Bomb Threats In Bangkok

[Mid]

tin hat time ..................................

[sriracha john]

Temujin Network claims to identify the culprits behind the BKK bombings

Mr. Chanapat Na Nakhon, the chairman of a political network known as Temujin Network

Interesting group??? A network of PC Gamers??

Temujin Game

At A Glance

Type: Supernatural Adventure Game

Highlights: Great game engine; great graphics; great sound; good story

Lowlights: Some of the puzzles can be very difficult.

Publisher: SouthPeak Interactive (www.southpeak.com)

System

Requirements:

Pentium 90 or higher (120 MHz or above strongly recommended); Windows 95 or NT; 16 MB RAM; SVGA Graphics, 2 MB VRAM strongly recommended

Player's Review

By the time I finished that game, I felt completely gypped. Sure, the environment was good, but I found the story and the game's resolution to be wholly unsatisfying.

Edited January 11, 2007 by sriracha john

[blaze]

There has been a lot written on the bombings and who might have been responsible. From what I read, it is either the old guard, internal problems within the CNS, or insurgents from the south. Since the bombs, apparently, contained nails the intent was to maim not just scare. More and more people are now beginning to see the bombings as coming from insurgents from the south, which would mean current olive branch policies may not be working as expected (indicating outside influences).

Does anyone have thoughts on this possibility?

The speculation that the bombs are of Southern origin doesn't seem to jive with the forensics known thus far:

All Bangkok bombs of the same type

The explosive used in bombs at all eight sites on New Year's Eve was the same type and all were likely to have been made by the same skilled bomb-makers, the commander of the police Office of Forensic Science, Pol Lt-General Ek Angsananont, said yesterday.

The objects used as shrapnel, such as nails and bicycle wheel bearings, were of the same size and attached to the explosives by the same technique, he said.

The type of the explosive would be known by next week after confirmation by Australian explosives experts assisting police in the identification process.

Fingerprints were found on bomb materials at two sites - Gaysorn shopping plaza and the Pratunam Pier - but these had not matched any on police criminal records.

Initial findings showed that in terms of assembly techniques there were no similarities between the eight bombs and those used in the deep South by Muslim insurgents, Ek said.

Phaya Thai police have interviewed 19 witnesses from two sites where bombs went off - Victory Monument and Pratunam Pier, including 13 injured by the blasts. They reported seeing two potential bombers - male teenagers - at the first site, and one - also a male teenager - at the latter site.

Video footage from surveillance cameras near both sites did not detect any significant evidence in relation to the bombings.

Phaya Thai police chief Colonel Bundit Thisaphark said he had assigned both uniformed and plainclothes officers to keep an around-the-clock watch for more possible bomb attacks in crowded areas.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, meanwhile, said he had asked police to find out those responsible for the bomb attacks as soon as possible.

- The Nation

SJ, interesting because I have read articles which say exactly the opposite and point that the signature of the bombers are very similar to those seen in the south. Any communications they may have had with the CNS would, understandably, not be for public release.

All is speculation, but I guess for us it is a matter of picking your poison. I see no good in this whoever it is.

Please bear in mind that a justification for the coup- offered to local as well as international audience- was to to solve the problem in the south- not to bring the problems to Bangkok.

So, logically, the bombers couldn't possibly be from the south because that would mean- well- it's all very complicated isn't it... Taksin did it.

You could also easily make an arguement that because the current government has identitifed sorting out the south as a priority issue that anyone wanting them to look bad could have planted the bombs and then suggested they were the work of Southern insurgents.

That is the problem of all this specualtion. Anyone can make an arguement that anyone did it, and therefore people will believe what they want.

Yes, that arguement could be made. But it would have to contain more evidence than just the fact that it's possible. Personally, I have absolutely no clue who done it. In fact for all I know, it could have been an extortion attempt by a certain motorcycle club. And I certainly don't think southerners did it. Nor do i think they didn't do it. (Though my gut reaction is that they didn't, I am old enough not to base what I know to be true on the basis of what my sorely abused gut tells me).

But I don't believe that the process of discovering the true identities of the bombers is aided when whole populations- populations involved in daily terrorist activities against the state, are discounted as even possible suspects within a couple of hours of the blasts. And in the absense of one shred of evidence connecting the bombs to any other group or person.

