Thai bomb at royal adviser's home

[ChiangMai noon]

Nothing to do with me.
I got an alibi.
I was selecting a book for a few hours.
I chose "how to bowl em out" printed in the late 1950's by the reverend Bombanall Fakars.

An interesting read.

[Goddess of Whatever]

The bomb is the same type as the one that blew at Sanam Luang.

So, I don't wonder if they wonder if it's from the government.

[Marmite the Dog]

So, I don't wonder if they wonder if it's from the government.

Hmmm, I wonder....

[Lily]

Are they near Silom though?

No, Mrs Q, not near Silom. Well not toooo close.

[DrAndy]

yea nearly my medicine time too
tonic + gin for starters.. we'll see how the night developes

I think I will try the "red wine" cure tonight

[dirtydog]

POLITICAL CRISIS
plot thickens

- TNT bomb explodes at security booth outside Prem's residence - Concern govt may declare a state of emergency

Political tensions rose close to boiling point yesterday following a bomb explosion at a security booth in front of the home of Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda and a firecracker explosion in front of the Vajiravudh College home of Dr Chai-anan Samudvanija.

The caretaker government swiftly moved into damage-control mode by instructing National Intelligence Agency director Gen Jumpol Man-mai to unmask the culprits behind the bombing, which was viewed by police and security officials as politically motivated.

Although two tourists, from England and Canada, sustained minor injuries and the security booth and three vehicles parked near Prem's Dusit district residence were slightly damaged, police said the home-made bomb was made to create noise rather than cause serious harm.

Two firecrackers were thrown into Chai-anan's residence at Vajiravudh College, also in Dusit district, at 9.15pm but did not cause any injuries. Chai-anan, who is headmaster of the college, said: "It must be the work of those who have ill will."

Chai-anan has played a key role in collecting some 100 signatures and petitioning His Majesty the King to appoint a prime minister to replace Thaksin Shinawatra.

Amid the turmoil of political events, conflicting theories about the motivation behind the incidents fuelled widespread speculation.

Supporters and opponents of the government accused one another of instigating the incident so as to oust Thaksin, or to allow him to cling to power by using the explosion as grounds for declaring a state of emergency.

The plot thickened because the bombing took place one day after the Privy Council met in a special session to discuss various petitions calling for royal intervention to end the political confusion.

The council reportedly submitted a confidential report to His Majesty the King and its recommendations were never made public.

Around 2pm yesterday, Prem was doing his exercises inside his home when he heard a loud explosion. His aide went to investigate and alerted the Sam Sen police.

Two men, one British and one Canadian, were rushed to hospital to have their wounds dressed. Forensic police found two batteries used in the explosive device, police duty officer Lt-Colonel Paiboon Nomklang said.

Physical damage included shattered windows in the police box at Prem's front gate, broken windscreens in two vehicles and a damaged car roof caused by flying debris, Paiboon said.

Police closed off traffic around Prem's home for an hour to collect evidence.

Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya, Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura and Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana rushed to supervise the police investigation.

National police chief Gen Kowit Watana, Army commander-in-chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratklin and senior military and police officers were also present at the scene.

Less than half an hour after the explosion, Thaksin phoned Chidchai from a campaign stop in Chanthaburi, instructing him to convey his apologies to Prem for the lapse of security.

Thaksin is concerned about security in light of the ongoing turmoil and will rush to apologise to Prem personally as soon as he arrives back in the capital, Chidchai said.

Investigators will question a street sweeper who was on duty near the scene and try to track down a young man seen near the scene five minutes before the explosion.

Somtam vendor Supamas Boonnok said she was serving customers opposite Prem's house.

"Suddenly, I heard a loud noise and tried to find cover from the flying debris. I didn't notice anything before that," she said.

"I suspect the bomb was meant to cause political trouble because it was similar to three previous bombs planted at the Santi Asoke compound, at Lumpini Park and at the fence of the Interior Ministry building," Thamarak said. "The previous explosions were linked to politics and Prem asked me why a bomb should go off near his home."

He said military and police investigators would pursue all leads to find those responsible.

Reacting to the incident, Thaksin said some ill-intentioned people might want to discredit his government.

"I uphold the rule of law and will not bow to pressure from political hoodlums," he said, adding that he would not allow the April 2 snap election to be derailed.

Chamlong Srimuang, a Santi Asoke follower and member of the Peoples Alliance for Democracy, said Thaksin will face increasing difficulties if he clings to power.

"The bomb put Thaksin in a difficult position because he was in charge of keeping the peace and I want to say to the culprits that they should not fight secretly, but in the open," Chamlong said.

He urged authorities to quickly solve the bombings at Santi Asoke and near Prem's home in order to defuse the tensions.

Government critic Sondhi Limthongkul told a crowd of anti-Thaksin protesters that the explosion was a warning to deter Prem from mediating in the conflict between Thaksin and his opponents.

Sondhi claimed that Chidchai tried to hold the anti-Thaksin movement accountable for the bombing when the government leaders were more likely to be the real masterminds.

Judging from the type of today's TNT explosives, the powers-that-be were likely involved, he said.

Police sources said the bomb was assembled from nearly two and a half kilograms of TNT and detonated by a timing device.

Midnight University academic Somkiart Tangmano expressed concern that the situation would spiral out of control and lead to bloodshed if the turmoil persists.
He said he is worried the government will rush to invoke the emergency decree.


the nation

[Mid]

Police Commission approves Jumpols' transfer back to Police headquarters
January 10, 2008


The Police Commission Wednesday approved the transfer of Pol Maj-Gen Jumpol Munmai back to the Royal Thai Police.

Jumpol was transferred out of the Royal Thai Police to the PM's Office by coup makers.

Pol Gen Charnwut Watcharakupti, deputy police commissioner-general, said the Police Commission approved the transfer of Jumpol to the position of C-10 advisor to the Royal Thai Police.

The Nation
nationmultimedia.com

[Thormaturge]

This is all beginning to feel like Groundhog Day. The last time there was a politically inspired bomb it merely blew up a police box, and one Farang was injured.

Frankly it doesn't say much for the cops if people keep leaving bombs in their boxes and nobody notices.

Gen Prem is widely considered to have the King's ear. HRH cannot meddle directly in politics but when Gen prem says HRH is unhappy about something then you'd better believe it. I recall his speech less than ten days before the coup, delivered in his army uniform, indicating that bad things happened to people who acted just in their own interests without the good of Thailand at heart.

[Texpat]

HRH cannot meddle directly in politics but when Gen prem says HRH is unhappy about something then you'd better believe it.

I believe it.