Boonjong: Blast cause for worry

Bangkok Post : Boonjong: Blast cause for worry

Boonjong: Blast cause for worry

• Published: 13/08/2010 at 12:26 PM
• Online news: Breakingnews

The explosion of a home-made bomb at a bus stop in San Patong district on Thursday may result in the emergency decree remaining in force in Chiang Mai, Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat said on Friday.

Mr Boonjong said the explosion could cause Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to have a second thoughts about lifting the state of emergency in Chiang Mai.

Mr Abhisit said on Wednesday he had asked the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to consider the situation and recommend where the emergency decree should be lifted. The decree is still in place in 10 provinces, including Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

He said he was considering lifting the decree in provinces which are centres of tourism. The matter would be taken for consideration on Monday, Aug 16.

Mr Boonjong said the blast might be linked to the Supreme Court plenary assembly's ruling on Wednesday not to accept for consideration an appeal by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family against the seizure of 46.37 billion baht of their frozen assets.

The decision finalised the case

Bangkok Post : Chiang Mai governor optimistic

Chiang Mai governor optimistic

• Published: 13/08/2010 at 12:56 PM
• Online news: Breakingnews

Chiang Mai governor Amornpan Nimanan said on Friday he did not think the bomb explosion in San Patong district on Thursday would cause Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to keep the emergency decree in force in Chiang Mai province.

He believed the blast was the work of a group teenagers who only wanted to cause public disturbance and did not intend to harm people.

The governor supported 3rd Army chief Lt-Gen Thanongsak Apirakyothin's asertion earlier in the day that the authorities were capable of keeping the situation in control.

Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit, meanwhile, urged the prime minister to lift the emergency decree as soon as possible to show leadership, saying that the law had cause problems for tourism.