Southern separatists responsible for Bangkok bombings (question mark optional)
Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. After the drama, the panic, the fear, the indifference, the finger pointing, the accusations, the insinuations, the allusions, the half-truths: after all that, the Bangkok Post this morning broke a story suggesting that Southern separatists were behind the New Year’s Eve bombings.
The police team investigating the New Year bombings in Bangkok and Nonthaburi has concluded that a southern separatist group was responsible for the nine explosions.
A highly-placed source in the investigation team said the insurgent group responsible for the nine bombs wanted to show its capability to launch terrorist attacks outside its home region.
"After examining evidence thoroughly, it was found that the bomb detonation circuits are the same [as the circuits used by a southern insurgent group]. Moreover, the materials used to make the bombs are all the same," the source said.
The investigation team is now focusing its investigation on one insurgent group.
If I’m not mistaken, it was at one point stated that the types of bombs used were NOT the same as has been used by Southern separatists. The prime minister himself remarked: "Based on various reports of intelligence agencies and evidence available, it was the work of people who lost political benefits," Bangkok Post. General Sonthi said: "If southerners came up here to Bangkok they would get lost and wouldn't have been able to escape," Bangkok Post. The Nation reported the prime minister had said that "forensic reports showed that the bombs were assembled to look like those used by the Southern insurgents but that detailed examination of the explosions indicated no link." Everyone was pointing fingers elsewhere.
Remember this from the Bangkok Post?
Assistant national police chief Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak Chuthanont claimed to know perpetrators behind Bangkok bombings that took place on New Year’s Eve. “We know the bombers,” said Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak Tuesday, after chairing a police meeting on the deadly blasts. “They belong to the group that people suspected” – apparently meaning members of the former Thaksin regime.
It has not been made clear which specific group the investigation team is now saying was responsible. All of this could, of course, turn out to be untrue. The details are a little sketchy, especially with all of the conflicting information that we have been given over the past two-and-a-half months. If it is true, then the terrorists have successfully caused panic and disillusion in Bangkok, making the government look foolish. Ironically, they have also made Thaksin look like a victim. The former-PM must be chuckling to himself uncontrollably.
This could also mean that Jemaah Islamiah is in some way connected with the bombings, although this is pure speculation at this point.
So what on earth will happen next?
Techno' tags: Terrorism in Thailand, Bangkok bombings, South Thailand insurgency, South Thailand separatists
I neither have no idea about this.
The New Year's Eve bombing does panic all Thais until now.
And again, where is the truth??? Which source is more reliable???
The violence in the deep south nowadays has become more and more serious. – -"
" We need peace and wanna live in harmony."
Everyone was too quick to jump to conclusions about who was behing the New Year bombings. My first reaction was 'the south' but I, along with many people, were convinced by Government statements that dismissed them within a few hours. Pointing the finger at Thaksin and others, only now to dismiss them, just adds to the total farce in the way this whole incident has been handled. Thaksin will have come out of this very well, as you say, and will have picked up some more supporters as a result.
It's highly unlikely that JI is involved, but it bears the hallmarks of a low level southern insurgent attack.
The big questions is if the bombs were MEANT to be relatively minor (not that that is any conciliation to those who suffered) or if the organisers couldn't produce something stronger in time.
I've said all along it bears the hallmarks of an army spat, but southern insurgents can't be ruled out. IMHO it's also possible that Thaksin supporters but not Thaksin's henchmen could have played a part.
I also said all along that without assistance, the corrupt Thai police were incapable of finding the culprits. I rest my case :-)
BTW I feel your blog has improved in the last few days.
Greg