And that makes me wonder just why there is an investigation at all. Unless it is to find a connection to TRT and thereby demonstrate conclusively that Taksin was so evil that the coup had to take place.

[Jai Dee]

Police Deputy Commissioner-General denied police forces summoned senior soliders to inquire about BKK bombings

The Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner-General, Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak Chuthanond, confirmed that the investigation of the bombings in Bangkok on New Year's Eve has progressed by 50 percent and also denied the news that police summoned senior army officials to inquire about the details.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak held a meeting with the officials who are investigating the Bangkok bombings case and said 66 witnesses have been interrogated. He also said the culprits would be charged with murder and terrorrist act, and they would face a death penalty or a lifetime imprisonment.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak said police forces have imposed strict security measures to be prepared for any possible incident on the National Children's Day on January 13th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

NSC discusses evidence of BKK bombing with Temujin Network

The National Security Council is preparing to discuss the details of the recent Bangkok bombing with the Temujin Network.

The Army Commander in Chief and Chairman of the National Security Council, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkrin, said that he would discuss claims of evidence linking the parties responsible for the recent Bangkok bombing with Mr. Chanapat Na Nakhon (ชนาภัทร ณ นคร), the chairman of a political network known as Temujin Network. The Temujin Network claimed that a 4 star General whose first name started with the letter "P" was behind the incident, though Gen Sonthi said that he doubted any military officials were involved.

Gen Sonthi said that the NSC would nonetheless coordinate with the Royal Thai Police in studying relevant information before arriving at conclusions. Gen Sonthi also reported that the military has established sufficient security for the upcoming National Children's Day event.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Suspicious parcel found in Cholburi province

A suspicious box has been located next to a local gymnasium in the muang district of Cholburi province.

Police received reports of the discovery of a suspicious box next to a gymnasium in the muang district of Cholburi province. Upon arrival authorities found a large crowd had gathered around the location of what is believed to be an explosive device hidden inside a cardboard box. Demolition experts from the Army Region 1 later verified that the box contained an electronic circuit, a fuse, and several large stones. Specialists also found a message cautioning authorities to beware of child bombings in 3 areas of the province at 3 different periods.

The commander of the provincial police region 2 Pol Lt Gen Asawin Khwanmuang (อัศวิน ขวัญเมือง), reported that the parties responsible for the incident only wished to create disorder, and that at no period in time was the bomb operational.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 January 2007

[hammered]

There have been a bunch of bomb scares at schools in Chonburi today. Just picked my kiddie up. People want something done is not an understatement. Threats against kids aint going down well. I dont need to say who everyone and I mean everyone is blaming. This province turned on him a long time ago.

[Jai Dee]

Fake bomb creates bomb scare in Chon Buri school

Chon Buri - A box made to look like a bomb caused panic to students of a school Friday morning where the annual sports competition was held, police said.

The cardboard box was spotted outside the gymnasium of Palasuksa Municipality 1 School in Muang district at 8 am.

The students were immediately evacuated to a park nearby.

Bomb disposal police officers rushed to the school to check the box, which was fastened with black adhesive tapes.

Police found no explosives inside the box, which contained a mobile phone without battery, a bottle with gravels and a note saying three bombs will explode on Children Day.

Source: The Nation - 12 January 2007

[Tony Clifton]

Upon arrival authorities found a large crowd had gathered around the location of what is believed to be an explosive device

[triplegee]

One of the Thai staff in our office was forwarded this email late this afternoon - our office tried to verify it's authenticity with the Lumpini police station but couldn't get through.

From: xxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 2:27 PM

To: xxxxxxx

Subject: กันไว้ดีก่าแก้...

Dear All,

Refer the New Year Bombing in Bangkok, we have got information from Lumpini Police Station passed to our Sindhorn Blgd. that there's possible sabotage on Children's Day. The places and date below we should avoid are as following :

Day

Today, Fri, Jan 12th : from evening onwards.

Tomorrow, Sat, Jan 13th : All day

Places

- Tesco Lotus - Rama IV

- Kaesorn Plaza

- Siam Discovery Center

- Central Chidlom

- Siam Center

- Sogo Amarin

- Siam Square

- Pennisula Plaza

- Siam Paragon

- Hualumpong Train Station

- MBK

- All Embassy such as : U.S.A., UK, Vietnam, New Zealand etc..

