But the thing that bothers me most about this quick dismissal is the much darker possibility that this was done NOT to discredit the present regime -as some are suggesting (so quickly), but to try to further discredit the last one (an excuse for a 'strong' reaction). Frightening thought - and really depressing. I'll leave it at that as to say anything more probably breaches the 'special' forum rules.

[JimsKnight]

The poster who said that if Tourists stop coming then at least prices will start to fall. How well do you know Thailand? Less tourists means less money so the Thais will INCREASE prices to keep their margin up!!! If this means even less tourists they will increase the prices again. Thai logic. TIT.

Chris

well your right on that one if we use the TIT formula. but maybe when they have 10 percent hotel occupancy maybe not. or what will they do just completely shut down the hotels.

but if you look at other countries such as bali. indonesia the bargains that were available after the bombings were unbeliavble. fact is too thailand has experienced incredible inflation in the 13 years ive been here. im not joking when i say 300 percent in baht terms. look at the departure tax at the airports. 13 years ago it was 200 baht. then 250 then 500 then this new airport very soon will be 700 baht. then look at the price of hotels, guest houses. before i got a bungalow in krabi for 40 baht. now according to my friends you cant find this kind of thing there. all you can find is 100 usd places. dont know just accurate that is. but definetly the hotel price has went thru the roof. then there drinking prices in thailand. then we come back to cambodia and i can still get $1 usd drinks. and pay actually the same or even less for hotels, guest houses in cambodia than i did some 13 years ago. why there is way to many tourists in thailand.

OT He's right less tourists can create an 'off shoulder' low season effect where it should be high season. and we all know that low season is the cheaper time for expats etc. Downside is business' suffer.

Inflation is high but I've found that to be the south of Thailand and Bangkok to be the worst for that. Up north the prices are still cheap, even in high season.

The bombings suck, I was watching thai news first thing this morning, I see the bombing aftermath and wrongly assume its the south of Thailand again. Then I see the Sky Train / Victory monument area, thats when I knew it was bad.

I really struggle to comprehend why shadowy former TRT members would pull a stunt like this. Do they actually realise they are killing there own people?

Its too violent for them, or are they so desperate to damage the military junta government?

Well its a sad day for many, I was hoping for a nice start to the year but seeing this sht is not good. Now the troubles are here in the capital city its a bad sign. Before it seemed as though bombings were a world away being in the south. Now its in Bangkok I fear the high tourist watermark has passed now.

[julie_f]

one of my thai friends has a shop at big c lad phroa and she has just told me a small explosion went of their about twenty minutes ago. Has anyone else heard anything?

[onethailand]

For the most part, the only area affected will be Bangkok. Arrivals in Phuket, Samui etc. will not be affected so don't expect prices to change much there.

In Bangkok, most of the hotel demand is from businesspeople and people passing through on their way to other domestic and international locations. I don't think you can expect the prices of hotel rooms to drop very much for any extended period of time. Prices of goods also won't go up because the demand is primarily from residents who aren't going any where any time soon.

[Jet Gorgon]

JaiDee, thanks for the news bite on forensics queen Pornthip. She'll figure it out.

As for the new price war talk: In my locale, one guy raises prices, the rest of the neighbourhood has a jabberwocky and the next day, everybody's prices go up. It's jealousy, not economic factors.

[jii]

For the most part, the only area affected will be Bangkok. Arrivals in Phuket, Samui etc. will not be affected so don't expect prices to change much there.

In Bangkok, most of the hotel demand is from businesspeople and people passing through on their way to other domestic and international locations. I don't think you can expect the prices of hotel rooms to drop very much for any extended period of time. Prices of goods also won't go up because the demand is primarily from residents who aren't going any where any time soon.

well what do i know really. as what do any of us know really. BUT if you look at the bali bombings the prices of all hotels and holiday packages droped a ton. at the end of the day everyone has to eat to something. and some money is better than their already way to high prices. ok indo aint thailand so i cant say for sure.

[dragula]

well, who ever it was we need to find them. if it was the south then clean it up, they are not Thai any way.

being a good America and Thai we need to get someone in count for it. not let stuff like this take freedom away..

[Jai Dee]

Surayud suspects "power losers"

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has indicated domestic politics rather than the Muslim insurgency was behind the multiple bomb attacks before and after the New Year's countdown.

