Bomb Threats In Bangkok

[Plus]

This is from another thread that is supposed to continue here:

So let me get this straight - a thaskin supporter phoned in a warning to the nation, basically implicating Thaskin and saying bombs would go off to destroy infrastructure, not people?

Anyone else find this beyond absurd?

What has he got to lose? Maybe the New Year bombs were the beginning of a revolution for him and he doesn't feel like hiding anymore. Of course he didn't have the bomb, just helping the cause in any way he could.

There was an arrest today.Beyond absurd or not, but it looks like it's exactly what happened.

Man arrested for making false bomb alert to 191 police

A man was arrested Thursday for allegedly calling 191 police to deceive that a bomb had been planted inside the Tha Phra police station.

Prapassorn Pornsurin, 30, was arrested at his house in Bangkok's Chomthong district at noon on Thursday.

Police said Prapassorn called the 191 emergency police on Wednesday to alert that a bomb had been planted in the police station.

Police checked and found no bomb. When police checked the phone record of the 191 police division, they found that the call was made by a mobile phone number, which was registered under Prapassorn's name.

After his arrest, Prapassorn admitted that he made the call out of dissatisfaction that the coup makers had ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom he liked, and that the interim government had stopped populist policies of Thaksin.

The Nation

The question is - who made all other calls? They SHOULD have been coordinated.

[JacknDanny]

Thanks for the welcome back and New Year wishes, marshbags.

Had a very enjoyable, surprisingly so, journey to Phuket and environs on a beautiful road trip over the holidays. Leaves me only with the Deep South as the 3 remaining Thai provinces with unvisited status.

We all wish you and yours the very best in 2007. May your hearts be joyful and your wishes achieved.

Welcome back SJ and all the best for the New Year

Edited January 4, 2007 by JacknDanny

[alexis2007]

Anyone heard of bomb at Future Park Rangsit tonight?

Thanks for any confirmation

[sriracha john]

Thanks for the welcome back and New Year wishes, marshbags.

Had a very enjoyable, surprisingly so, journey to Phuket and environs on a beautiful road trip over the holidays. Leaves me only with the Deep South as the 3 remaining Thai provinces with unvisited status.

We all wish you and yours the very best in 2007. May your hearts be joyful and your wishes achieved.

Naratiwat and Yala are incredibly beautiful provinces and they used to be so friendly and laid back even only a few years ago. Unfortunately I doubt the same can be said now. Still worth a visit however.

I have no doubt that I will complete my quest to visit all of the entire 76 at some point, same as I did all 50 states of the USA. Even the gloomy and inhospitable nature of New Jersey didn't deter me from completing that.

The similarities and differences encountered throughout the various areas of this country are too fascinating to me to not finish the task.

[sriracha john]

Thanks for the welcome back and New Year wishes, marshbags.

Had a very enjoyable, surprisingly so, journey to Phuket and environs on a beautiful road trip over the holidays. Leaves me only with the Deep South as the 3 remaining Thai provinces with unvisited status.

We all wish you and yours the very best in 2007. May your hearts be joyful and your wishes achieved.

Welcome back SJ and all the best for the New Year

Thank you and likewise... here's wishing you and yours a grand 2007.

[sriracha john]

The question is - who made all other calls? They SHOULD have been coordinated.

well, one of the calls was made by a schoolgirl who wanted to go home early... :D

In Nonthaburi, a girl student of Sriboonyanond School was arrested yesterday for making a bomb threat at her school on Wednesday because she wanted it to close and let her go home early. Police later called the girl's parents with a warning about her bad behaviour and released her.

The Nation

Meanwhile the earlier cited Praphasson case had a weirder twist and overall, other calls just keep rolling in....

Metropolitan police yesterday received five more hoax bomb warnings despite threatening to jail prank callers for 18 months. One male caller was arrested but released later after claiming to have mental problems.

Five separate callers warned of bombs at Rajavinij School in Dusit district, the Bangkok Bank headquarters on Silom Road, Siam Square shopping centre, Victory Monument and the Anti Money-Laundering Office, said Pol Lt-General Viroj Chantharangsi, chief of the Metropolitan Police Office.

"Like yesterday, we found no bombs at any of the sites," he said.