- Central World

- All BTS Station (route of Sukhumvit)

- BigC Rajdamri

- All underground subway station

- Naraiphan

- Pathumwan District Office

Mr.Xxxx suggests everyone should leave office early this evening and directly home for safty matter. There's no overtime working if possible.

Best regards,

Plenty of hoaxes going around so who's knows where this originated.

Best be safe than sorry.

Take care.

[Mid]

Edited January 12, 2007 by Mid

[younghusband]

There have been a bunch of bomb scares at schools in Chonburi today. Just picked my kiddie up. People want something done is not an understatement. Threats against kids aint going down well. I dont need to say who everyone and I mean everyone is blaming. This province turned on him a long time ago.

Excuse me but this is pure lunacy if you are suggesting Thaksin has a hand in bomb hoaxes at local schools in Chonburi.Beyond comment really and I thought I had seen paranoia reach new peaks on this forum.

[Tony Clifton]

One of the Thai staff in our office was forwarded this email late this afternoon - our office tried to verify it's authenticity with the Lumpini police station but couldn't get through.

From: xxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 2:27 PM

To: xxxxxxx

Subject: กันไว้ดีก่าแก้...

Dear All,

Refer the New Year Bombing in Bangkok, we have got information from Lumpini Police Station passed to our Sindhorn Blgd. that there's possible sabotage on Children's Day. The places and date below we should avoid are as following :

Day

Today, Fri, Jan 12th : from evening onwards.

Tomorrow, Sat, Jan 13th : All day

Places

- Tesco Lotus - Rama IV

- Kaesorn Plaza

- Siam Discovery Center

- Central Chidlom

- Siam Center

- Sogo Amarin

- Siam Square

- Pennisula Plaza

- Siam Paragon

- Hualumpong Train Station

- MBK

- All Embassy such as : U.S.A., UK, Vietnam, New Zealand etc..

- Central World

- All BTS Station (route of Sukhumvit)

- BigC Rajdamri

- All underground subway station

- Naraiphan

- Pathumwan District Office

Mr.Xxxx suggests everyone should leave office early this evening and directly home for safty matter. There's no overtime working if possible.

Best regards,

Plenty of hoaxes going around so who's knows where this originated.

Best be safe than sorry.

Take care.

What is it with these cowardly sick f****? Burning schools up north, a fake bomb today in a Chonburi schoolyard, and now rumours of bomb threats on Children's day...

[blaze]

There have been a bunch of bomb scares at schools in Chonburi today. Just picked my kiddie up. People want something done is not an understatement. Threats against kids aint going down well. I dont need to say who everyone and I mean everyone is blaming. This province turned on him a long time ago.

Not surprised. A columnist in the Nation today again stated unequivocally that Taksin was behind the NYE bombings. Of course no evidence was included given that the investigation is only fifty percent complete (or so said a gov't spokesman in the Post this AM- (we know what happened- now we just have to find out who did it).

The locals in KPhet and BRam loved Taksin so the Taksinistas went after the schools. In Chonburi, the locals loved Taksin so the Taksinistas went after the schools. And in both instances- for many people in each case, the reasoning seemed sound. Only problem is- it's totally contradictory- isn't it?

That somebody left a fake bomb with an alarmist note is probably true. I say probably because given the disparate descriptions, it almost sounds like NO reporters actually saw the contents. But rather than grab the pitch forks and trundle down to gypsy town- maybe we need to really try to separate our preudices from our reason.

It may have been Taksinistas- may well have been. But "may' is not good enough to start the kind of trouble that could lead to some real bad shit. Hammered, if what you say is true, I wouldn't want to be a known TRT supporter among your neighbors tonight.

Edited January 12, 2007 by blaze

[blaze]

One of the Thai staff in our office was forwarded this email late this afternoon - our office tried to verify it's authenticity with the Lumpini police station but couldn't get through.

From: xxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 2:27 PM

To: xxxxxxx

Subject: กันไว้ดีก่าแก้...

Dear All,

Refer the New Year Bombing in Bangkok, we have got information from Lumpini Police Station passed to our Sindhorn Blgd. that there's possible sabotage on Children's Day. The places and date below we should avoid are as following :

Day

Today, Fri, Jan 12th : from evening onwards.

