Interior Minister admits reported assassination attempts against PM
Interior Minister Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wanthana conceded here Monday that recent reports on assassination attempts against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have grounds.
The minister said, however, that the 'information' he received had not yet probed by intelligence units.
"I was reported on the 'information', but it's still considered a rumour as it has yet verified by any official intelligence unit," he told journalists.
The interior minister stressed, however, that there would be no reinforced security measures for the caretaker prime minister at places he would visit, saying the "VIP-level" security preparedness for the Thai leader was considered sufficient.
Responding to journalists over continued anti-Thaksin movements, particularly those of the premier's arch critics formed themselves as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), ACM Kongsak said: "The government has fully respected the rules and we'd like to see reciprocal practice from all other parties.
TNA-2006-08-21
Assassination attempts against PM ?
Assassination attempts against PM ?
With A Name Like Bas, It Has To Be Good.
Thaksin says he missed assassination
Thaksin says he missed assassination
Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt Thursday because he left his house earlier than normal.
Thaksin said that two soldiers driving a car rigged with an improvised bomb were stopped when they were spotted circling his home in southern Bangkok in the morning.
"It's my lucky day. I have been varying my travel times after the intelligence services told me people were trying to kill me. If I hadn't left an hour earlier than usual, I might not be here now," he said on Thai television.
Thaksin added that several other attempts have been made to harm him in recent months when traveling on official duties. He alluded to "incidents" at military airports and a recent car crash that involved a car in one of his convoys.
The controversial deputy chief of the Internal Security Operations Command, Panlop Pinmanee, was promptly sacked on the prime minister's orders Thursday, after the two suspected assassins were found to belong to his military oversight office.
Panlop caused consternation earlier this year when he said a military coup could not be ruled out if political instability persists. There were unconfirmed reports that one of the suspects is Panlop's driver.
Tension has been climbing in the Thai capital ahead of an October 15 general election that Thaksin is expected to win, despite being widely disliked by the middle class and old Bangkok elites.
The driver and passenger in the suspect car, who attempted to flee, were later arrested and were being interrogated by the police. The two suspects, one a lieutenant, were identified as soldiers serving with the Thai army's Internal Security Operations Command.
The army's deputy spokesman, Colonel Akkara Thiprote, said two sticks of dynamite were found in the car and that the army would cooperate with police in the investigation.
Two bags of urea fertilizer, often used in making bombs, were also reportedly found in the car.
The discovery came on the first day of official campaigning for what is shaping up to be a bitterly fought general election on October 15. Fistfights have broken out between opponents and supporters of the premier at his recent public appearances.
The prime minister said that after this "assissination attempt" he would make only vital public appearances. "I must assign routine appearances to my deputies. We can't let these people succeed," he said in a television interview.
The opposition People's Alliance for Democracy has said this week that it would restart the mass demonstrations that rocked the government earlier this year if the authorities did not quickly identify the Thaksin supporters who kicked and punched protestors this week.
Thai newspapers reported Thursday that at least two people who beat protestors while police looked on Monday were known to have links to officials close to the prime minister.
A vehicle-free security zone has been temporarily declared around Thaksin's sprawling compound on Snitwongse Road, extending as much as a kilometre from the house.
Those opposed to Thaksin - many in Bangkok's middle class, Thai intellectuals, the older elite, advisers to the monarch and elements in the armed forces - have accused the prime minister of running a corrupt regime designed to enrich his family and a clique of rich businessmen while also undermining and eliminating checks and balances on his government.
The prime minister remains popular, however, with many rural voters and entrepreneurs and is likely to win the election. The prime minister has repeatedly claimed since taking power in early 2001 that threats have been made against his life, although his critics have accused him of paranoia and sympathy-seeking.
Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana said Monday that there were credible but unconfirmed reports of an assassination conspiracy.
Earlier this year, several bombs exploded around the capital, primarily aimed at prominent opponents of the prime minister. The origins of these devices remain a mystery.
