Nonthaburi bombing not linked to far South insurgency: Army chief
วันศุกร์ ที่ 08 ต.ค. 2553



BANGKOK, Oct 8 - Thai Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday that the explosion at Bang Bua Thong apartment in Nonthaburi province in suburban Bangkok is not related to the insurgency movement in the southern border region.

The army chief commented after a closed circuit television camera at Saman Metta Mansion captured images of a man and a woman in Muslim dress frequently visiting Room 202 of suspected bomb-maker Samai Wongsuwan.

Four people were killed and nine were injured in an apparent bomb-assembling incident at an apartment in Bang Bua Thong on Tuesday and the initial investigation found Mr Samai, a native of Chiang Mai who rented the apartment, accidentally killed himself and others.

Gen Prayuth said initial investigation found that the woman in costumes concealing from head to toe is not Muslim, but dresses herself like Muslim women.

"Personally, I consider that this is not yet linked with insurgency in Deep South," said Gen Prayuth.

'Over 4,300 people have been killed in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat where Muslims are the majority population, since the insurgency resumed in 2004.

The attacks include bombing, shooting and arsons with more violent and complex methods.

The army chief spoke to reporters as he was departing Bangkok Friday morning on his first visit to the violence-torn region since he assumed the post.

Regarding the Thursday seizure of military weapons in a rented room of an apartment in Bangkok's Bangrak district, the army chief said that the investigation found the room renter has moved out since August and that the weapons do not belong to the army and have not been used in Thailand.

Police on Thursday found a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, an assault rifle, four RPGs and 750 AK47 cartridges in a rented room of a commercial building in Bangrak.

Witness said he found the weapons as the building owner had asked him to break into the room, rented by a former employee of the opposition Puea Thai Party since May who disappeared from the building at the end of August.

"Don't cause panic to the public. The concerned officials are doing their best but there are a large number of sois (lane) in Bangkok," said Gen Prayuth.

"Sixty million Thais and 1,860 communities must help monitor irregularities. Do not allow persons with suspicious behaviour to be in your community."

Gen Prayuth said the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) will from now on step up its searching operations and needs public participation and cooperation on the matter.

Regarding unconfirmed reports that 64 armed black-clad men are now mingling and planning to cause disturbances in the capital, Gen Prayuth said he is now closely monitoring the reports, saying it is still unknown if the group really does exist and how professional their arms use is.

Gen Prayuth believes if the group exists, these men should have been well-trained to use weapons at a certain level, but the training cannot be conducted easily, as for the army it takes about two years to train soldiers to get ready for the battlefield.

mcot.net