References to bombing suspects' citizenship are sensitive: Government spokesman

BANGKOK, September 5 (TNA) -- The government asked the mass media to carefully report on the nationality of bombing suspects because it is sensitive issue. "There are concerns about the specified nationality of suspects. This must be handled carefully because it is a sensitive issue. Nothing has been so specific. References to a second or third-party country must therefore be done with care. Although those persons may be related to the mentioned countries, it does not mean that they received support from the countries and Turkey already stated that the passports were fake," said Maj Gen Werachon Sukondhapatipak, deputy government spokesman. He was referring to the reports that bombing suspects carried fake Turkish passports. He also said that a suspect recently arrested in Narathiwat province was linked with a human-trafficking network, not Bangkok bombings. However, police had yet to finish their investigation into the suspect, he said. Asked if the bombings in August were connected to the Thai government's earlier repatriation of Uighur people to China, Maj Gen Werachon said police had not narrowed down the possible motives of the bombings, which were Uighur issues, human trafficking and local political factors. He asked the mass media to refrain from confusing reports and wait for clear developments from the police. (TNA)