Article

2003-06-10 Southeast Asia

Thai authorities have arrested three Thai Muslims on charges of threatening national security. The men were arrested in southern Narathiwat province bordering Malaysia and have been linked with regional terrorism network Jemaah Islamiah (JI). One report said the men were plotting to attack Western embassies and a tourist spot in Bangkok. Australia and New Zealand last month advised against non-essential travel to Thailand, warning that the country was at risk of attack by Islamic militants.

Posted by Paul Moloney 2003-06-10 08:31 am|| || Front Page|| [10 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 BANGKOK (Reuters) - Police in Thailand have broken up a cell of Jemaah Islamiah militants suspected of planning to bomb embassies and beach resorts in the country, officials in Bangkok and Singapore said Tuesday.

Four members of the cell have been arrested -- a 42-year-old Singaporean and three Thai Muslims -- based on information supplied by Singapore, they said. More suspects are being hunted.

Regional officials say Jemaah is an Islamic militant group with tentacles across Southeast Asia and believed responsible for the Bali bomb attack last October and violence in the Philippines.

The three Thai Muslims were arrested in the south of the country Tuesday, while the Singaporean was taken into custody in Bangkok on May 16 and sent to Singapore the next day.

That suspect, Arifin bin Ali, is believed to be the leader of a group of Jemaah Islamiah operatives who had also planned to hijack a plane and crash it into Changi airport in the city state, the Singapore government said in a statement.

A senior Thai police official told Reuters in Bangkok: "These three are linked to the previous arrest of a Singaporean in

Thailand. Both that arrest and the ones today were on tips from Singapore.

"They were planning to carry out attacks on foreign embassies, tourist attractions, including Pattaya and Phuket."

Pattaya and Phuket are hugely popular beach destinations frequented throughout the year by thousands of tourists, mainly Westerners.

Another officer said: "These three are part of a cell of at least five and we are looking for the others."

OK - now you can start your jokes about Phuket

Posted by Frank G 2003-06-10 10:13:03|| 2003-06-10 10:13:03|| Front Page Top

#2 It's to easy Frank. All I'm going to say is this. That is the greatest name ever for a vacation destination. Hands down.

Posted by Mike N. 2003-06-10 10:40:50|| 2003-06-10 10:40:50|| Front Page Top

#3 Are Aussies considered "westerners"? Why?

Posted by mojo 2003-06-10 16:12:36|| 2003-06-10 16:12:36|| Front Page Top

#4 Because they are. "Westerner" is a cultural designation, not a geographical one.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2003-06-10 17:06:24|| 2003-06-10 17:06:24|| Front Page Top

#5 Gee, thanks Aris.

By that logic, couldn't we call the Greeks "assholes"?

Posted by mojo 2003-06-10 17:31:44|| 2003-06-10 17:31:44|| Front Page Top

#6 Unnecessary insult mojo. Btw Australia is west of the USA, right?

Posted by True German Ally 2003-06-10 17:57:21|| 2003-06-10 17:57:21|| Front Page Top

#7 My globe tells me it's east.

Posted by RW 2003-06-10 18:58:41|| 2003-06-10 18:58:41|| Front Page Top

#8 "start your jokes about Phuket "
Phuket is pronounced P-hoo-ket. The 'h' is aspirated, not making the 'ph' into an 'f'. And the 'u' is long, 'oo' rather than 'uh'.
Anyone who makes jokes about Phuket will have my pedantry to deal with! (It's all the fault of the Brits and their pathetic attempts to transliterate from Sanskrit. )

Posted by Bellicose Kat 2003-06-10 19:34:37|| [site-essential.com/] 2003-06-10 19:34:37|| Front Page Top

#9 well fine then B Kat F&*K it

Posted by Frank G 2003-06-10 20:15:10|| 2003-06-10 20:15:10|| Front Page Top

#10 "Gee, thanks Aris"

Glad to have been of assistance. Will definitely remember your kind words.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2003-06-10 22:38:59|| 2003-06-10 22:38:59|| Front Page Top

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