Bangkok post 2006-08-24
Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt Thursday because he left his house earlier than normal.
Thaksin said that two soldiers driving a car rigged with an improvised bomb were stopped when they were spotted circling his home in southern Bangkok in the morning.
"It's my lucky day. I have been varying my travel times after the intelligence services told me people were trying to kill me. If I hadn't left an hour earlier than usual, I might not be here now," he said on Thai television.
Thaksin added that several other attempts have been made to harm him in recent months when traveling on official duties. He alluded to "incidents" at military airports and a recent car crash that involved a car in one of his convoys.
The controversial deputy chief of the Internal Security Operations Command, Panlop Pinmanee, was promptly sacked on the prime minister's orders Thursday, after the two suspected assassins were found to belong to his military oversight office.
Panlop caused consternation earlier this year when he said a military coup could not be ruled out if political instability persists. There were unconfirmed reports that one of the suspects is Panlop's driver.
Tension has been climbing in the Thai capital ahead of an October 15 general election that Thaksin is expected to win, despite being widely disliked by the middle class and old Bangkok elites.
The driver and passenger in the suspect car, who attempted to flee, were later arrested and were being interrogated by the police. The two suspects, one a lieutenant, were identified as soldiers serving with the Thai army's Internal Security Operations Command.
The army's deputy spokesman, Colonel Akkara Thiprote, said two sticks of dynamite were found in the car and that the army would cooperate with police in the investigation.
Two bags of urea fertilizer, often used in making bombs, were also reportedly found in the car.
The discovery came on the first day of official campaigning for what is shaping up to be a bitterly fought general election on October 15. Fistfights have broken out between opponents and supporters of the premier at his recent public appearances.
The prime minister said that after this "assissination attempt" he would make only vital public appearances. "I must assign routine appearances to my deputies. We can't let these people succeed," he said in a television interview.
The opposition People's Alliance for Democracy has said this week that it would restart the mass demonstrations that rocked the government earlier this year if the authorities did not quickly identify the Thaksin supporters who kicked and punched protestors this week.
Thai newspapers reported Thursday that at least two people who beat protestors while police looked on Monday were known to have links to officials close to the prime minister.
A vehicle-free security zone has been temporarily declared around Thaksin's sprawling compound on Snitwongse Road, extending as much as a kilometre from the house.
Those opposed to Thaksin - many in Bangkok's middle class, Thai intellectuals, the older elite, advisers to the monarch and elements in the armed forces - have accused the prime minister of running a corrupt regime designed to enrich his family and a clique of rich businessmen while also undermining and eliminating checks and balances on his government.
The prime minister remains popular, however, with many rural voters and entrepreneurs and is likely to win the election. The prime minister has repeatedly claimed since taking power in early 2001 that threats have been made against his life, although his critics have accused him of paranoia and sympathy-seeking.
Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana said Monday that there were credible but unconfirmed reports of an assassination conspiracy.
Earlier this year, several bombs exploded around the capital, primarily aimed at prominent opponents of the prime minister. The origins of these devices remain a mystery.
Bangkok post 2006-08-24
With A Name Like Bas, It Has To Be Good.
Thaksin fires Gen Panlop
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has dismissed Deputy Director of Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) Gen Panlop Pinmanee after one of his officers was arrested for owning a car with explosives inside near PM's residence.
Lt Thawatchai Klinchana, of ISOC was arrested and detained as two sticks of dynamite, each weighing 0.45 kilograms and some fertilizer were discovered inside the vehicle.
Investigators said Lt Thawatchai admitted to being Gen Panlop's driver.
General Panlop Pinmanee is a military ``tough guy'', infamous for his heavy-handed management of the Krue Se mosque incident years ago, as well as his hawkish views on the insurgency in the deep South.
Gen Panlop told local reporters earlier this year that a military coup could not be ruled out if political instability persists.
Bangkok post 2006-08-24
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has dismissed Deputy Director of Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) Gen Panlop Pinmanee after one of his officers was arrested for owning a car with explosives inside near PM's residence.