"We also received another 28 calls reporting suspicious bomb-like objects in different places. None were bombs."

Viroj said the metropolitan police had received 150 bomb-related calls from December 31 until yesterday, of which 27 were bomb threats and the remainder to report suspicious objects.

Police yesterday arrested Praphassorn Phornsurin, 30, for calling the 191 hotline on Wednesday night with a warning about a bomb at The Mall superstore. He was caught at his home in Chomthong district along with the mobile used to make the call.

Praphassorn confessed to making the call, saying he was drunk and did it for fun and also because he is a supporter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I personally dislike this government because it exiled Thaksin from the country as well as giving up all of Thaksin's good policies like the Bt30 health policy," Praphassorn said. *I guess no one told him that the 30-baht health policy had been replaced by a 0 baht health policy. I hope he's not planning on driving a taxi into an immovable object.*

His mother, Sriprapha, burst into tears and asked the police to not jail Praphassorn. She told them he had had mental problems since undergoing serious convulsions at the age of six months and still needed daily medication. *Like uhmm... the alcohol he was drunk on when he called????*

"He is normally aggressive by nature - even to me, his parent. He must have called 191 because of his mental state," she said.

Police decided to release Praphassorn after taking his confession, but on the condition that his mental condition be confirmed later by specialists. *aggressive... drunk... mentally impaired... bomb-threat caller... released????.. sure, why not?.. TIT*

The Nation

and then the best of the best...

In Trang, a mysterious parcel was reported lying on the railway track yesterday.

However, police later found it was only a rock.

The Nation

Edited January 4, 2007 by sriracha john

[Tony Clifton]

Bangkok warned on more attacks

"Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said it was "highly likely" the attacks were carried out by "men in uniform".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6230297.stm

LaoPo

This morning, I saw a fat 65 year old woman pushing a food cart, wearing a t-shirt that said POLICE, front and back. Not counting ordinary citizens wearing police helmets, driving sportscars , trucks with police stickers, moo ban security guards dressed as commando units. The "man in black" (yaba dealer) at the World Trade plaza was dressed as an undercover (actually hired by police to carry dirty business).

Uniforms mean N O T H I N G.

I won't rule out police officers still faithful to ol' Lt. Pol. Col Thaksin.

Edited January 5, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[Jai Dee]

National Police Spokesman accepted blame on BKK bombings

The Royal Thai Police Spokesman, Lt. Gen. Achirawit Supanphesat, said the Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General, Pol. Gen. Kowit Wattana, was performing his duty in the South when small bombs exploded in many areas of Bangkok on December 31st 2006.

The statement was made after Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silpa-archa said he would like Pol. Gen. Kowit to take charge of the incidents.

Lt. Gen. Achirawit also reiterated that the blasts were difficult to be prevented even though police received warnings of bomb threats in Central World and Seacon Square beforehand.

He also viewed the comment of Mr.Banharn as a suggestion from the elder and said the rumors concerning the dismissal of Pol. Gen. Kowit were only opinions of certain people.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Security agencies join hands to nab prank callers

Deputy Commissioner Department of Infantry from Region 7 Col. Nopporn Ruenchan (นพพร เรือนจันทร์) has joined hands with policemen to nab down people making crank calls about a possible bomb explosion.

According to police, the Police Department has received a number of prank calls, especially in the province of Chiang Mai. The 3rd Army Area Commander has also urged authorities and the public to inform police of crank callers.

Col. Nopporn insisted that Red Cross Fair and Children’s Day fair in Chiang Mai will continue amidst of the security measures of authorities.

People can inform police of irregularities at 0-5324-1857 and 0-5324-5476 around the clock.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Justice Minister condemns bombings on December 31

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjitha (ชาญชัย ลิขิตจิตถะ) has expressed condemnation to the recent bombings on the last day of 2006.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Justice Community and Justice Network submitted an open letter to the minister to condemn the attacks as well. They also ask the public to observe situations and inform officials of whereabouts of the wrongdoers.

In the meantime, representatives of the Golden Jubilee Youth Home called for ill-intentioned people to stop using violence and hurt innocent people. They suggested the government and relevant agencies to resolve violence situations in line with reconciliation means.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Pulo criticises Thaksin for blaming it over New Year bombings

Separatist Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) has criticised Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who blamed it over the deadly bombings in Bangkok on the New Year's Eve.