Tomorrow, Sat, Jan 13th : All day

Places

- Tesco Lotus - Rama IV

- Kaesorn Plaza

- Siam Discovery Center

- Central Chidlom

- Siam Center

- Sogo Amarin

- Siam Square

- Pennisula Plaza

- Siam Paragon

- Hualumpong Train Station

- MBK

- All Embassy such as : U.S.A., UK, Vietnam, New Zealand etc..

- Central World

- All BTS Station (route of Sukhumvit)

- BigC Rajdamri

- All underground subway station

- Naraiphan

- Pathumwan District Office

Mr.Xxxx suggests everyone should leave office early this evening and directly home for safty matter. There's no overtime working if possible.

Best regards,

Plenty of hoaxes going around so who's knows where this originated.

Best be safe than sorry.

Take care.

What is it with these cowardly sick f****? Burning schools up north, a fake bomb today in a Chonburi schoolyard, and now rumours of bomb threats on Children's day...

Did you forget to add the murder of yet one more teacher this morning in Yala?

[sriracha john]

Police found no explosives inside the box, which contained a mobile phone without battery, a bottle with gravels and a note saying three bombs will explode on Children Day.

The missus was informed at work that one of the places mentioned was "Robinsons" in Sriracha (Pacific Park Mall)

and all staff were advised to avoid it this weekend.

Trying to find collaboration to this report....

Edited January 12, 2007 by sriracha john

[Tony Clifton]

One of the Thai staff in our office was forwarded this email late this afternoon - our office tried to verify it's authenticity with the Lumpini police station but couldn't get through.

From: xxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 2:27 PM

To: xxxxxxx

Subject: กันไว้ดีก่าแก้...

Dear All,

Refer the New Year Bombing in Bangkok, we have got information from Lumpini Police Station passed to our Sindhorn Blgd. that there's possible sabotage on Children's Day. The places and date below we should avoid are as following :

Day

Today, Fri, Jan 12th : from evening onwards.

Tomorrow, Sat, Jan 13th : All day

Places

- Tesco Lotus - Rama IV

- Kaesorn Plaza

- Siam Discovery Center

- Central Chidlom

- Siam Center

- Sogo Amarin

- Siam Square

- Pennisula Plaza

- Siam Paragon

- Hualumpong Train Station

- MBK

- All Embassy such as : U.S.A., UK, Vietnam, New Zealand etc..

- Central World

- All BTS Station (route of Sukhumvit)

- BigC Rajdamri

- All underground subway station

- Naraiphan

- Pathumwan District Office

Mr.Xxxx suggests everyone should leave office early this evening and directly home for safty matter. There's no overtime working if possible.

Best regards,

Plenty of hoaxes going around so who's knows where this originated.

Best be safe than sorry.

Take care.

What is it with these cowardly sick f****? Burning schools up north, a fake bomb today in a Chonburi schoolyard, and now rumours of bomb threats on Children's day...

Did you forget to add the murder of yet one more teacher this morning in Yala?

Yes, intentionally, not that events down South are of lesser importance. Just as sad but we're looking at two separate causes here, if I can call it that.

What are these people trying to imprint on children's brains exactly by threatening schools , students and teachers?

Maybe it will somehow create many bright little historians who will one day bring shame upon these cowards's names, parties and movements for eternity.

[Plus]

Do you think they want to impess children?

>>>>>>

Some say it's paranoid to think that Thaksin has a hand in all this. They are probably right. See, how can Thaksin, who is now in Hong Kong, burn down a school in Buriram or set of a bomb hoax in Chonburi?

Or how could Thaksin, even if he slipped into the country incognito, blow up nine bombs on New Years eve? It was physically impossible.

Oh, wait a minute, I think I have an explanation - he had accomplices!!! He ordered someone to do all these things for him.

Or maybe I'm just paranoid.

[Plus]

Did you forget to add the murder of yet one more teacher this morning in Yala?

Actually, is it possible that school burning down South is done, and always have been done, by the same people who now burn schools in Kampheng Phet and Buriram?

[younghusband]

Do you think they want to impess children?

>>>>>>

Some say it's paranoid to think that Thaksin has a hand in all this. They are probably right. See, how can Thaksin, who is now in Hong Kong, burn down a school in Buriram or set of a bomb hoax in Chonburi?

Or how could Thaksin, even if he slipped into the country incognito, blow up nine bombs on New Years eve? It was physically impossible.

Oh, wait a minute, I think I have an explanation - he had accomplices!!! He ordered someone to do all these things for him.

