Thai police reverse previous statements and claim they are investigating southern rebels over bombings
Senior Thai officials suggested strongly soon after the Thursday and Friday attacks that they were carried out by political opponents of the military government
Thai authorities said on Monday they are investigating whether bombings last week at several popular tourist destinations were related to long-term separatist violence in the country’s far south, backing away from assertions that partisan politics were behind them.
Police have made no formal arrests in the bomb and arson attacks in seven towns that killed four people and wounded dozens, including several foreign tourists. They told a news conference that several people have been detained by the military for questioning, but declined to provide details. Those detained have been identified in by Thai media as political activists opposed to the country’s ruling military junta.
I’ve always said since the beginning ... there are similarities in bomb-making methods and the equipment used
The attackers’ tactics have led to speculation that the bombings were carried out by Muslim separatists in Thailand’s south who have staged a low-level insurgency since 2004. Thailand is overwhelmingly Buddhist, but its three southernmost provinces have Muslim majorities.
National police chief General Chakthip Chaijinda acknowledged on Monday that there were similarities between the tourist spot bombings and those carried out by the separatists.
“I’ve always said since the beginning and I’ve never said anything else, there are similarities in bomb-making methods and the equipment used,” he said in response to reporters’ questions.
Senior Thai officials suggested strongly soon after the Thursday and Friday attacks at Hua Hin and other holiday spots that they were carried out by political opponents of the military government.
The comments suggested the perpetrators were linked to supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. His supporters and opponents have since then carried out a sometimes violent struggle for power. The army in 2014 toppled an elected government that had been led by Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.