Kasturi Mahkota, Pulo's Foreign Affairs Chief said in a statement issued Wednesday that he has never thought that finger pointing tactic to blame each other for the bloody incident was still in practice in the civilised society.

"Especially when Mr Thaksin, who is now out of power, no sense of guilt and from afar, is baselessly blaming us, as he always did at the cost of others to win his endless conflict of interest nature," he said.

On Monday, Thai government blamed that power losers—simply means Thaksin and his supporters—were behind the eight bombs that killed three people and injured more than 40 others.

Thaksin then issued a statement, denying the allegation and shifting the blame to southern separatists.

The Pulo, which fought to separate Pattani from Thailand since 1960s, denied the accusation.

"Be they atheist Thaksin or any individuals or parties who naively judged the explosions were the work of Patani freedom fighters from the South, we invite you all to stop making myth after myth and face reality instead," Kasturi said.

The Pulo would maintain primarily fighting for Malay Muslim rights and ethnicity, against Thai existence within the scope of former Malay Kingdom of Patani, presently known as the 5 predominantly Malay provinces Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun.

Source: The Nation - 5 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Thai leaders reviewing security videotapes in Bangkok bombings

Thai leaders said Friday they were investigating security videotapes of suspects carrying out the New Year's blasts in Bangkok, and dismissed fears of a new coup as rumors spread by unnamed soldiers and police implicated in the bombings.

Coup rumors have spread through the capital, with some speculating that supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra could try to retake power and others citing a possible move within the military against the civilian government it installed less than four months ago.

"Security forces and intelligence sources have confirmed that the coup rumors were spread by the groups of people linked to the New Year's bombs. They aim to create a state confusion and chaos," interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told reporters Friday.

"The investigators have concluded that the bombers were men in uniform, both green and khaki," said Defense Minister Boonrawd Somtas, referring to the uniforms worn by military and police services.

Warning that the country should be prepared for more violence, Surayad said police had recovered two security videotapes of some of the bombers. The string of eight small bombs Sunday killed three people and wounded nearly 40 as the Thai capital celebrated the New Year.

One of the tapes, seen by an Associated Press reporter, showed the back of the head of a man with closely cropped hair who dropped something and then walked away. Police said the tape was recorded by security cameras at one of the bomb attack sites, in Nonthaburi on the northern outskirts of Bangkok.

Authorities have not released the other tape to the press.

Army commander Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, who led the takeover of Thaksin's government in September and now heads the military's Council for National Security, called the reports of another coup "impossible" in an interview on Thai television.

Col. Sansern Chaengkamnerd, a council spokesman, also told The Associated Press Thursday that the coup rumors were baseless.

"There have been transfers of troops but it is for the purpose of providing security in Bangkok," he said.

There has been a marked increase in the number of troops on the streets of Bangkok and at airports, and bus and train stations, since the Sunday night bombings.

It remained unclear who was behind the attacks, although the military has suggested that Thaksin supporters in the military and police have been trying to destabilize the country in a bid to take back power.

Thaksin has denied involvement.

There has also been speculation that the military may be dissatisfied with the performance of the interim civilian government it installed after the coup, and may prefer to take complete power for itself rather than work behind the scenes.

Sondhi denied the military council was responsible for the bombings.

"I have risked myself to do what the people wished. Why should I do that?" he said in a TV interview. "I love my people and my country."

The interim government, which is supposed to relinquish power after an election expected later this year, has drawn criticism for failing to solve several major problems, including an Islamic insurgency in the south and the rising value of Thailand's currency, which has hurt exports.

The failure to restore peace in the south and the Bangkok bombings raised fears that the insurgency may be spreading north from the country's three southernmost, Muslim-dominated provinces. Nearly 2,000 people have died from violence in the past three years.

Surayud acknowledged Thursday that his government received intelligence in advance about two of the bombing targets, but said he didn't know who the culprits were.

Speaking to the interim legislature, he said there was only "a very small chance" that the blasts were linked to the southern violence.

"It is related more to people with ill intentions, and those who want to cause violence who are in our area, which is Bangkok," he said.

