Thailand Portalen (version 2004)

Oprettet af Payanak d. 01/01-2007 05:34

#10

[url]www.channelnewsasia.com[/url]

Soldiers patrol Bangkok after deadly bombings
Posted: 01 January 2007 1125 hrs

BANGKOK : Thailand's prime minister called an emergency security meeting Monday after a deadly series of New Year's Eve bomb blasts as troops patrolled Bangkok for the first time since September's coup.

The eight coordinated bombs in the capital killed three people, injured more than 30 and forced the cancellation of New Year's Eve celebrations, capping a year of upheaval in the kingdom.

Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States issued travel warnings to their citizens in Bangkok to stay at home and avoid moving about the city.

Both the Australian and New Zealand foreign ministries warned of the threat of further attacks in the coming days.

The bombings followed a pattern often seen in the volatile Muslim-majority southern region near the Malaysian border, where insurgents frequently stage coordinated attacks with small explosives that create panic but relatively few casualties.

But the insurgents rarely attack outside the region and have never targeted Bangkok, and intelligence sources insist the blasts were linked to Thailand's political woes rather than the separatist campaign.

"The bombs are not involved with southern unrest...it is a political issue," one intelligence source told AFP.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and police declined to indicate who might have been behind the blasts.

National police spokesman Ajiravid Subarnbhesaj said only that "the bombs were to scare people during the New Year festival".

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who was installed by the military after its coup against Thakisn Shinawatra, summoned an emergency security meeting at 10:00am (0300 GMT).

Thailand's junta leader, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, is currently out of the country.

The Nation newspaper said the wave of bombings could have been "an attempt to discredit the (post-coup) government, an expanded campaign of terror from the deep South, or the most serious warning yet that the peace and harmony of this kingdom is facing its biggest and most menacing threat."

The paper said the attacks want "to aggravate our political turmoil".

The first round of six explosions at around 5:20pm (1020 GMT) Sunday killed two men, aged 36 and 61, and wounded more than 20.

A second series of blasts went off just before midnight in a plaza that authorities had just evacuated over security concerns.

At least 11 people were injured, including two Britons, an American, two Serbians and four Hungarians.

A Thai man died in hospital on Monday from injuries suffered in the series of bombings, bringing the death toll to three, medical officials said.

"One more man died at King Mongkut hospital early Monday," an official at the Narenthorn emergency medical centre said.

Thousands of people had earlier gathered at the plaza in downtown Bangkok to watch musicians and actors count down to 2007, but authorities later cancelled the festivities.

The city block that had been set up for New Year festivities instead spent the evening in the shadow of a darkened stage and the glare of police floodlights as investigators and emergency workers dealt with the explosions.

Hours after the blasts, soldiers not seen since Sonthi's September 19 coup returned to the streets to patrol key intersections while security was stepped up at Bangkok's airport and on the city's light rail network.

Several small bombs have been set off at political targets in Bangkok in recent years, but have caused little damages and few injuries.

The New Year's Eve attacks were the most significant violence in the Thai capital since a May 1992 uprising against the last military government ended in clashes between protesters and security forces.

Political analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn warned the attacks could further dent confidence in Thailand's political and economic situation after a rocky 2006.

"The Thai public may still be panicked. There will be some instability and economic effects from the bombing," he said. - AFP/ch

Video fra CNN om bomberne. (click paa dette link og derefter linket i teksten)

[url]www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/12/31/thailand.blasts/index.html[/url]

Oprettet af Payanak d. 01/01-2007 05:41

#11

[url]www.bangkokpost.com/News/01Jan2007_news01.php[/url]

BOMBS SHATTER NEW YEAR'S EVE
Two dead, 15 hurt in Bangkok explosions – City Hall cancels midnight countdown – Police discount link to southern insurgency

POST REPORTERS

Bangkok plunged into year-end chaos after six bombs, five in the city and one in nearby Nonthaburi, exploded almost simultaneously yesterday evening, killing two people and injuring at least 15, two of them seriously.

The explosions occurred at a bus stop near the Victory Monument, in a rubbish bin at the main market in Klong Toey, traffic police booths in Saphan Kwai and at Sukhumvit Soi 62 and in a parking lot at Seacon Square department store on Sri Nakharin road.

In Nonthaburi, a bomb blew up a police booth at the Kaerai intersection.

The explosions came within a 15-minute span beginning at the Victory Monument about 6.30pm.