Or maybe I'm just paranoid.

I'm afraid you have probably come up with the correct self diagnosis.Think about it for a moment.He ordered an accomplice to arrange a bomb hoax at a Chonburi school!!It's insane.I suppose it's a possibility that some idiot supporting the old regime was responsible, but not that Thaksin gave the orders.Even the government is backing away from suggesting his involvement in the current spate of incidents.There are enough real Thaksin charges to think about without looking for invented ones.It's a bit like Orwell's Animal Farm when the leaders of the revolution (the pigs) accused the ousted and absent Farmer Jones for every conceivable incident (poisoning the water etc), when it was in most cases their own incompetence.

[Tony Clifton]

Do you think they want to impess children?

>>>>>>

Some say it's paranoid to think that Thaksin has a hand in all this. They are probably right. See, how can Thaksin, who is now in Hong Kong, burn down a school in Buriram or set of a bomb hoax in Chonburi?

Or how could Thaksin, even if he slipped into the country incognito, blow up nine bombs on New Years eve? It was physically impossible.

Oh, wait a minute, I think I have an explanation - he had accomplices!!! He ordered someone to do all these things for him.

Or maybe I'm just paranoid.

Not at all.

I'm simply puzzled as to why schools, teachers and children are now targeted up here. Are they trying to imitate what happens down south, create instability and put the blame on southerners?

[Dupont]

Maybe it will somehow create many bright little historians who will one day bring shame upon these cowards's names, parties and movements for eternity.

Very insighful and lets hope so!

I always wondered about these people being old like my granddad. Him and his friends used to tell tales of heroism from wars they fought in, of the respect they received from the Germans when captured in Italy.

Just what will these people and other terrorists tell their grandchildren if they live to be old? They will have to grow old in shame and hope their offspring never find out the true level of their cowardice wont they?

Can't imagine them being like me. "Grandpa grandpa, tell us again about the time you killed those schoolchildren and tortured and killed those nurses." Terrible people, terrible people.

Edited January 12, 2007 by Dupont

[Plus]

Actually, earlier I speculated that the elements of the old regime took the matter in their own hands to serve their own ends, while everyone else conveniently blames Thaksin.

But to rule out Thaksin's involvement altogether, just because he couldn't realistically control every single bomb hoax, is unreasonable.

The worst scenario is that it's all steps in the campaign to bring him back to power. He approved it, he approved the methods, even if only in principle, and he gave a go signal.

Maybe he was shocked himself at what has been actually done in his name, I woudn't bet on it.

Let's see if the campaign escalates or not. If the government caved in and is secretly involved in talks with bombers, violence should stop. Fake bombs could the work of overzealous Thaksin fans, just like last week. Arsons might not be even connected with bombings if it's not a part of a single plan.

Chavalit meeting Sonthi, and then Prem - it's not impossible that some special interests have been placated and there will be no more bombs.

It's all speculation, of course.

[Tony Clifton]

Wife came back from a Christmas party where it was said that a bomb had been found at the Chonburi Tesco this evening.

[blaze]

Did you forget to add the murder of yet one more teacher this morning in Yala?

Actually, is it possible that school burning down South is done, and always have been done, by the same people who now burn schools in Kampheng Phet and Buriram?

No I don't think so. But if we are going to bemoan terrorist activities- does it matter? In both instances innocent people are being victimized. When we choose who to weep for according to our political prejudices, our tears become a bit suspect.

[hammered]

There have been a bunch of bomb scares at schools in Chonburi today. Just picked my kiddie up. People want something done is not an understatement. Threats against kids aint going down well. I dont need to say who everyone and I mean everyone is blaming. This province turned on him a long time ago.

Excuse me but this is pure lunacy if you are suggesting Thaksin has a hand in bomb hoaxes at local schools in Chonburi.Beyond comment really and I thought I had seen paranoia reach new peaks on this forum.

If you read what I wrote you would realize that I am reporting the reaction of concerned (and maybe paranoid) parents to threats that are being made against their children. The effect of the daily threats is making people understandably angry. Threats against children are not something many would concur with. Who the parents want to blame is up to them. This is all about politics. Yesterday there were multiple bomb hoaxes around Chonburi. To think that they were not linked would be stupid, so the level of anger of people is in my view understandable. I will however, leave it to the people of Thailand to draw the conclusions of who was ultimately behind it all, and I severaly doubt whether the mastermind(s) will end up in court. However, people do want soemthing done and they do have their opinions that are increasingly being voiced.