Surayud on Thursday said authorities should be ready for future attacks, though he did not indicate any specific threat: "This isn't happening only now, but we have to be prepared to face a new threat that could harm people's lives in the future."

Source: AP - 5 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

3 BKK bombing victims show stressful signs

A psychiatrist, Md. Amporn Benjaponpithak, disclosed that three of the victims of Bangkok bombings on December 31st 2006 are in a very stressful state because the horrific sights are still in their minds. She said they also recognize the dead victims and they could not restrain themselves yet.

Md. Amporn is currently treating the patients of the bombings in Rajavithi Hospital. She said there is a high risk that the three terrifying patients will suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because they were in the bombing incidents. She said the patients may feel guilty and depressed because they believe that they could not save their departed friends. However, they are under close supervision at the hospital.

Md. Amport said other patients have not shown signs of being gravely stressful or suffering from PTSD. The hospital has coordinated with Bangkok officials to get in touch with their relatives to help relieve their mental health.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Jittery Bangkok orders in after bombs

BANGKOK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Food delivery firms in jittery Bangkok are reporting jammed switchboards as more and more people decide venturing out to eat in a city usually ready to party is too risky after New Year bombs killed three.

Food by Phone, a company which delivers from a large number of high-end restaurants, food chain S&P, The Pizza Company and restaurants all reported heavier than usual demand with the mystery of who was behind them unresolved.

"After the bombs, calls from customers were more than usual. Our delivery sales have risen about 10 percent," Food By Phone's Maneerung Jermkhuntod said as the post-coup government issued a second warning that there might be more attacks.

"Ninety percent of our customers are foreigners living in the prime areas like Sukhumvit and Rachprasong, so of course, the impact of the bombs has been positive for us," she said hours after rumours of another coup swept the city of nine million people.

S&P delivery manager Chirley Sawangkong said fewer shoppers were venturing into Bangkok's many malls, hitting sit-down revenues.

"Our restaurant sales, especially those in big malls, have fallen in line with a drop in the number of shoppers," she said.

"But our delivery sales have been doing much better. Since the bombs, our call centre lines are sometimes jammed for hours."

Minor International, a hotel and fast food firm that operates more than 500 restaurants of The Pizza Company, said it found the same pattern since the eight New Year's bombs went off, wounding 38 people.

"We have got about 100 hotel night cancellations so far but our Pizza delivery sales have been doing quite well," senior finance director Praparat Tangkawattana said.

Like other big malls, Central World Plaza, just across the road from where two midnight bombs, has been hit hard as the government installed after a Sept. 19 military coup warns people to brace for more such attacks.

"People traffic in Central World dropped 30-40 percent in the first two days after the bombs," said one executive who declined to be named.

"Yesterday was better. The decrease was 5-15 percent compared with the normal situation as we tightened up our security, such as closed circuit TV and getting rid of bins. That helped boost people's confidence," he said.

"I hope it should be back to normal over the next few weeks."

Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who led the coup Sept. 19 coup, said on Friday he did not know who was behind them.

But he said in a special early morning television appearance to shoot down the coup rumours, they were part of a concerted bid to undermine the government.

Coup leaders blame politicians who lost power, a charge most Thais take as aimed at ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now in exile in Beijing. But they have provided no evidence and admit they do not know who organised them.

Sonthi said the coup rumours must have swept through the city after army units were spotted on the move.

The army was simply rotating soldiers sent into the city to help police mount a major security operation after the bombs, he said, promising to let everyone know the next time a rotation was due.

Source: Reuters - 5 January 2007

[onethailand]

I can't believe Reuters polled food delivery services as a basis for determining whether there was less activity on the streets or not. I went out on the 3rd and I can tell you that the Skytrain was as busy as always, perhaps busier - and the malls I went to did not have any significant difference in traffic.

I actually contributed to the higher incidence in delivery calls - on the 1st I called Pizza Company because my kids were bitching that they were hungry at nearly 10 PM. On the 2nd I called Pizza Hut because I was hungry, having tried to stick to a low-carb (well ok, I didn't eat at ALL) diet all day, and finally gave up the ghost. Besides which I wanted Goldy Cheesy Crust which Pizza Company doesn't have.