Those who died were Songkran Kanchana, 36, and Suvichai Nak-iam, 61. Songkran was injured at Victory Monument. He was pronounced dead at Rajavithi Hospital. Suvichai, caretaker of a Chinese shrine in Klong Toey, was pronounced dead at Chulalongkorn Hospital. Two children were also injured in the Klong Toey blast.

It was unclear who were behind the blasts, but police dismissed any connection with the southern insurgency. Across major web newsboards, the majority believed the attacks were the work of opponents of the military coup which ousted Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept 19.

A few hours after the blasts, bomb experts rushed to several spots, including superstore Big C Ratchadamri and Vibhavadi Rangsit Soi 2, opposite Chamber of Commerce University, where suspicious objects were reportedly found. Police spokesman Achirawit Supanphesat later confirmed the blasts at Klong Toey, Victory Monument and Saphan Kwai injured at least 15 people. It was unclear how many were wounded at which locations.

Those injured at the Victory Monument blast and treated at nearby Rajavithi Hospital were Yossapas Muangbao, Narongchai Rungcharoen, Ratchaneewan Klaying, Oamchai Pongpornchetta and three others identified as Natthanant, Chob and Aranya. At least two of them, one identified as Samruay Sida, were critically wounded.

Public health permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongvirote said injured were also treated at Phra Mongkut, Kluay Namthai and Paolo hospitals.

Ms Oamchai who was waiting for an operation last night at Rajavithi Hospital said she heard a loud noise and did not realise it was a bomb blast. Her body was soaked with blood, when people rushed her to hospital.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanon ordered the defence minister, the deputy army chief and Army Region 1 to tighten security and visited the bomb victims at Rajavithi Hospital last night.

The blasts caused most department stores in Bangkok to close two to three hours early. Armed soldiers were deployed to guard important public places and major intersections.

Organisers of the New Year countdown at CentralWorld "moved the event up" three hours for safety reasons.

New Year countdown celebrations in Chiang Mai also wound down early.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin addressed tens of thousands of revellers packing Ratchadamri road about 8.45 pm. Shortly afterward the crowds dispersed. Events at Sanam Luang and Wat Saket, organised by City Hall were also cancelled.

News of the bombs, often spread through mobile phones, saw revellers leave the countdown areas en masse last night before the celebrations ended early. Traffic was gridlocked in many areas.

Napawadee Ananukarn, an office employee, 38, said she decided to cancel a New Year eve dinner after learning of the bombings from her family.

Assistant army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said the First Army had sent troops to help step up security.

He said martial law had not actually been lifted as it was not submitted for royal endorsement.

National police chief Kowit Wattana put the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Central Investigation Bureau and the Special Branch Police on standby with security stepped up in and around Bangkok.

The Council for National Security immediately ordered a security beefup for important areas including Laem Chabang Port, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

In Chiang Mai the Third Army issued a security alert and set up several checkpoints which were being manned by para-military troops.

Oprettet af Locturian d. 01/01-2007 12:45

#12

roald skrev:
teorien går på at det er folk som er imod militærstyret, såkaldte THAKSIN støtter ( LOC, det behøver ikke altid være en muslim hvergang der sprænger en bombe, der sprang en bilbombe i madrid lufthavn i dag E.T.A. har taget skylden , og de er vist mig bekendt ikke muslimer ) godt nytår

Jeg mener at have læst, at de havde annonceret bomber til nytår, dem fra sydthailand... Desuden, her i Thailand, er de vist de eneste der laver noget så drastisk - Tror ikke på at Taksin har SÅ rabiate og fanatiske støtter, der er villige til at dræbe andre mennesker, fordi han er blevet sat af...

Jeg har ingen idé til en "korrekt" løsning, men hvis jeg sad i magtstolen, ville jeg sætte hele militæret ind, og rømme alle de balladeplagede steder - Thailands politi, må have en fornemmelse af, hvor rakkerpakket bor. Det er ihvertfald IKKE en løsning, at lade hele det sydlige thailand blive en muslimsk "stat"...

Oprettet af Webmaster d. 01/01-2007 14:34

#13

Tja, jeg ved ikke hvad det er med nogle muslimere.

I går aftes klokken 10 minutter i 12 var jeg gået ned sammen med en kammerat og hans 10 årig datter for at se fyrværkeriet og en lille lort smed flere heksehyl efter min kammerat's datter. Min kammerat beder så knægten om at fise et andet sted hen og fyre de heksehyl af istedet for at stå og smide dem direkte efter hans datter som er bange for dem. Knægten smutter og vi tænker ikke mere over den sag.