Lt Thawatchai Klinchana, of ISOC was arrested and detained as two sticks of dynamite, each weighing 0.45 kilograms and some fertilizer were discovered inside the vehicle.
Investigators said Lt Thawatchai admitted to being Gen Panlop's driver.
General Panlop Pinmanee is a military ``tough guy'', infamous for his heavy-handed management of the Krue Se mosque incident years ago, as well as his hawkish views on the insurgency in the deep South.
Gen Panlop told local reporters earlier this year that a military coup could not be ruled out if political instability persists.
Bangkok post 2006-08-24
With A Name Like Bas, It Has To Be Good.
Thaksin says he knows about attempts on his life two weeks ago
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claimed Thursday that he had known about a plot to assassinate him for two weeks.
Thaksin also claimed to know the identities of those who made attempts on his life.
He said he left home earlier than normal schedule Thursday because he had a meeting at 8:30 am.
The Nation 2006-08-24
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claimed Thursday that he had known about a plot to assassinate him for two weeks.
Thaksin also claimed to know the identities of those who made attempts on his life.
He said he left home earlier than normal schedule Thursday because he had a meeting at 8:30 am.
The Nation 2006-08-24
With A Name Like Bas, It Has To Be Good.
Pallop denies planning assassination attempt against Thaksin
Gen Pallop Pinmanee, sacked deputy director of the Internal Security Operation Command, Thursday denied he had planned to assassinate caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pallop told a press conference after Thaksin sacked him as deputy ISOC director that had he really planned to do it, the assassination attempt would have not failed.
Pollop said Lt Thawatchai Klinchana, who was arrested for hiding bomb inside his car found parked near Thaksin's house, was no longer his driver because the army officer had been deployed to work in the deep South three months ago.
The Nation 2006-08-24
Gen Pallop Pinmanee, sacked deputy director of the Internal Security Operation Command, Thursday denied he had planned to assassinate caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pallop told a press conference after Thaksin sacked him as deputy ISOC director that had he really planned to do it, the assassination attempt would have not failed.
Pollop said Lt Thawatchai Klinchana, who was arrested for hiding bomb inside his car found parked near Thaksin's house, was no longer his driver because the army officer had been deployed to work in the deep South three months ago.
The Nation 2006-08-24
With A Name Like Bas, It Has To Be Good.
-
DawnHRD
- Legend
- Posts: 2627
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:39 pm
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In more ways than one, this reminds me of the attempts on Hitler's life in the "Wolf's Lair" towards the end of WW2. Wonder if the end result will be the same for the perpetrators?
"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832
Make a dog's life better, today!
Make a dog's life better, today!
'Bomb plot to kill Thaksin foiled', questions linger
Explosives 'ready to be detonated near motorcade'; Army officer held for questioning
A car loaded with explosives that was intercepted by police early yesterday morning was possibly to be used in an attempt to kill caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while he was travelling in his motorcade, National Intelligence Agency director Jumphol Manmai said yesterday.
The police general said he learned that the bomb, containing 14.23 pounds (6.5 kilograms) of a combination of TNT and C-4 composite explosive as well as a type of 64.57 blasting agent, was ready to go off. He said he did not know who was behind the possible assassination plot.
Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Lt-General Wiroj Jantharangsee said the explosives in the sedan were completely assembled, equipped with a remote unit sensor and ready to be detonated, and that it would have a radius of impact of around one kilometre.
Five uniformed police officers pulled over the silver Daewoo sedan at the foot of a flyover on Borromratchonnani Road near Bang Phlad Intersection and arrested the driver, Army Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, who said he was paid Bt200 by a man to drive it to an area called Suan Oy.
Thawatchai, initially charged with having explosives in his possession, was later brought to the Crime Suppression Division compound for questioning, with two military officers present, after police searched his official residence near the First Military Precinct headquarters, where police found and seized two licence plates and a personal computer.