I can also imagine a lot of people who stayed in on the 1st, maybe the 2nd, because of hangovers or a general desire to be lazy and stay home.

All of a sudden we're jittery?

Reuters, get real. Did it not occur to you that there are certain times of year, including new year, when home delivery naturally rises?

Also, just in case anyone was wondering how badly tourism has been affected so far:

Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said the five tourism associations that met yesterday reported that about 5 per cent of trips had been cancelled, mostly by tourists from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and China.

Some tourists are sticking with their plans because they have already paid for their holidays, and some just want to stay in Bangkok for a couple of days before moving to other countries, he said.

http://bangkokpost.com/topstories.php?id=115756

Although:

Up to 15 per cent of the four million tourists expected to visit Thailand in the first three months of the year may cancel their trips after deadly bombings in Bangkok, according to the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting.

http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/r...newsid=30023367

Personally, like I said in one of the closed threads, I believed tourism would not be affected by more than 5%. I sure hope that this will continue to be the case.

Edited January 5, 2007 by onethailand

[asd]

Full Interview of Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin

Council for National Security chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin spoke to Thepchai Yong on the "Siam this Morning" programme on Channel 5 about the reports of a second coup and measures to tighten military control following the bomb blasts in Bangkok on New Year's Eve.

Thepchai Yong

Thepchai: There have been rumours about a coup that have caused public confusion. How are the rumours about another coup linked to the school arson attacks.

Sonthi: From military analysis, there is a link. The principle is like what happened in the three southern provinces, in theory and practice and objectives. The military is monitoring and checking the pattern to see which groups are responsible. We have to find that out clearly and focus on solutions to the problem.

Thepchai: Do you still believe that the people who have lost political power are behind (the incident)?

Sonthi: We analysed several groups that might be behind it and the theory about the political group (being behind the incident) seems more reasonable.

Thepchai: What do they want?

Sonthi: It is obvious that politics is the ultimate reason. But we will not say so at the moment. We just keep in mind that the public should not be troubled.

Thepchai: About the coup rumour, are there people in the military who have the potential (to stage a coup)?

Sonthi: Considering the administration in the military... I give justice first priority in my management. We need unity and believe in the brotherhood (in the military). Thoughts about a coup are unlikely.

Thepchai: You once said that money is more powerful than weapons.

Sonthi: We are trying to inculcate ideology to get over it (the value that worships money), but I do not believe that it is possible.

Thepchai: Is there still unity in the CNS? I have heard about conflict at meetings.

Sonthi: No - I insist that we have unity. Our management since September 19 has been united.

Thepchai: Is Thaksin involved?

Sonthi: How much he is involved we cannot say. We have to find the operatives (who planted the bombs). If we do, we can analyse the future direction.

Thepchai: Do these things (what they found) prove that he is involved?

Sonthi: We cannot indicate so. (Not really) We will bring all reasons to our analysis.

Thepchai: What do you think of Thaksin's letter from Beijing. What do you think about the content? It seems the letter communicated directly with the CNS.

Sonthi: It is just a way out, by giving an explanation. I rather want the public to look at the truth. As time passed the public understood and knew about the problems, but they have not done anything.

Thepchai: Thaksin said the CNS stresses on retaliation.

Sonthi: If the CNS had such intentions, we would have seized his assets at the beginning. We want reconciliation. The public wants me to impound his assets but I do not think that we can because our country has rules and law. What the previous government did will show in the result of the investigations.

Thepchai: Shouldn't we just impound his assets?

Sonthi: We have to admit that there assets that appear legal and there are a lot outside the system. He does not need to use the legal assets for he can use the hidden assets.

Thepchai: The lifestyle of Bangkok people have changed. Society needs confidence.

Sonthi: We have to admit that the (bombers') objective is to trouble the public so that the impact is reflected to the government and the CNS. They want to destroy the CNS and the government. We just have to make them less successful in their goal. We have to get the military to work more with police and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the private sector to reach understanding over this point and cooperate in the problem solving.

Then I believe it is not easy for them (It's not easy for people with bad intention to commit crimes). During the bomb attacks, there were CCTVs that captured what happened. Police are checking.

