Thread: Bombs in four provinces since Thursday night

Military Reveals It’s Held 17 Bombing Suspects Since Attacks

Pravit Rojanaphruk
Khao Sod English

Junta spokesman Col. Winthai Suvaree said the military would hand over the suspects, most of whom were detained Saturday, to police on Friday after a military court today approved warrants for their arrest.

All but three of the suspects are over 50; nine are in their 60s and 70s, with a median age of 58. At least three were police officers were among those hailing from all corners of Thailand, including several Redshirt supporters. All 17 suspects have reportedly denied involvement in the attacks.



Suspects named in the remained of this story. Military Reveals It?s Held 17 Bombing Suspects Since Attacks

Analysts debunk govt’s theory on recent attacks

WHILE the authorities' hypotheses are confusing, analysts keen on the violence in the deep South maintained their theory, suggesting that last week's attacks in seven provinces were carried out by the separatist Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).

Independent analyst Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat pointed out that the bombing strategy, the devices used and the targets hit shared a similarity with BRN's practices for over a decade.

The insurgents actually have criminal records for action outside the three southernmost provinces, she said, citing the bomb in Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng area in 2013 for which another South movement Pulo-MKP had taken responsibility.

It was also concluded that South militants were to blame for the 2006 bombings in Bangkok, Rungrawee said citing a police source, though the perpetrators have not be prosecuted so far.

more Analysts debunk govt?s theory on recent attacks - The Nation

CCTV is dated 10th Aug and timed at 07:24. The boys probably arrived on the overnight bus or the van from Prachuap. Left their bombs at the market, crossed over the road to the Bintabaht area (where the CCTV pictures are taken from), put the bombs in the flower pots, then left their last bombs as they cut through the temple car park to catch a Southbound bus from the clock tower. In and out in an hour and home in time for tea.

Other than the unreliability of their devices it was very well planned and executed.

Originally Posted by Warwick

CCTV is dated 10th Aug and timed at 07:24. The boys probably arrived on the overnight bus or the van from Prachuap. Left their bombs at the market, crossed over the road to the Bintabaht area (where the CCTV pictures are taken from), put the bombs in the flower pots, then left their last bombs as they cut through the temple car park to catch a Southbound bus from the clock tower. In and out in an hour and home in time for tea.

Other than the unreliability of their devices it was very well planned and executed.

Very likely from over a decade of practice in the South Eh .

Originally Posted by sabang

Well, here's a short list of the suspects and motives so far, as given to us by the authorities and media-

1- nasty red shirts
2- disgruntled yellow shirts
3- southern separatists
4- a schism in the democrat party

Just a thought- why don't these people just keep their mouth shut and desist from such baseless speculation, until they are actually in possession of some evidence?
__________________

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

5-
Quote:
Originally Posted by misskit
"ang-yee."

6- Now this has to be the best one of all. A co-ordinated plot between red shirts, southern separatists (BRN), and the US government!

Absolute beauty. Take a bow Pauline.

Is regime change a motive behind the recent bombings? - The Nation

The plot thickened on Sunday with the suggestion published by media platform The New Atlas that the US has played an enabling role in Thailand's domestic political complications.

The article cited a 2009 cable from the US Embassy in Bangkok exposed by Wikileaks, that acknowledged that the "political forces" of the deposed former prime minister were "likely operating in the South, using the conflict as cover". And yet, the article continued, the US had looked the other way when it came to egregious transgressions of the former PM, using "democracy" as the excuse. The fact that US Embassy personnel in Bangkok have frequently visited with members of the red-shirt faction for years since the former prime minister went into self-exile was used to confirm the theory.

Some experts contend it is entirely possible that militant factions in the South carried out the attacks by themselves to humiliate the security apparatus of the current government. However, they admit that it would be hard to pin down the group or groups in question, as they operate independently as cells.

The New Atlas article argues that there was definitely red-shirt collaboration in the attacks. It points out that banners attacking Her Majesty the Queen on her birthday were written in "perfect central Thai" rather than the local Malay dialect. The banners mentioned red-shirt issues that had nothing to do with the Southern conflict. The defaming statements were printed neatly on vinyl, a costly method. It is rather difficult to see why Southern militants would waste their money on something that had nothing to do with their cause.



WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Pauline Kanchanalak, a Thai national, and Duangnet Kronenberg today agreed to plead guilty to campaign financing-related offenses and to coo
perate in the Justice Department's ongoing investigation, the Campaign Financing Task Force announced. Kanchanalak and Kronenberg will enter their guilty pleas before the U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman in Washington D.C. at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2000. The two are among 25 people charged by the Campaign Financing Task Force, which was established four years ago by Attorney Janet Reno to investigate allegations of campaign financing abuses in the 1996 election cycle.

In a plea agreement, filed today in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Kanchanalak agreed to plead guilty to a 2-count criminal Superseding Information, which also was filed with the court today. Count One of the Information charges Kanchanalak with participating in a conspiracy to cause false statements to be made to the Federal Election Commission from 1992-1996. According to the Information, she conspired to use foreign funds to make prohibited federal and non-federal political contributions to the Democratic National Committee and other campaign committees. She further conspired to have those committees report the illegal contributions to the FEC without the true source of the illegal contributions being detected by the FEC.

According to the plea documents, Kanchanalak caused more than $690,000 in foreign money to be contributed to the DNC and other political committees between 1992 and 1996. All of the illegal contributions were made on checks drawn on the accounts of Duangnet Kronenberg and Praitun Kanchanalak, who is Duangnet Kronenberg's mother and Pauline Kanchanalak's mother-in-law. A portion of the funds that were used to make the illegal contributions were provided to Kronenberg and Praitun Kanchanalak by Ban Chang International (USA), Inc. (BCI), a Cayman Islands corporation of which Pauline Kanchanalak was President. Duangnet Kronenberg also was an officer of BCI.

According to the Superseding Information, Kanchanalak engaged in the conspiracy in order to gain favor with the DNC, and thereby to gain attendance to fundraising and political events with President Clinton, members of his Administration, and prominent members of the business community. Kanchanalak and her coconspirators believed this would help develop business and networking opportunities for Kanchanalak and BCI's clients. More than $457,000 of the illegal contributions caused by Pauline Kanchanalak were provided to the DNC and five state Democratic party committees in connection with a "coffee" held at the White House on June 18, 1996. The coffee was attended by, among others, President Clinton, Pauline Kanchanalak, John Huang, and two executives of Charoen Pokphand Group (also known as the CP Group), a Thai corporation.

Count Two of the Superseding Information charges Pauline Kanchanalak with causing BCI to make an illegal $20,000 corporate contribution to the DNC's federal account in May 1994, in criminal violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act ("FECA").

Kanchanalak faces maximum penalties of six years of imprisonment and a fine of $350,000.
https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/...une/350crm.htm



For those of you not so familiar with Thailand, and the deep and abiding affection between Mr. Thaksin and the south, just Google two simple words. "Tak Bai".

Really, this place is getting surreal beyond belief. Why on earth are they panicking so much?

^ I think you have missed out "The Krue Se Massacre " .

Mistakenly-arrested Chiang Mai man freed and flown home

The 32-year old Chiang Mai man who was mistakenly arrested for setting fire to Tesco Lotus department store in Nakhon Si Thammarat in mid-August has been freed on Thursday night and flew to his hometown in Chiang Mai via Don Meuang airport.
Mr Sakkarin Karuhat reportedly told police enquiry officers in Nakhon Si Thammarat that he might enter the monkhood in his home town for seven days to dispel the “bad luck” that befell upon him but he would consult with his family first about the temple in which he would spend his monkhood.

Police said that the real suspected arsonists who were seen in the footage of CCTV system might have already left Nakhon Si Thammarat, but police were still trying to track them down.

The case file of Tesco Lotus arson will however be submitted to Pol Gen Srivara Rangsipromnakul, the deputy national police chief, for consideration with the findings of the other bomb and arson cases which took place in mid-August.

Earlier, Pol Gen Srivara reprimanded the Nakhon Si Thammarat police for jumping the gun in making the arrest of Sakkarin without sufficient credible evidences.

Mistakenly-arrested Chiang Mai man freed and flew home - Thai PBS English News

Oil Rig Worker Freed But Still Faces Charges

Teeranai Charuvastra
Khao Sod English

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — A 32-year-old Chiang Mai man accused of participating in the wave of terror attacks in southern Thailand last week has been released from military custody, police said Friday.