A man injured from bomb attack was pronounced dead on Monday, becoming the third victim to have been killed in the attacks.

Surayud's broadcast comment - that people whose vested interests were affected by the September 19 coup might have been behind the attacks _ heightened speculation surrounding remnants of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's deep-rooted influence.

Surayud did not directly identify Thaksin or his allies as possible culprits. He only said those who lost power as a result of the military takeover may have been responsible.

The remark left little doubt as to who he was referring to, though. And speculation was fuelled by reports that the coup leaders were trying to summon one of Thaksin's closest aides, Prommin Lertsuridej. Prommin was known to be trying to postpone the meeting.

Sondhi Limthongkul, the key man behind the street protests against Thaksin prior to the September coup, has pointed his finger directly at the former prime minister. He was quoted in the Manager newspaper website that the bomb attacks were the latest in a series of systematic campaign to discredit the interim government and coupmakers.

The media tycoon noted that the Bangkok attacks followed a series of political assaults on the credibility and integrity of Surayud and coup leader Sonthi Bunyaratglin.

The Thai Rak Thai camp as well as Thaksin's personal lawyer have strongly denied involvement in the violence that cut short Bangkokians' New Year celebrations and dampened those elsewhere.

The eight bombs that exploded across Bangkok on New Year's Eve and early Monday also wounded 38 people, including nine foreigners.

"Based on the government's information and intelligence agencies, it was the work of people who lost power, but I cannot clearly say which group was behind it," Surayud told reporters.

He was speaking after meeting chiefs of security organisations.

"The perpetrators wanted to generate a negative political impact and make Thai people feel political instability," he said.

The blasts that rocked the capital that was gearing up to celebrate the new year forced the cancellation of New Year's celebrations in Bangkok and other major cities.

Surayud said he did not think the blasts were linked to the insurgency in the south, despite similarities between the Bangkok bombing methods and the near-daily attacks in the southernmost provinces.

"It is very unlikely that it was linked to the southern violence, because it is much easier for the insurgents to mount an attack in the three southern provinces" than to target Bangkok," he said.

Former Democrat leader Chuan Leekpai backed Sondhi's theory, saying Thaksin's network of supporters, both underground and in the government sector was more than capable of carrying out the attacks.

"There are still many people who remain loyal to Thaksin. Some are politicians and others permanent state officials. And some of these people still have power because the interim government and the Council for National Security haven't tried to change their status," Chuan said.

Source: The Nation - 1 January 2007

[gharknes]

i wonder why any prime targets to kill farangs didn't get hit! any ideas anyone? i dont think its political, perhaps more sinister or cowardly reasons might be the answer

oh right, a pissed of tuk tuk driver ?

[onethailand]

well what do i know really. as what do any of us know really. BUT if you look at the bali bombings the prices of all hotels and holiday packages droped a ton. at the end of the day everyone has to eat to something. and some money is better than their already way to high prices. ok indo aint thailand so i cant say for sure.

Bali is a tourist destination. If Phuket had been the location, you would clearly be able to draw the distinction - after all, Phuket was severely damaged by the tsunami and actually experienced this major price flux.

Bangkok, however, is not what one would call a tourist destination. And its economy is primarily driven by the residents, not the tourists.

A better example would be Manila, which experiences a bomb in some shopping plaza 1-2x a year. Its hotel prices have not changed after similar incidents.

As a traveller, sure I would be a bit apprehensive. But that still does not stop me from going to Manila on business, nor would it significantly affect the local economy.

Edited January 1, 2007 by onethailand

[asd]

Graffiti with I.R.K? Where did u see this news? Can u provide the link please, I couldn't find it on the net. Would like to read more..

Thanks.

He claims to be able to read this alien language.

[bino]

one of my thai friends has a shop at big c lad phroa and she has just told me a small explosion went of their about twenty minutes ago. Has anyone else heard anything?

Can't confirm that there was any actual explosion, but I have just returned from there, and Big C / Imperial World mall is closed.

The security guards wouldn't let us into the parking garage- turned us away at the entrance, and there was a steady stream of cars coming out and returning their parking tickets.

The way that my GF understood the guard was that there was a warning / threat, and not an actual event.