Thepchai: The CNS is not satisfied with the police performance as they seem to be in neutral gear. Is it possible the police chief will be removed?

Sonthi: I believe that every police officer has high ideals and most are good men. The delay in the investigation is due to the work was carried out coordinatedly and was professionally done. (The bombers did their job coordinately conspiracyprofessionally and making it hard for the police to investigate.) The police face a tough job but I believe they will succeed. If there are police who are in neutral gear, the police should know and the police will share the adverse impact. Every police officer should have dignity. For the police chief, it is up to the police's performance.

Thepchai: Gen Surayud said Thai people have to be prepared for a new type of threat from now on.

Sonthi: I have given the definition of a new kind of threat to the armed forces for several months. The threat has happened and it cannot be found in textbooks or theory. We told the forces that what is happening in the capital is a new kind of threat. There is also a threat in the rural areas, where people understand very little about democracy. With the lack of understanding it is difficult to achieve peace. So we deploy the forces in communities to create understanding and solve drug problems.

Thepchai: Gen Chavalit alleged that the CNS made up the bombings?

Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh

Sonthi: I want to say that on the September 19, the decision makers risked their lives. They had to take responsibility for their decision, to do it for the sake of the public. Why then would we plant bombs to destroy the people that we love more than ourselves?

Thepchai: Why did Gen Chavalit think that?

Sonthi: I cannot say. The CNS meeting insisted that there was no such thing. There are few people who can plant bombs: soldiers, police. He has the right to present his view.

Council for National Security (CNS) assistant secretary General Saprang Kalayanamitr

Thepchai: Gen Saprang mentioned the names of several retired military officials who have connections with Gen Chavalit and Thaksin.

Sonthi: I cannot confirm that. We have many perspectives in our analysis. We look at every element, every one, and see what is most likely.

Thepchai: How close you are to the targets?

Sonthi: We are quite close and the police have announced more progress in the investigation.

Thepchai: Can you link to them to the mastermind?

Sonthi: They have probably removed the link. However, we can analyse from the direction of what is happening.

Thepchai: Thaksin's letter indicated that he had phoned people in the CNS.

Sonthi: He told me to work to the best of my ability and that he is a sportsman. That was it.

Thepchai: Do you believe Thaksin's word that he is a sportsman.

Sonthi: First of all, we have to believe him.

Thepchai: Since the incidents happened, do you still believe him?

Sonthi: I do not know who did (the bombings). I want the spirit of sportsmanship to return to him.

Thepchai: Is it a sentiment as a result of a coup? (it= bombing)

Sonthi: I agree with Khun Thepchai's analysis that what is happening today, we should look at what happened in the past with our country. We come today to remove the past. We want to build the correct foundation. What they are trying to do is to put the people in doubt and discredit the government and the CNS.

Thepchai: How are you going to solve the problem?

Sonthi: For what happened on December 31, those who were responsible regret because the whole country has been affected. They are probably ashamed of their sin.

Thepchai: Are you too optimistic?

Sonthi: I wish to be optimistic. People who were involved are not few because it happened many spots. At least 50 people knew about this. Many have good conscience and fear of sin. This will lead to good attitude.

Thepchai: Will there be a Children's Day celebration this year?

Sonthi: Many people asked me if there will be safety. I think we will celebrate Children's Day this year bigger than any year. Because more people love the military. We want young people to have confidence in being Thai and believe in the military and love the country.

[asd]

Who's behind New Year's Eve bombings and coup rumours

Public jitters have escalated to full out anxiety as Bangkok residents reel from the New Year bombings coupled with the Thursday's rumours of a second coup.

While the bombings remain a mystery, coup rumours have progressed from whispers to the talk of the town.

Council for National Security (CNS) assistant secretary General Saprang Kalayanamitr

This progression coincided with bickering between former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Council for National Security (CNS) assistant secretary General Saprang Kalayanamitr.

Chavalit - reportedly in a sour mood for failing to convince the military to back his political comeback - lashed out at Saprang for trying to link him to the violence.

On Wednesday night, sources close to Saprang circulated speculation that Chavalit was about to be apprehended.

In retaliation, sources linked to Chavalit raised the possibility of another power seizure.