But police said they will file explosives-related charges against Sakarin Karuehat next week, and this time, the case will be filed in a military court, where army officers sit as judges and no appeal is possible. He was previously held incommunicado for nearly a week in a Nakhon Si Thammarat army base on suspicion of firebombing a supermarket there.

more Oil Rig Worker Freed But Still Faces Charges

Army Backtracks on Claims of Elderly Terror Suspects’ Link to Bomb Attacks

Teeranai Charuvastra
Khao Sod English

BANGKOK — Despite its previous statement to the media, the military now says 15 people under arrest for allegedly plotting insurrection against the state had nothing to do with the bomb attacks in the south last week.

Officials said they have solid cases against the suspects – all described by authorities as members of the Redshirt movement – though a Redshirt leader called the arrests groundless “nonsense.”

According to deputy junta chief Prawit Wongsuwan, the 15 suspects under custody attempted to “cause unrest” with their anti-government activities, but they had no connection with the fatal bombings of Aug. 11-12. He also said it’s not possible that the military might have arrested wrong people.

more Army Backtracks on Claims of Elderly Terror Suspects? Link to Bomb Attacks

Originally Posted by misskit

He also said it’s not possible that the military might have arrested wrong people.

Originally Posted by misskit

military now says 15 people under arrest for allegedly plotting insurrection against the state had nothing to do with the bomb attacks in the south last week.

Originally Posted by misskit

BANGKOK — Despite its previous statement to the media, the military now says 15 people under arrest for allegedly plotting insurrection against the state had nothing to do with the bomb attacks in the south last week.

Originally Posted by misskit

He also said it’s not possible that the military might have arrested wrong people.

Does the right-hand know what the right-hand is doing?

I hear Yackety Sax in the background each time I post news on this thread.

Oh What a surprise Police: 20 trained southern Muslims did tourist bombings | Bangkok Post: news

Pol Gen Chakthip said he did not rule out any motive, whether the draft constitution referendum or the escalation of violence from the Southern region, adding that the group "might have been hired" by others to carry out the attacks.

All bases previously put forward are covered.

Originally Posted by misskit

I hear Yackety Sax in the background each time I post news on this thread.

You've been sprung.

100,000 baht reward for information about four bomb and arson suspects



Surat Thani provincial police have offered a 100,000 baht reward for anyone who can provide information about the shelters, regular eateries of other locations frequented by four suspects wanted for three bomb and arson attacks in the province during August 11-13.
Images of the four suspects wearing hats were caught by surveillance cameras at and near the scenes of the incidents.

Pol Maj-Gen Apichart Boonsrirote, commander of Surat Thani provincial police, summoned a meeting with a team of investigators assigned to probe bomb and arson attacks after the police had obtained information showing that the four suspects travelled from Hat Yai to Surat Thani in a passenger van on August 10 and returned on the same night.

Pol Maj-Gen Apichart said that police believed that the plotters of the attacks might have sent scout teams to survey the targets before sending the bombers and arsonists to plant the explosive and inflammatory devices.

Meanwhile, Pol Gen Srivara Rangseepromnakul, the deputy national police, has called a meeting with all the enquiry officers in charge of the cases of all the seven southern provinces in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Tuesday to follow up progress of the investigation – if there is any.

100,000 baht reward for information about four bomb and arson suspects - Thai PBS English News

DPM says progress made in 7 southern province bombing cases

BANGKOK, 22 August 2016 (NNT) – The Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs has affirmed the string of bombings in 7 southern provinces that took place earlier this month are not tied to the southern insurgency or Uighur dissidents while defending the arrest of 15 political activists.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has made known authorities have made steady progress in investigations into the series of bombings across 7 southern provinces and have already staged several arrests. He pointed out none of those taken into custody have been tied to unrest in the southern border provinces or the Uighur group but said specifics of the case cannot yet be made public.

On the detainment of 15 political activists, most of which are of advanced age, Gen Prawit stated that all who defy the law must face the consequences of their actions without discrimination. He assured that all the arrests were justified by evidence and that no erroneous detainments took place.

At a meeting on reparations for those impacted by the 7 province bombings, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreau-ngam reported that each of the 4 casualties of the bombings will receive 1.2 million baht, while all injured, which include 26 Thais and 11 foreigners, will have their medical expenses covered by the state along with any other needed expenses. The government has also committed to covering the travel costs for affected foreigners wishing to return to their home countries.

The Ministry of Interior has been tasked with providing relief to affected vendors and those whose property was impacted by the attacks.

