Thaksin's party denies bombing, new coup

Brunei Times ^ | 1/7/07

[Valin]

THAILAND's former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party on Friday insisted it was not involved in the bombings here and that it did not support any new coup, Thailand news agency reports. Acting TRT leader Chaturon Chaisang reiterated that the party, founded by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, did not agree with the September 19 coup d'etat and that the party firmly disagreed with any new coup. He said the Council for National Security (CNS), Prime Minister Gen Surayud Chulanont and senior military leaders should put more effort into stopping rumours of a new coup. A new coup would further hurt the country's image and economy, he said.

Bangkok was hit by bomb attacks on New Year's Eve in which three persons died and 42 were wounded, including nine foreigners. It remains unknown who was behind the attacks, although the military has suggested that supporters of Thaksin have been trying to destabilise the country in a bid to take back power. Thaksin, who is living in self-imposed exile in China, has denied involvement.

Rumours of the new coup were spread here on Thursday as CNS leaders and the prime minister said they believed the Sunday incidents and the coup rumours were connected, as the same group of people were behind the incidents. "The Thai Rak Thai has followed the news with worries towards the country and it believes that the situation would worsen if another coup takes place. The party will eventually become a scapegoat," Chaturon said.

He urged CNS members and the government to use forensic science in proving who masterminded the bomb attacks rather than expressing their own ideas without proof, as it could widen divisiveness among people in the country.

Bernama

[Hawthorn]

There's defintiely no consensus in Thailand as to the perps. And it appears that few locals blame the Muslims.

See:

http://bangkokpost.com/News/07Jan2007_news01.php

Plus:

http://bangkokpost.com/topstories.php?id=115803

And:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/07/headlines/headlines_30023469.php



[FWIW, my Thai wife thinks ex-Prime Minister Chavalit is behand the whole thing -- this in spite of her rabid disgust with the Muslim terrorists in southern Thailand.]

[nkycincinnatikid]

I read that New Years was celebrated without concern in Patong, the red light district. How does this square with the Junta's blaming of TRT?

[Valin]

Thanks for the links.