[Channel NewsAsia] BANGKOK: Police in Thailand on Tuesday said they have increased security at major landmarks in the capital Bangkok, at airports and in surrounding provinces following reports of bomb plots just weeks after deadly attacks rocked the country's south.
An armed group was plotting car bomb attacks in a province near Bangkok, Thailand's national security head said.
"The deputy prime minister instructed security agencies closely track and monitor anything unusual including things used to prepare bombs and cars," Thawip Netniyom, chief of Thailand's National Security Council, told reporters.
"Why target Bangkok? They probably want to make an impact," he said, without giving details on which groups could be behind the plot.
Popular tourist destination Thailand has seen a series of bomb attacks in the country's south over the past few weeks, including a wave of bombs in tourist towns between Aug. 11-12 that killed four Thai people and injured dozens, including foreigners.
Police have linked the attacks to Muslim separatists operating in Thailand's far south. Security chief Thawip said he was not sure whether the planned car bombs and the August attacks were related.
Thailand's tourism industry, which accounts for 10 percent of gross domestic product, has weathered more than a decade of unrest including two military coups and the recent bombings.
Britain's Foreign Office advised travellers to exercise caution following the August bombings.
"You should exercise caution, particularly in public places ... Further incidents are possible in these and other areas of Thailand," the Foreign Office said.
In August 2015, a bomb ripped through a religious shrine in Bangkok killing 20 people, most of them tourists. But the attack failed to dent tourist arrivals to any discernable degree. Two ethnic Uighur Muslims from China are on trial in Thailand accused of carrying out the attack.
Analysts and diplomats suspected the attack was linked to Uighur sympathizers angered by Thailand's deportation of more than 100 Uighurs to China the previous month. Bangkok is currently playing host to a regional meeting attended by some world and business leaders.
Police said they were on high alert. "I have ordered all police under my supervision in the area around Bangkok to monitor news, investigate and gather intelligence on groups who could come in and cause trouble," said Police Lieutenant General Charnthep Sesawet, acting chief of Provincial Police Region 1, which oversees areas around the capital.
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[Manila Bulletin] Philippine president Duterte is willing to grant concessions, including awarding of public lands, to communist insurgents and Muslim rebels as part of the peace negotiations. Duterte said, "We can only talk and if you are able to convince the communists, they would require a huge amount, resources. They will not go into a surrendering mode by just simply dropping the guns. They would ask for concessions. Concessions would be land, which is very good. I agree with them, I can open up the whole, the entire Republic of the Philippines, all public lands ibigay ko, tutal hindi naman nagagamit, especially for food."
The Philippine president said he would be happy, not only giving such land, but also funds amounting to "another billions of pesos" to the insurgents in talks with the government. Duterte admitted there would be a "huge expenditure" to develop the Muslim territory since "they have lost that initiative for all of these years, they’ve been fighting for their land."
In an unprecedented move, the Philippine government has declared a ceasefire with communist insurgents, released several political prisoners, and tapped some left-leaning activists to the Cabinet. Meanwhile, the Duterte said he would hold a meeting with MNLF founding leader, Nur Misuari, this week to advance the peace process in Mindanao. Law enforcers have been ordered not to arrest Misuari, who has long been wanted for the deadly Zamboanga siege in 2013.
Duterte said, "That's my order to the police and the military. Why? I am not a war-type president. My job is to seek peace for my land. So you have to talk to everybody."
The Philippine president said he leaves it to leaders of different MNLF factions – Misuari, Muslimin Sema, and Abul Khayr Alonto, who is chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) – on how to "fix internal dynamics" but he said the three of them are willing to talk again.
Duterte also reiterated the need to address the fighting in Mindanao stemming from the historical injustices committed by American and Spanish colonizers against the Moro people.
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#1
Cause giving land to old fighters worked well in Zimbabwe.
Duterte also reiterated the need to address the fighting in Mindanao stemming from the historical injustices committed by American and Spanish colonizers against the Moro people.
He must be referring to the suppression of the long history of piracy and slaving of the Moro people.
#5
Sure, give each of the insurgentsrebels terrorists a piece of their own personal land.
6' long, 3' wide, 6' deep. Specify the pieces can be joined together when they're used . . . .
Posted by: Barbara ||
10/11/2016 15:54 Comments ||
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#6
It looks like Duterte is making deals with the others in order to focus on (and presumably try to wipe out) the Abu Sayyaf. Whatever else may happen, I hope he can get that much done.
#7
Tough on druggies but all mushy soft on commies and muzzies.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
10/11/2016 17:08 Comments ||
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#8
Gotta start somewhere, and if realigning with Russia/China, could be commies are off the top of the list.
And I bet with druggies, there is some intersection with the commies/muzz.
Duterte has impressed me (don't necessarily agree and I am not there so I have no opinion as if this is the best option), so I'm taking a wait and see.
[Bangkok Post] An assistant village leader tasked with "peace-making" was killed by gunmen as he returned to his home in Yala province on Sunday night. Montree Wichitwechakarn, deputy chief investigator of Yaha district, said the man was attacked in tambon Baro.
When Usman Tosamae arrived back home on a motorcycle after completing night duty, four armed men on two motorcycles arrived behind him and unleashed a hail of gunfire at him. Usman fell dead on the spot. The assailants fled into the night after the attack. About 50 spent bullet cartridges were found at the scene.
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[Manila Bulletin] Philippine president Duterte is willing to grant concessions, including awarding of public lands, to communist insurgents and Muslim rebels as part of the peace negotiations. Duterte said, "We can only talk and if you are able to convince the communists, they would require a huge amount, resources. They will not go into a surrendering mode by just simply dropping the guns. They would ask for concessions. Concessions would be land, which is very good. I agree with them, I can open up the whole, the entire Republic of the Philippines, all public lands ibigay ko, tutal hindi naman nagagamit, especially for food."
