Thailand’s bomb probe in disarray, yet again
It has been 11 days since the Mother’s Day bombings in Hua Hin and six provinces in Thailand’s southern region, and the investigations are not going well. Many of the errors in the investigation into the bombing at the Erawan shrine in Bangkok a year ago that drew widespread criticism are being repeated. Diverse agencies of the police, the armed forces and even the intelligence community are giving the impression they are competing to solve the case.
There have been several egregious examples of this. Just as importantly, there are numerous small examples, all of which have been remarked upon and sometimes blown out of all proportion. And it is all occurring under the glaring spotlight of public interest and concern, as people around the country pray the authorities can solve the crimes which have them worried.
The questions of “who” and “why” are not being answered. Thais feel they have been let down since the investigations were launched as conflicting statements have been the hallmark of official action so far. Mostly, it is negative, such as when Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who is in charge of national security, dismissed the idea that southern rebels might be behind the terrorist-style attacks. The chief suspects in his mind were opponents of the regime.
At almost the same time, the national police chief, Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, said the southern separatists were obvious suspects. The next day, the spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Piyapong Klinpan, said the likely perpetrators were “disgruntled political parties” — disgruntled because they were being emasculated under the new Constitution approved in the national referendum.
And so it has gone on. It is important to note that top officials dismissed the idea of international terrorists from the start. The Tourism and Sports Ministry, which plays no role in national security affairs, decided to make a comment, stating strongly that outsiders were not involved. But of course, outsiders were responsible for the Erawan shrine blasts, and two Uighur men who confessed to direct involvement will go on trial this week.
There can be no open-minded investigation if any possibility is taken — or ordered — off the table. Of course the coup leaders want it to be “those who previously held power”. The police would find it convenient to determine it was separatists. But the army, on the other hand, would be hugely embarrassed if it turned out their “peace partners”, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), had attacked tourism areas and provincial capitals on a Royal birthday.
Last week, the military advised it had arrested 17 people and expected to charge them by Friday with complicity in the bombing. The next day, the military advised that the 15 men and two women, most notable for their advanced ages, had nothing to do with bombing. They were, in fact, old communists who were arrested for bad-mouthing the draft charter.
As with the Erawan shrine probe, there seem to be factions vying for attention as they let slip nuggets of information — sometimes it is information, and sometimes it is misinformation. But this does nothing to serve the public interest, and Thais are losing confidence in the security forces.
The security agencies need to get on with the investigations. A single, well-informed spokesman should be delegated to pass confirmed information on to the public on the progress. No matter the behind-the-scenes activity — all the public sees is a bomb probe in chaos. BANGKOK POST