Coup rumours gained momentum because they coincided with the rotation of troops on security detail at 300 public places in the capital. Troops had been deployed after the bombings.

Chavalit Yongchaiyudh

So, will there be another coup?

The military intervention is undeniably part of the political landscape. But the ongoing power struggle seems unlikely to escalate into a new coup.

Offtherecord comments from active and retired Army officers indicate there is a real rivalry inside the military.

One possibility is that a rival military clique may dethrone the CNS to revive the Thaksin Shinawatra regime.

Sources say the situation is not drastic enough to see the outbreak of civil war.

The other possibility is a repeat coup where the CNS would realign its power to overcome problems, one of which is a power struggle for control of the Army.

General Anupong Paochinda

Key contenders include Saprang, his CNS colleague General Anupong Paochinda and Army chiefofstaff General Montri Sangkhasap.

The eruption of political violence has brought this military rivalry to the fore.

The military clique of Anupong, Montri and First Army Region commander General Prayuth Chanocha is in charge, while Saprang is on the sidelines. Following the explosions, power has perceptibly shifted to the three.

Coup speculation will be revised as it seeks to keep up with the subtle power plays in the Army.

by Avudh Panananda

The Nation

[blaze]

"Sources say the situation is not drastic enough to see the outbreak of civil war. "

That's good enough for me- we can all sleep easier now. Sure glad those 'sources' keep us informed in lieu of critical investigative journalism.

[Jai Dee]

Police warns people should move away from any bomb sites

Police officers warn people who find themselves at the scenes of bombing to move away from the site, and those who find suspicious objects should report to police immediately.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Praphan Khontrong (ประพัฒน์ คนตรง), the deputy commissioner of the Office of Forensics Science under the Royal Thai Police, indicated that when people are caught in bombing situations, they must remain calm because excitement can derive dangers. He said people should try to move away from the sites as far as they can and they must not take actions due to curiosity.

He said that should anyone learn of bomb information or find suspicious objects they must report to police in haste, and not withhold the information.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

ABAC Poll surveyed 96-97%respondents show their emotional attached to the victims of bomb blasts

ABAC Poll conducted a survey on the cause of several bombings in Bangkok and nearby areas on New Year’s Eve. The survey also touched on the respondents’ feelings and confidence towards the government and the Council for National Security (CNS). The respondents were at least 18 years as well as street vendors and business operators.

90 percent of the samples heard about the bomb blasts while 46.4 percent believed that the responsible culprits could be the people who lost certain poltical benefits. 38.6 percent were undecided and 15 percent did not believe that they were politically related.

About 97 percent of the respondents sympathized the Bangkok bombing victims. 90 percent blamed the bombers and recognized the hard work performed by police officers. They also wanted to see unity among Thai people.

The survey concluded that the government needs to improve the situation and heal the emotional shock and erase the fear of the victims as well as public members.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

M.R. Pridiyathorn mentioned bombings in Bangkok affected tourism in short term

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula has pledged to do his utmost efforts to make the national economy more secured over the next couple of months.

M.R. Pridiyathorn plans to assure investors of the stability of economic fundamentals in Thailand such as agricultural production, investment of private sector, and export. He said tourism industry is the only sector that has been affected by the bombings in Bangkok on December 31st 2006, but it is only a short-term impact.

In addition, M.R. Pridiyathorn has insisted that the Bank of Thailand has no plan to review the measures on Thai baht on January 8th 2007.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Bangkok bombing will not affect time frame for constitution drafting and election

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed condolences for the nine foreigners wounded in recent bomb incidents in Bangkok.

The sympathy was conveyed by Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn (กฤษณ์ กาญจนกุญชร) during a meeting attended by 62 foreign ambassadors based in Thailand and representatives from 14 international organizations.

Mr. Krit said two of the foreigners still remain in hospitals. He cited the Prime Minister as saying that the perpetrators apparently wanted political impacts and turmoil. Those persons deserved condemnation as they did not care about the safety of people, particularly at a time when people expected peaceful transition into the New Year. Their purpose was to convince the public that the government was not politically secure.

