Thai Pm Convenes Emergency Meeting, Military On High Alert

[george]

Thai PM convenes emergency meeting, military on high alert

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's prime minister called an emergency security meeting early Monday following a deadly string of New Year's Eve bombings hit Bangkok, leading to troops fanning out across the capital for the first time since the September 19 coup.

The nine coordinated bombs that exploded across Bangkok on the eve of normally festive New Year's Eve and early Monday killed three people and injured more than 30 persons -- at least six of them foreigners.

Foreigners known to be injured were two Britons, two Serbians, one American and one Hungarian, according to Suchila La-oan at Police General Hospital, where they were sent, who was quoted by the Associated Press news agency.

The three bombs that exploded just after midnight Monday were near the areas where foreign tourists are known to gather. The first device exploded at the Best Seafood restaurant along Saen Saeb Canal near the Pratunam Pier shortly after the New Year countdown ended.

The second bomb exploded at a public telephone booth at the pedestrian flyover linking Central World and Gaysorn Plaza Shopping Mall. Another bomb went off on Khao Sarn Road, an area packed with tourists.

Post-coup interim prime minister Surayud Chulanont summoned an emergency security meeting Monday at 10 am (0300 GMT).

General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, Army Chief and chairman of the Council forNational Security (CNS), the council of military officers who led the September 19 coup, is currently attending the Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca.

The bombings triggered a security alert in the Thai capital. No person or group has claimed responsibility so far. An investigation has been launched to find the attackers and their motive.

In the hours after the blasts, soldiers were dispatched to patrol key intersections while security was stepped up at Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport and on the city's light rail network.

The Thai capital has not previously experienced any bomb attack on this scale before, but there was no panic among the public .

--TNA 2007-01-01

[george]

Thai military coup leader returns as bombing spreads to Chiang Mai

BANGKOK: -- A spate of bombings in Bangkok, and now a bombing in Chiang Mai, has led Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, army chief and chairman of Thailand's Council for National Security (CNS), to return to Thailand early, having cut short his participation in the Muslim Haj, a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

One man was wounded Monday morning when a bomb exploded at a mosque in Chiang Mai, the former northern capital.

Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya Monday morning said he believed that the New Year's Eve explosions in Bangkok were not related to the ongoing violence in the deep South.

Police investigators are combing through the scene of a half dozen New Year's Day explosions -- and three early Monday morning in Bangkok -- in a bid to find evidence leading to the arrest of those who planted the bombs.

Details of the Chiang Mai explosion are not yet known.

Monday's incident came after five bombs shook the Thai capital and another echoed in nearby Nonthaburi Sunday evening as shoppers were making their last forays for gifts and revellers were preparing to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Another three bombs exploded just after midnight Monday morning near areas where foreign tourists are known to gather.

Overall at least three persons died while 38, including nine foreigners, were wounded in the series of blasts which shattered Bangkok's holiday spirit, changing the nature of Thailand's ongoing political uncertainty. Military units appeared in some key areas for the first time since the bloodless September 19 coup which ousted the elected government of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra three months ago.

Mr. Aree told journalists early today that he could not say much regarding yesterday's incidents as security officials were investigating to find out who was behind the incidents.

But the interior minister was reluctant to link the New Year's Eve explosions with Muslim separatists who have been creating bloody unrest in the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat during the past three years.

"Those who have tried to link the (New Year's Eve) incidents to the unrest in the South must be very careful as last night was both New Year's Eve and also an important Islamic religious day. Muslim people attended prayers and were happy," Mr. Aree, himself a Muslim, explained.

Sunday's incidents also came as coup leader Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, also army commander-in-chief, was in Saudi Arabia for the Haj and before changing his plans, was scheduled to return to Bangkok next January 8.

--TNA 2007-01-01

[Francis Maube]

Just as the tourism industry was recovering from a string of natural and man made disaster such as Tsunami, SARS, Gulf war, avian Flu, 9/11 etc, here is another blow. As some fatalistic foreign venue owners wondered earlier in 2006 "What's the next one", they are now answered.

[Scott]

This sort of stuff isn't supposed to happen under military rule! The one advantage, usually, to military rule is that there isn't much violence (provided the military rule wasn't a violent overtaking of another violent regime).

[bdenner]

I would have thought the PM would also have his "Bean Counters" on high alert also, going to be an interesting few days with the SET and currency exchange. I for one will not be drawing any ATM cash off my Aust. card for a day or two. - Just wait and see what happens!

[falux]

I have seen military hanging around shopping areas here on Ratchada; they have replaced police presence, taken over the motercylces couches and were bored to death. I'm not complaining them, what are they supposed to do after checking the 4 trashcans on the road? I think it could the wrong kind of reaction to send military. They are not competent for this situation and they did not even try to pretend to be. hel_l, they can't even check passports.

Edited January 2, 2007 by falux