A police team later searched Thawatchai's own home in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district and found no illegal items. A Thai Rak Thai Party blazer was found there.
A police barricade was set up around the car and a large crowd was herded away to a 400-metre radius from where it was parked. A team of police ordnance experts were called in to examine the car. They neutralised some of the explosives on the front passenger seat by using a high-powered water gun to disassemble what appeared to be cloth bags with something inside.
Police discovered later that the sedan's licence plate Thor Santhan-Chor Ching 3085 BKK was registered to a woman and had already been classified void. An investigation was underway to find out how the invalid licence plates came to be attached to the car and what the car's body serial number, which had been scratched out, was.
At a press conference later on, the officer displayed a number of items he said were retrieved from the sedan. Explosives-related items included TNT sticks weighing 10.73 pounds in total, a number of C-4 explosive sticks weighing 3.5 pounds and a combination of blasting agents identified as Anfo (ammonium nitrate-fuel oil) contained in 13 lubricant plastic cans.
Wiroj said such types of explosives were the same as those used in terror bomb attacks in the restive South by insurgents, and that the impact would have been massive. "Nobody within the lethal radius of 30-40 metres would have survived and buildings within the range would be destroyed completely, including the flyover," he said.
The officer said it was possible the car was intended to attack the motorcade of Thaksin, which regularly uses the route to take him from his home in nearby Charansanitwong Soi 69 to Government House.
The Nation 2006-08-25
Explosives 'ready to be detonated near motorcade'; Army officer held for questioning
A car loaded with explosives that was intercepted by police early yesterday morning was possibly to be used in an attempt to kill caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while he was travelling in his motorcade, National Intelligence Agency director Jumphol Manmai said yesterday.
The police general said he learned that the bomb, containing 14.23 pounds (6.5 kilograms) of a combination of TNT and C-4 composite explosive as well as a type of 64.57 blasting agent, was ready to go off. He said he did not know who was behind the possible assassination plot.
Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Lt-General Wiroj Jantharangsee said the explosives in the sedan were completely assembled, equipped with a remote unit sensor and ready to be detonated, and that it would have a radius of impact of around one kilometre.
Five uniformed police officers pulled over the silver Daewoo sedan at the foot of a flyover on Borromratchonnani Road near Bang Phlad Intersection and arrested the driver, Army Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, who said he was paid Bt200 by a man to drive it to an area called Suan Oy.
Thawatchai, initially charged with having explosives in his possession, was later brought to the Crime Suppression Division compound for questioning, with two military officers present, after police searched his official residence near the First Military Precinct headquarters, where police found and seized two licence plates and a personal computer.
A police team later searched Thawatchai's own home in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district and found no illegal items. A Thai Rak Thai Party blazer was found there.
A police barricade was set up around the car and a large crowd was herded away to a 400-metre radius from where it was parked. A team of police ordnance experts were called in to examine the car. They neutralised some of the explosives on the front passenger seat by using a high-powered water gun to disassemble what appeared to be cloth bags with something inside.
Police discovered later that the sedan's licence plate Thor Santhan-Chor Ching 3085 BKK was registered to a woman and had already been classified void. An investigation was underway to find out how the invalid licence plates came to be attached to the car and what the car's body serial number, which had been scratched out, was.
At a press conference later on, the officer displayed a number of items he said were retrieved from the sedan. Explosives-related items included TNT sticks weighing 10.73 pounds in total, a number of C-4 explosive sticks weighing 3.5 pounds and a combination of blasting agents identified as Anfo (ammonium nitrate-fuel oil) contained in 13 lubricant plastic cans.
Wiroj said such types of explosives were the same as those used in terror bomb attacks in the restive South by insurgents, and that the impact would have been massive. "Nobody within the lethal radius of 30-40 metres would have survived and buildings within the range would be destroyed completely, including the flyover," he said.
The officer said it was possible the car was intended to attack the motorcade of Thaksin, which regularly uses the route to take him from his home in nearby Charansanitwong Soi 69 to Government House.