National News Bureau Of Thailand | DPM says progress made in 7 southern province bombing cases

Accusing US of complicity in bombings is reckless and ridiculous


Re: “Is regime change a motive behind the recent bombings?”, Tell It As It Is, August 19.

The United States joins the international community and the people of Thailand in expressing outrage at the bomb and arson attacks on August 11 and 12, and condolences to the victims and their loved ones. In the middle of an ongoing investigation into the attacks, we were surprised to see a conspiracy theory dragged from the fringes of the Internet to The Nation's op-ed pages. Any suggestion that the US in any way supported these cowardly acts of violence is both ridiculous and reckless.

At the end of the article, the writer poses questions to which the answers are obvious: The US has nothing to gain from a Thailand in turmoil. It has had friendly relations with Thailand for nearly 200 years and been a treaty ally since 1954. Our soldiers have fought together in wars, our police disrupt criminal networks together on a regular basis, and our medical scientists continue to develop life-saving vaccines together that benefit the entire world.

Thailand is a close and valued partner of the US and we desire to see it return soon to a stable, sustainable democracy. We look forward to its next steps in a process to achieve that result. In the meantime, as the Thai government pursues its investigation, the US is prepared to provide, if needed, any assistance we can to help in identifying and catching those actually responsible for these atrocities, as part of our longstanding alliance with the Kingdom.

Peter M Haymond

Charge d'Affaires ad interim,

US Embassy, Bangkok
Accusing US of complicity |in bombings is reckless and ridiculous - The Nation

Nice one, 'Pauline'. You are a credit to your publication.

At least 20 people, most of them Muslims and from the insurgency-plagued South, were involved in the deadly bombings in seven provinces early this month, national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda...
Police: 20 trained southern Muslims did tourist bombings | Bangkok Post: news

But still, those bluddy gerontocrat Reds are guilty of thinking 'Communist like' thoughts.
Amazing Thailand.

Originally Posted by sabang

At least 20 people, most of them Muslims

If not all of them are Muslim, it makes it less likely to have been a purely Muslim separatist action, although there is still a chance that it's the separatists but doing a job for someone else.

Probably hired by the Dark Lord himself.
Prolly only dunnit 'cus of capitalist like thoughts.

Suspect in Trang’s bomb and arson attack arrested

A man suspected of planting a bomb and a fire bomb at a department store in Trang province in the middle of this month has been arrested and detained in Pattani.

Pol Maj-Gen Daoloi Moendet, commander of Trang provincial police, and a team of investigators had already flown to Pattani to question the suspect whose identity was not disclosed.

The source said that police investigators managed to track down the suspect with the help of footages from CCTV system and his sketch.

A native of Pattani, the suspect is being held in custody at the interrogation centre at the Ingkayuth Boriharn barrack in Tambon Bo Thong, Nong Chik district of Pattani.

The source said that more arrest warrants are expected to be issued in the next couple of days.

Suspect in Trang?s bomb and arson attack arrested - Thai PBS English News

Originally Posted by misskit

Suspect in Trang’s bomb and arson attack arrested

A man suspected of planting a bomb and a fire bomb at a department store in Trang province in the middle of this month has been arrested and detained in Pattani.

Pol Maj-Gen Daoloi Moendet, commander of Trang provincial police, and a team of investigators had already flown to Pattani to question the suspect whose identity was not disclosed.

The source said that police investigators managed to track down the suspect with the help of footages from CCTV system and his sketch.

A native of Pattani, the suspect is being held in custody at the interrogation centre at the Ingkayuth Boriharn barrack in Tambon Bo Thong, Nong Chik district of Pattani.

The source said that more arrest warrants are expected to be issued in the next couple of days.

Suspect in Trang?s bomb and arson attack arrested - Thai PBS English News

Really?

With that information available, plus GPS, his cellphone, and a motivated armed (homemade/store bought) drone deployed, would not induce me to volunteer to be his cell mate or guard.

Suspect in Trang’s fire-bomb attack detained by the military

A Pattani man who was suspected of setting off a fire bomb at the Leemart Super wholesale store in Trang province in the middle of last month has been arrested.

A warrant for the arrest of the suspect, identified as Abdul Kadae Saleh, 36, was earlier issued by the 43rd army circle military court in Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat on charges of having in possession of war weapons and causing bomb explosion endangering properties.

Saleh is being held in military custody at an army camp for interrogation.

Suspect in Trang?s fire-bomb attack detained by the military - Thai PBS English News

Good to see Abdul was nabbed.