10 minutter over 12 kommer to af knægtens storebrødre rendende og truer min kammerat med tæsk fordi han har sagt noget til knægten. Deres argumenter er at min kammerat ikke kan tillade sig at sige noget til knægten fordi han er muslim og at alle danskere altid er efter muslimere. Jeg står ved siden af og overværere det hele og hører da også lige at min kammerat's kristne ven (mig) kan få nogle på snotten også hvis han blander sig.

Det ender med at min kammerat må undskylde for at der ikke starter et slagsmål.

Hallo hvor fanden er vi henne ????
Jeps, min kammerat "glemte" helt bevidst at ønske disse "mennesker" godt nytår efter episoden.

Jeps, har ikke meget med bomberne i Thailand at gøre. Bliver sgu' bare så harm over at opleve noget sådan.

Redigeret af Webmaster d. 01/01-2007 14:39

Oprettet af msr - Martin Rasmussen d. 01/01-2007 22:31

#15

Der er kun en ting at gøre... Meld svine til politiet... Vi skal ikke finde os i noget som helst fra deres side.. Hvis de for lov til at styre os, ved at skabe frygt så ser det temmeligt sort ud...
Du har vidner på truslen, så fat røret og meld dem..

Havde det været et almindeligt menneske, havde du meldt dem

Jeg bliver så gal når jeg ser hvad vi skal finde os i fra muslimer i vores land.. Alt det blødsødende og undskyldende overfor dem virker ikke... Når det så er sagt, vil jeg gerne sige at flere i min omgangskreds er muslimer, de kender min holdning, og vi har det fint med hinanden, jeg respektere dem og de omvendt..

Så jeg er ikke racist på nogen måde, men forventer at alle behandler hinanden med respekt... Gæster skal være særligt opmærksomme på hvordan man opføre sig, dette gælder jo også os når vi er på "besøg" eller ligefrem bosætter os i andre lande, er ret sikker på at denne holdning ville bringe meget godt og stor åbenhed overalt..

Msr

Oprettet af Payanak d. 05/01-2007 04:26

#19

Thailand bombers were "in uniform": defence minister.
Posted: 05 January 2007 0204 hrs

BANGKOK : Thailand's defence minister has said that "men in uniform" staged the deadly New Year's Eve bombs in Bangkok, as the prime minister warned Thais to brace for more attacks.

Boonrawd Somtas told reporters Thursday that it was "highly likely that the perpetrators are men in uniform".

"It's 90 percent sure that it is politically motivated and only a handful of groups of people have the potential to mount these attacks," he told reporters.

He said it was unlikely that civilians would have the training to coordinate the eight small blasts across a wide urban area, and said that left "only either police or military".

He did not give any other details, but the remarks seemed to broaden the field of suspicion from politicians from the government of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a September coup.

Thaksin was once a police officer, and analysts have said that elements in the police loyal to Thaksin, but acting independently of the ousted leader, could be behind the bombings.

Thaksin himself has denied any role in the attacks that killed three and wounded 42, and said he believed that separatists fighting in Muslim-majority provinces of southern Thailand were behind the blasts.

But army-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told parliament Thursday that forensics tests showed the New Year's Eve bombs were not of the same type as those used by the separatists.

"Forensics tests found that the bombs were similar to those used in the south, but I can reassure you that they are not exactly the same," army-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told the parliament.

"That is why we have concluded that the bombings had nothing to do with the south, and rather that the ill-intentioned perpetrators are in Bangkok," he said.

Surayud said Bangkok's major transport centres would remain under heightened surveillance to prevent further attacks, but warned Thais should brace themselves for new threats.

"The public should be prepared to deal with this new kind of threat to our lives in the future," he said.

Dozens of bomb hoaxes and false alarms over the last four days have tested nerves in Bangkok, and prompted police to warn that prank callers reporting bomb hoaxes could face jail time.

A slate of foreign governments have issued travel advisories since the blasts, prompting the foreign ministry to meet with diplomats to try to ease international concerns.

Spokesman Kitti Wasinond said foreign ministry officials told the diplomats that "the series of incidents was caused by groups who were dispossessed ... supplanted or lost out politically" after the September coup.

Some diplomats asked about martial law -- imposed a day after the September 19 coup -- and Kitti said they were reassured by army representatives at the meeting that there was no change in plans to lift restrictions.

"It has been confirmed that the lifting of martial law is in the process and it hasn't been adversely affected," Kitti said.

The government approved lifting martial law across half of Thailand more than a month ago but has not presented the order to the king for signing, meaning it has yet to take effect.

There is no timescale for its implementation.

[url]www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/250656/1/.html[/url]