[blaze]

There have been a bunch of bomb scares at schools in Chonburi today. Just picked my kiddie up. People want something done is not an understatement. Threats against kids aint going down well. I dont need to say who everyone and I mean everyone is blaming. This province turned on him a long time ago.

Excuse me but this is pure lunacy if you are suggesting Thaksin has a hand in bomb hoaxes at local schools in Chonburi.Beyond comment really and I thought I had seen paranoia reach new peaks on this forum.

If you read what I wrote you would realize that I am reporting the reaction of concerned (and maybe paranoid) parents to threats that are being made against their children. The effect of the daily threats is making people understandably angry. Threats against children are not something many would concur with. Who the parents want to blame is up to them. This is all about politics. Yesterday there were multiple bomb hoaxes around Chonburi. To think that they were not linked would be stupid, so the level of anger of people is in my view understandable. I will however, leave it to the people of Thailand to draw the conclusions of who was ultimately behind it all, and I severaly doubt whether the mastermind(s) will end up in court. However, people do want soemthing done and they do have their opinions that are increasingly being voiced.

Point taken Hammered. In my earlier email, I should have specified that I was attributing a mob mentality to the locals- not to you (I say that because I sincerely respect what you say- whether or not I always agree- and I think you are pretty reasonable). But why do you believe there had to be a master mind? We had bomb threats at numerous schools in a town I used to live in- it was the work of three kids- capitalizing on the events of 9/11.

But also, let's not forget that while many politicos lost influence, (financial and otherwise) an entire class of the society lost it's representation in government. Worse, they lost their 'champion'. Worse yet, they are now being accused of some pretty horrible things. Much more of this baseless finger pointing at people who support(ed) TRT and don't be surprised if the level of violence REALLY escelates. They won't need to be brainwashed, bought off, organized, and/or manipulated into acts demonstrating their anger at the regime. And they sure won't need a mastermind.

[Plus]

.. an entire class of the society lost it's representation in government. Worse, they lost their 'champion'. Worse yet, they are now being accused of some pretty horrible things. Much more of this baseless finger pointing at people who support(ed) TRT and don't be surprised if the level of violence REALLY escelates. They won't need to be brainwashed, bought off, organized, and/or manipulated into acts demonstrating their anger at the regime. And they sure won't need a mastermind.

I think you seriously overestimate their interest in politics and their anger at the regime. This "sentiment" is evidently not there, though it could be easily whipped up with skillful manipulation.

I don't think anyone in that desinfranchised class supports burning schools, planting bombs, or even making hoax bomb calls. It's the work of relatively few commited individuals, not a mass movement.

[Tony Clifton]

It's the "Frankenstein effect".

Dr. created monster.

Monster broke loose.

Dr. no longer has control over the monster he created.

Dr. may regret his monster's actions but still takes interest in observing his creation's behaviour.

Dr. still thinks he could eventually work on other similar projects.

[blaze]

.. an entire class of the society lost it's representation in government. Worse, they lost their 'champion'. Worse yet, they are now being accused of some pretty horrible things. Much more of this baseless finger pointing at people who support(ed) TRT and don't be surprised if the level of violence REALLY escelates. They won't need to be brainwashed, bought off, organized, and/or manipulated into acts demonstrating their anger at the regime. And they sure won't need a mastermind.

I think you seriously overestimate their interest in politics and their anger at the regime. This "sentiment" is evidently not there, though it could be easily whipped up with skillful manipulation.

I don't think anyone in that desinfranchised class supports burning schools, planting bombs, or even making hoax bomb calls. It's the work of relatively few commited individuals, not a mass movement.

It's a large class Plus. It is bound to have a few nut cases. And I am most certainly not suggesting that they are doing the terror. I don't know who is. But I'd be very surprised if the people of say, KPhet enjoy the allegation that since they supported Taksin, therefore, the school Arsons must be from local Taksin supporters. (Which is or was the majority of the population). They don't have to be political to take offense at that.

An example: Every government in the west has been very careful to attribute Moslem terrorism to a few organized (probably from outside) hardliners. YET many non-fundamentalist Moslems in most western countries report feeling that as Moslems, they are all being tarred with the same brush.

And this does not make for social reconciliation.