Thread: Youtube Thaksin Al Qaeda story

'Al-Qaeda' issues Thaksin threat | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

A YouTube video claiming to be an al-Qaeda threat against fugitive ex-premier Thaksin was removed by the video service on Saturday as too violent, and then appeared again hours later.

The 2-minute, 45-second video is entitled "Al-Qaeda video against former Thailand Prime Minister".
It showed three men in Arab-type clothing, one armed with what appears to be a toy rifle, with the "leader" in the centre, reading the death threat.
The third man held a photo of Thaksin.
The English language commentary included threats to kill Thaksin, "to avenge the killing of Muslims in the South in 2004". It referred to the killings at Tak Bai district town, while Thaksin was premier.
"We will get you any time, anywhere in the world," said the speaker.
There was no other context provided in the video. The first upload to YouTube was removed after a few hours with the notice: "This video has been removed as a violation of YouTube's policy on violence".
It appeared again from a different uploader several hours after that.
The second upload of the video also was removed.
But the anti-Thaksin posters played tag with YouTube. Early Sunday, a third version of the video was also posted on YouTube, with a Thai-language soundtrack played over the original.
Southern militants have denied they have any connections with al-Qaeda or similar foreign terrorist groups.

The video clip does have some English at the end.

Yeah, the one in the middle looks English to me.

Does that look like a toy rifle to anyone?

They've made another one

Come on Bangyai, you're supposed to be in fear. You're defying the shock doctrine.

'Al-Qaeda' Video Threatening Thaksin's Life Dismissed As Fake
27 July 2013

Top intelligence official said the video of 3 men claiming to be Al-Qaeda operatives and placing bounty on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is definitely fake.

In a video posted to Youtube website, 3 individuals clad in Arabic-looking costumes identified themselves as members of the Salafi network at an unknown location.

One of them was holding portrait of Mr. Thaksin, while the man in the middle read out a statement in English detailing their intention to avenge deaths of Muslims in the 3 border provinces of Southern Thailand who were allegedly killed by Thaksin′s heavy-handed policy to quell the separatist insurgency there in 2004.

Although the region, an independent kingdom called Pattani before it was incorporated into modern Siam, was long known for separatist insurgencies, the latest wave of violence flared in 2004 when Mr. Thaksin was the Prime Minister of Thailand.

The self-proclaimed militant denounced policies toward the Southern region conducted by the government of Mr. Thaksin′s sister, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra. He warned that Mr. Thaksin′s time is over, and that Al-Qaeda′s "Dead Squads" would always hunt him.

"We will try to assassinate you at any time and any place. You will no longer be safe in any corner of this world," the man promised.

The video was posted on 26 July - Mr. Thaksin′s birthday. It was circulated widely by anti-government social network users for a while, but it is now set as "private" and not accessible to general public.

Lt.Gen. Paradorn Pattanatabutr, secretary-general of the National Security Council, told Khaosod that the "amateurish" video is clearly not a work of Al-Qaeda or any other Islamist organization.

"The people who made this clip are no other than the same group who want to overthrow Mr. Thaksin," Lt.Gen. Paradorn declared.

The secretary-general added that the ongoing insurgency in the Southern border provinces is also not connected to Al-Qaeda or Mr. Thaksin. In fact, he said, it concerns the Thai authorities and local separatists.

Asked if the Thai government would have to clarify details about the videoclip with Malaysian government - who is mediating a ceasefire between the Thai security forces and the insurgents - Lt.Gen. Paradorn said the Malaysian government is well aware that the troubles in Southern Thailand are not related to Al-Qaeda.

"They are also aware that right now there is anti-democracy movement campaigning against the government," Lt.Gen. Paradorn said tartly.

khaosod.co.th

Originally Posted by Mid

Top intelligence official said the video of 3 men claiming to be Al-Qaeda operatives and placing bounty on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is definitely fake.

Gosh .................now there's a surprise.

I bet A Q will see the funny side.

Old Thaki has a history of "threats on his life" when he is under heavy criticism.

Come on Al Qaeda, prove your critics wrong, do it! You don't have any hair on your balls if you don't.

Luckily Thaksin is living far away in the safe haven of the Middle East,where it would be difficult for these fanatics to operate. luckily for Thaksin he moved out of Liverpool U.K as the killers would have been right on his doorstep.

Foreigners had a hand in Thaksin death-threat clip: Pracha
July 29, 2013

Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog Monday held anti-government groups comprising both Thai and foreigners members responsible for a YouTube clip in which a death threat was issued against ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra by a man dressed to look like a terrorist.

Pracha refused to reveal the nationality of the suspected foreigners, saying it could damage bilateral relations, though he insisted they did not come from Malaysia.

nationmultimedia.com

Danger of Thai denial on security threats
Kavi Chongkittavorn
August 12, 2013

The Thai authorities responded in illogically ways to the security threats on daily basis. They mimicked threats, especially alleged ones coming from foreign groups of extremists.