The Nation 2006-08-25
With A Name Like Bas, It Has To Be Good.
Doubts over Thaksin's lucky escape
News about an assassination attempt against caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was greeted with some suspicion as security and intelligence officers said there were too many questions to support such a claim.
All sorts of conspiracy theories were floated as news reports unfolded to the public about how an Army lieutenant was planning to use 67 kilograms of explosives to assassinate Thaksin.
Former security tsar Prasong Soonsiri said the incident was a set-up to divert attention from the political turmoil the government is experiencing.
He said the incident could lead to the issuing of the controversial Emergency Law to clamp down on the government's political opponents.
Others believe the incident
will give the premier the needed bargaining chip to put his supporters in key security positions at the upcoming annual reshuffle.
Thaksin said it "was his lucky day for leaving home earlier". He claimed to have been heading to an emergency meeting on the flood crisis in the North, which he had called for an hour ahead of his scheduled appointments, the times of which are usually made known in advance.
The assassination claim highlighted the statement made on Sunday by Thai Rak Thai Party executive Pairote Suwanchawee, who used the term "suicide bomber" to describe tactics employed by a handful of anti-Thaksin protestors at the Siam Paragon shopping complex in Bangkok.
Making such a comparison without explanation baffled many people, with claims it was an irresponsible statement that could have caused grave misunderstanding among the public and international community.
In what was seen as an unprecedented act, Thaksin's security people were extremely helpful with the media, providing photographers with pictures of Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana and the explosive materials found in the vehicle.
Thaksin said yesterday that he had been the target of failed assassination plots on at least two occasions in the past two weeks. He claimed one happened when he was getting off his official plane at the Don Muang airforce base, but he did not elaborate.
The premier has made similar claims over the past six years, although none has been proven.
A military strategist also pointed out that the explosive devices in the car yesterday were not assembled or ready to be detonated.
Conflicting statements were issued throughout the day. Initially, investigators on the ground said the bomb was not assembled, but the chief of the Metropolitan Police, Lt-General Wiroj Jantharangsee, told a press conference in the afternoon that it was assembled and ready to be set off.
Wiroj paraded all the evidence to the media while National Intelligence Agency chief General Chumpol Munmai concluded that the devices were meant to assassinate the premier.
There were no word on who was the suspected mastermind of the plot.
But the military strategist pointed out that if the devices were meant to explode as Thaksin passed by, they should have been assembled so that they could be set off instantly. He said it would take at least an hour to assemble all the devices.
"If somebody wanted to kill Thaksin with that amount of explosives, all they had to do was park their car next to the front of Thaskin's residence and jump on a waiting motorbike before detonating the bomb from a distance," he said.
He dismissed suggestions that Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) Deputy Director Pallop Pinmanee was behind the plot, saying Pallop had always been close to Thaksin.
Pallop was immediately sacked without any real investigation.
Lt-General Pirat Sawamiwat, a former classmate of Pallop, said if the ousted deputy ISOC chief was behind any assassination attempt, the victim would not have survived.
Moreover, if the vehicle was in fact a car bomb, why did the driver repeatedly circle around Thaksin's residential area during the rush-hour, making the vehicle noticeable and creating suspicion?
Thawatchai, who built his career as an Army intelligence officer, said he was paid Bt200 by an unnamed friend to deliver the car from the spot where he was arrested to nearby Soi Suan Oy, according to a police source.
Thawatchai's knowledge of ordnance is still not known.
Yesterday's incident came amid mounting demands on the government for an explanation after it was revealed that two petty criminals who carried out the beating of anti-Thaksin demonstrators at the Central World shopping complex were in fact political thugs.
The news effectively pushed aside the previous contentious headlines - from the fist fight at Central World to the probe into the Kularb Kaew controversy.
The Commerce Ministry has yet to make a decision on whether Kularb Kaew was an alien company or a nominee for Temasek Holdings, the Singaporean government's financial arm that took over Shin Corp Plc.