During the clarification, Mr. Krit said intelligence showed that the sabotage was created by those who had lost political power. He cited as evidence the findings from CCTV and forensic process. However, the Permanent Secretary affirmed that the incidents had no relations with southern unrest though bombing aspects were similar. He explained that southern attacks were aimed at inflicting damage on lives while those in Bangkok focused more on social and political turmoil.

Mr. Krit announced that the government will take responsibilities for all the medical expenses as well as financial aid for the wounded. He added that the incidents will not disrupt the constitution drafting process, the planned general election, the reconciliation process, as well as government consideration on the lifting of martial law.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 January 2007

[sriracha john]

The Nation

Edited January 6, 2007 by sriracha john

[SeanBangkok]

In the article LaoPo posted, the Defense Minister said that it was "highly likely" that they attacks were carried out by "men in uniform".

Does this mean that he believes there are factions in the Thai army responsible?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6230297.stm

[blaze]

In the article LaoPo posted, the Defense Minister said that it was "highly likely" that they attacks were carried out by "men in uniform".

Does this mean that he believes there are factions in the Thai army responsible?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6230297.stm

and hence, the real mission of the 14000 man 'secret' force? If the two are connected- that's a hel_l of a lot of loyal informants unless a fairly sizeable rebellious faction is suspected. Or is it? Maybe not. Maybe no connection at all.

[hammered]

In the article LaoPo posted, the Defense Minister said that it was "highly likely" that they attacks were carried out by "men in uniform".

Does this mean that he believes there are factions in the Thai army responsible?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6230297.stm

It is well known that there are some elements in the military and more so in the police still loyal to Mr. Thaksin.

[hammered]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=115792

Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda condemned the masterminds behind the Bangkok bombings, saying such people have to be either mentally ill or simply bad people - and they aren't mentally ill.

"Good people don't cause chaos in the country. And mentally ill people would not be able to plant eight bombs," said Gen Prem during a speech given on the New Year's occasion to government officials, businessmen and people at Nakhon Ratchasima.

"If they (the perpetrators) are not mentally ill, they must be conscious and intend to damage the country."

Gen Prem said whoever is behind the bombing must have their own reasons. "If they don't like the Council for National Security, the government or me, they should pay it back at me, not at innocent people.

Gen Prem said whatever is said about their actions, they are "very vicious."

[LaoPo]

In the article LaoPo posted, the Defense Minister said that it was "highly likely" that they attacks were carried out by "men in uniform".

Does this mean that he believes there are factions in the Thai army responsible?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6230297.stm

You might want to read this also:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...p;#entry1065198

LaoPo

[ColPyat]

In the article LaoPo posted, the Defense Minister said that it was "highly likely" that they attacks were carried out by "men in uniform".

Does this mean that he believes there are factions in the Thai army responsible?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6230297.stm

It is well known that there are some elements in the military and more so in the police still loyal to Mr. Thaksin.

And it is very well known that the military is not just split between pro and anti Thaksin fractions. Things aren't that simple. The coup and Thaksin's fall and the resulting power vacuum have opened a hornet's nest here with almost anybody struggling for power, as was to be expected.

Wide spread fear and paranoia is not just in the interest for groups that want Thaksin back into power.

While it may be in the interest of some to still solely blame all of the present mess on Thaksin, this excuse though will not much longer hold up to reality. It maybe is high time for the government to deal with the problems of the country instead of only trying to "inculcate ideology to get over it (the value that worships money)", and otherwise just follow whatever Thaksin began, even coming up with more populist crap for lack of a practical vision for Thailand's future as part of a increasingly globalised world.

We may move straight back into the political turbulences of the 70s.

[george]

All Bangkok police stations on standby to deal with bomb hoaxes

BANGKOK: -- The metropolitan police chief has instructed all 88 police stations in the capital to be on high alert to deal with callers who make bomb hoaxes.

Pol Col Phinit Maneerat, spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said Pol Lt Gen Wiroj Chantharangsi gave the order after the 191 emergency police was overwhelmed with calls reporting bomb threats, which turned out to be hoaxes.

Phinit said the 191 police would report the calls to respective police stations to investigate and arrest the callers.

The spokesman also warned parents to ensure that their children would not make bomb plank calls for fun as the parents would also be liable to punishment with a maximum jail term of six months and/or a maximum fine of Bt20,000.

--The Nation 2007-01-06