"Thailand is friendly to all countries, nobody will harm us" still reigns in the heads of Thai security apparatus. Even in the age of new global security's structures, Thailand still thinks it is immune of any possible danger due to its unique history and independence.

The case in point was the recent YouTube clip showing three alleged Al-Queda members holding a photo of Thaksin Shinawatra, threatening to kill him. The government and Pheu Thai party played down the plot immediately, describing it as fake. Nobody bothered to investigate further who were these hooded men and what were their ulterior motives, except the US intelligent community.

The Central Intelligent Agency asked the Thai counterparts to dig deeper as it is interested in any form of threat, real or imagine, coming from popular borderless social platforms. Any lead would be useful for the anti-terrorism campaign. The clip represented a new twist in the conflict in southern provinces as it has now become more personalized. His name was mentioned for the first time. Persons who know what Thaksin did at Takbai in October 2005 and its far-reaching ramifications would not take any threat against Thaksin lightly, especially the alleged plot was linked to Al-Queda group. Thaksin has kept quiet on his own fate - uncharacteristic of him not to comment routinely. For a record, he even admitted the leaked conversations with Gen Yuttasak Sasiprapa took place while the latter denied it.

With a long history of ignoring external threats, many of their investigations blogged down as they were not aimed at Thai citizens. Today, terrorists, including those identified by the US, can still use Thailand as a transit point or for R&R as they would soon leave the country, so goes the wisdom. Besides pledging to closely watch them, nobody wants to take any action. Doubtless, the post Sept 11 world, this country remains a haven for extremists. Lest we forgot parts of the Sept 11 attacks and several terrorist attacks abroad were planned over here by the Al-Queda network and its regional affiliate, Jamiah Islamiah.

That was why Thailand was indifferent with the recent US security alerts to close down selective US diplomatic missions in the Middle East and North Africa due to the Al-Queda threats. Ironically, the warning also coincided with the broadcast of YouTube on Thaksin's killing. Other countries in the region such as Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia were on high alerts. Indeed, these countries have well connected and coordinated anti-terrorism networks in terms of intelligent sharing, especially suspected terrorists who frequent the region.

Thailand's security linkages including data gathering and intelligence sharing are still not completely hooked into the US-led information system which is active at the global level. These ASEAN countries are well ahead as their security apparatus are more adept and alerted to the external threats than the Thais. For instance, Cambodia and the US have online and real-time update on lists of terrorists and other intelligence, which Thailand, as a close US ally, does not have.

From 2003-2006 under Thaksin's administration, Thailand cooperated closely with the US in the anti-terrorism campaigns including black prisons and other secret activities. But these were was based on arrangements at the highest level and an ad hoc basis. The arrest of Hambali, the Asian head of Al-Queda in Ayutthaya in August 2003, was one of the highlights. The US intelligence and huge reward contributed to the successful mission. These collaborations have already made Thailand a prime target of terrorists, the Al-Queda group in particular.

This government thinks the country's biggest security threat comes from within. That helps to explain why the peace talks in the South goes nowhere. The Thai security team simply look at internal dynamics of security threats while the insurgent groups follow well-conceived of interconnectedness between internal and external threats.

Therefore, the whole security apparatus has been zeroed in on contained domestic forces hostile to the government in the past weeks. For the foreign terrorists, under this circumstance, Thailand is still the weakest link in the tight network of counter-terrorism. Unless, tangible preventive measures are taken up promptly, the Thai leaders would have no way to foil any terrorist attack, small or big, in the future.

nationmultimedia.com

Yes, and now, if Takky is assassinated, it will be Al Qaeda of course. Can't you see? Dumb falang.

Thailand’s Thaksin 'not kicked out of UAE'
Daniel Shane
Sunday, 25 August 2013



Deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been in exile in Dubai for the last five years, has not been deported from the UAE, his lawyer said, contrary to media reports.

Thailand’s Blue Sky TV claimed that Shinawatra, who was in office between 2001 and 2006 when he deposed in a bloodless coup, had been threatened by Al Qaeda in a clip posted on YouTube. Although that video was widely seen to be a fake, the station claimed that authorities in the Gulf state had asked him to leave regardless.

Blue Sky, which is said to be affiliated with Thailand’s Democratic party, said that the 64-year old business tycoon was now preparing to move to Hong Kong.

Speaking to the Bangkok Post, however, Shinawatra’s lawyer Noppadon Pattama said that he had not been barred from the UAE, but was instead holidaying in the UK.

Shinawatra left Thailand in 2008 just two months prior to a Supreme Court decision to sentence him to two months in jail for abuse of power. His youngest sister Yingluck Shinawatra is currently prime minister of Thailand.

arabianbusiness.com