The Nation 2006-08-25
News about an assassination attempt against caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was greeted with some suspicion as security and intelligence officers said there were too many questions to support such a claim.
All sorts of conspiracy theories were floated as news reports unfolded to the public about how an Army lieutenant was planning to use 67 kilograms of explosives to assassinate Thaksin.
Former security tsar Prasong Soonsiri said the incident was a set-up to divert attention from the political turmoil the government is experiencing.
He said the incident could lead to the issuing of the controversial Emergency Law to clamp down on the government's political opponents.
Others believe the incident
will give the premier the needed bargaining chip to put his supporters in key security positions at the upcoming annual reshuffle.
Thaksin said it "was his lucky day for leaving home earlier". He claimed to have been heading to an emergency meeting on the flood crisis in the North, which he had called for an hour ahead of his scheduled appointments, the times of which are usually made known in advance.
The assassination claim highlighted the statement made on Sunday by Thai Rak Thai Party executive Pairote Suwanchawee, who used the term "suicide bomber" to describe tactics employed by a handful of anti-Thaksin protestors at the Siam Paragon shopping complex in Bangkok.
Making such a comparison without explanation baffled many people, with claims it was an irresponsible statement that could have caused grave misunderstanding among the public and international community.
In what was seen as an unprecedented act, Thaksin's security people were extremely helpful with the media, providing photographers with pictures of Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana and the explosive materials found in the vehicle.
Thaksin said yesterday that he had been the target of failed assassination plots on at least two occasions in the past two weeks. He claimed one happened when he was getting off his official plane at the Don Muang airforce base, but he did not elaborate.
The premier has made similar claims over the past six years, although none has been proven.
A military strategist also pointed out that the explosive devices in the car yesterday were not assembled or ready to be detonated.
Conflicting statements were issued throughout the day. Initially, investigators on the ground said the bomb was not assembled, but the chief of the Metropolitan Police, Lt-General Wiroj Jantharangsee, told a press conference in the afternoon that it was assembled and ready to be set off.
Wiroj paraded all the evidence to the media while National Intelligence Agency chief General Chumpol Munmai concluded that the devices were meant to assassinate the premier.
There were no word on who was the suspected mastermind of the plot.
But the military strategist pointed out that if the devices were meant to explode as Thaksin passed by, they should have been assembled so that they could be set off instantly. He said it would take at least an hour to assemble all the devices.
"If somebody wanted to kill Thaksin with that amount of explosives, all they had to do was park their car next to the front of Thaskin's residence and jump on a waiting motorbike before detonating the bomb from a distance," he said.
He dismissed suggestions that Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) Deputy Director Pallop Pinmanee was behind the plot, saying Pallop had always been close to Thaksin.
Pallop was immediately sacked without any real investigation.
Lt-General Pirat Sawamiwat, a former classmate of Pallop, said if the ousted deputy ISOC chief was behind any assassination attempt, the victim would not have survived.
Moreover, if the vehicle was in fact a car bomb, why did the driver repeatedly circle around Thaksin's residential area during the rush-hour, making the vehicle noticeable and creating suspicion?
Thawatchai, who built his career as an Army intelligence officer, said he was paid Bt200 by an unnamed friend to deliver the car from the spot where he was arrested to nearby Soi Suan Oy, according to a police source.
Thawatchai's knowledge of ordnance is still not known.
Yesterday's incident came amid mounting demands on the government for an explanation after it was revealed that two petty criminals who carried out the beating of anti-Thaksin demonstrators at the Central World shopping complex were in fact political thugs.
The news effectively pushed aside the previous contentious headlines - from the fist fight at Central World to the probe into the Kularb Kaew controversy.
The Commerce Ministry has yet to make a decision on whether Kularb Kaew was an alien company or a nominee for Temasek Holdings, the Singaporean government's financial arm that took over Shin Corp Plc.
The Nation 2006-08-25
With A Name Like Bas, It Has To Be Good.