Thread: Thailand declares a state of high alert

From the news source.....

"The steel-made fuel tank had been empty for nearly 20 years and did not explode", an army source said.

Perhaps the reason for no fire?

Originally Posted by bugseda

From the news source.....

"The steel-made fuel tank had been empty for nearly 20 years and did not explode", an army source said.

Perhaps the reason for no fire?

...perhaps the reason it was the only one targeted?

likely they are all empty and have never contained fuel.

the money for the correct construction and the fuel itself was probably urgently needed for mercedes' and international shopping trips.

Security for key figures stepped up
1/07/2010

Security for Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has been stepped up following confirmation from the acting national police chief that key figures have been targeted for ambush, Thepthai Senpong, spokesman for the Democrat leader said on Thursday.

Mr Thepthai said the Democrat Party and the government have been informed, formally and informally, that they have become target of attacks

Security agencies have told team providing security for the prime minister to adopt the highest security measures for him while Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and other key figures have been informed to be more cautious when appearing in public places and avoid risky areas, he said.

On Wednesday, acting national police chief Pateep Tanprasert confirmed that there are reports of assassination attempts of key political figures including Mr Abhisit, Mr Suthep and judges who will rule on the dissolution cases of the Democrat Party and the election commissioners.

The National Police Bureau has provided more police officers to safeguard these figures, Pol Gen Pateep said.

bangkokpost.com

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...ts-under-watch


CRES asks police to guard 68 locations

• Published: 1/07/2010 at 04:10 PM
• Online news: Local News

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) has ordered police to keep 68 high-risk spots under watch for possible attack by anti-government elements, Pol Col Songpol Wattanachai said at the CRES weekly press conference on Thursday.
Pol Col Wattanachai, deputy chief of the metropolitan police, said the order was given on the recommendation of Pol Lt-Gen Santhan Chayanont, the metropolitan police chief, after a meeting of commanders of police units on June 29.

The meeting took into consideration the attack with two rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) on the old disused oil depot belonging to the army's Quartermasters Department in Muang district of Nonthaburi on the night of June 27, and two previous incidents - an explosion at a power pylon in Ayutthaya's Bang Pahan district and the M79 attack on a PTT oil depot in Pathum Thani.

It was agreed that 68 spots, mostly oil depots and and refineries, were highly vulnerable to attack and should be guarded by at least two armed policemen around the clock, he said. He would not identify them

He said police investigators had questioned nine witnesses about Sunday's RPG attack on the army oil depot. Arrest warrants would be issued for the suspects if there was sufficient evidence.

The metropolitan police had sent police to guard the houses of important people such as the prime minister and some cabinet members and important installations such as Government House, parliament, electricity and water plants, and other public utilities, Pol Col Wattanachai said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday he thought the state of emergency should be continued in Bangkok, but might be lifted in the 23 other provinces if the situation there had returned to normal.

Mr Abhisit said he agreed with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, director of the CRES, who said earlier that Bangkok was still at risk of violence from anti-government elements.

The CRES spokesman, Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, said Mr Suthep had raised this matter for discussion at previous meetings of the CRES.

It was agreed at the meetings that the state of emergency should be lifted in as many areas as possible with the condition that after the emergency decree was no longer imposed the efficiency of authorities responsible for security must remain unchanged, he said.

Col Sansern said National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri, as secretary-general of the CRES, would on Friday look into the possibility of revoking the emergency decree in some provinces, taking all factors into account.

The NSC chief was expected to make a final decision on Monday and submit his recommendation to the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he said. The emergency decree expires on Tuesday night. Cabinet will decide if, and where, to renew it.

Chairman of the civil rights and politics sub-committee of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said Niran Pithakwatchara said they agreed at a meerting today that the government should lift the emergency decree in all 24 provinces.

“The meeting pointed out that the emergency law must be used only when violence occurs, to protect state offices and utilities, but the unrest is now over,” Mr Niran said on Thursday afternoon.

Even though there were bombings in Bangkok recently, the sub-committee did not consider it unusual and police could control the situation, he said.

Mr Niran also said the detention of political activists without pressing official charges was an abuse of human rights.

He would submit his panel’s resolution to the prime minister for his opinion. After the the premier’s response, the resolution would be proposed to the NHRC for adoption.