Hunting For Answers In Thailand's Latest Violence

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa Bernama's correspondent in Bangkok Mohd Haikal Isa shares on the happenings in the country's northern neighbour, Thailand. BANGKOK, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- A day before Thais celebrated Queen Sirikit's 84th birthday on Aug 12, and just days after a referendum on the draft constitution, seven southern provinces were rocked by bombings and arson attacks. Until today, no individual or groups have step forward to claim responsibility for the well-coordinated attacks including at the resort town of Hua Hin, Phuket and Phang Nga that left four people dead and 35 others injured including 10 foreign tourists. The bomb and arson attacks also happened exactly a week before the first anniversary of Bangkok's Erawan shrine bombing on Aug 17 last year, which left 25 people dead, including several Malaysians. Two Chinese nationals of Uighur descent are awaiting trial for the bombing. Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha in an immediate statement called for calm vowing the authorities' resolve to hunt down the perpetrators. Meanwhile, the Thai police blamed "local sabotage" for the violence. At the same time the police ruled out elements of international terrorism or the southern Thai conflict in the attacks. Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also the Defence Minister and minister responsible for security affairs said the attacks was "definitely not an extension" of the southern Thai conflict. However, investigators on the ground discovered that the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) used in the attacks with mobile phone as the detonator were similar with previous incidents in the deep restive south. With this revelation, speculations on the southern Thai militants as the party responsible for the attacks echoed louder. However, Prawit stood his ground but at the same time did not discount the possibility the southern Thai militants being hired by unidentified forces to carry out the attacks. As the investigation on the attacks gained momentum and more valuable forensic evidences were gathered, the investigators narrowed down three probable motives for the violence. The three probable motives he said could be anti-government, southern Thai conflict and opposition to the draft constitution. Meanwhile, as the authorities grappled with the question of motives and groups responsible with the violence, several security analyst felt that only one group was capable of conducting detailed and well-planned attacks like what had happened in seven southern provinces recently. Bangkok-based security analyst for IHS Jane, Tony Davis said only Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the Patani independence movement, has the capability and expertise to execute complicated attacks as what was witnessed recently. His assessment on BRN's involvement were based on several factors, in line with the evidences and patterns of previous attacks executed by the militants from the group. "BRN has the capability and cadres to undertake a well coordinated and executed plan, the capability and skills the group have been honed for over 13 years following the southern Thailand insurgency. The dispersed bomb attacks over several locations bore BRN's hallmarks including the use of IEDs for easy concealment, incendiary devices, timer and mobile phone as detonator, said the expert during a panel discussion on the violence at Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand (FCCT) recently. The violent incidents at Thai's tourist attractions of Phuket, Hua Hin and Phang Nga he said, were designed as an attack on Thai "tourism economy" and the military government. Another analyst and expert on southern Thai's affairs Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat agreed that BRN could be behind the latest series of attacks. She said tourist destinations, entertainment spots and state's enforcement agencies like the police stations that were the target in the previous attacks carried out by BRN were also the target this time around. "Everything points to the deep south," she said, adding that the type of IEDs used in the bombing and the usage of mobile phone proved BRN's hands in the violence. Despite all eyes trained on the BRN as the prime suspect behind the violence, the group never issued any statement reacting to the allegation up till now. However, analysts pointed out keeping silent after an attack was another trademark of the group. "They wanted to sow confusion," said Davis. -- BERNAMA