Bangkok (The Nation/ANN) - Security authorities need to quickly uncover the truth behind Tuesday's attacks in order to ease anxiety and restore confidence in Thailand.
Thai security officials must thoroughly investigate the three bomb blasts in Bangkok on Tuesday if they are to discover the real motive behind the attacks and at the same time restore confidence in local law enforcement.
The issue must be brought into the light as soon as a possible, because a cache of bombs on Sukhumvit Road does not only draw the attention of locals but also that of the international community.
While it is too early to rush to any judgement, pending the results of the investigation, it is known the suspects were believed to be Iranians. This draws a connection between these incidents and last month's security warning from the American Embassy, as well as other missions, over possible attacks by Middle-Eastern terrorists.
The public has been anxious recently, after the American and Israeli embassies issued travel warnings to their citizens about possible terrorist attacks in Thailand. In the wake of these alerts, Thai security officials have already arrested a Lebanese national with a suspected link to Hezbollah. This is no time for security officials to become complacent. They must be vigilant in their investigations, especially in the light of recent criticism of security arrangements here.
However, the arrest of the Lebanese suspect has not convinced everyone that this is the end of the current terrorist threat in Thailand. The American Embassy, for instance, is maintaining its travel warning for its citizens. That warning will no doubt be replicated by other embassies after Tuesday's blasts.
The three explosions in Bangkok have fuelled even more speculation about a connection with current international events. American and Israeli authorities have voiced suspicion about the involvement of Iran and Hezbollah in targeting Israeli nationals in various countries. This follows similar, if amateurish, bomb blasts in Georgia and India, and already there is talk of a link between those attacks and what happened in Bangkok.
The Bangkok bombs came a day after Israeli diplomatic personnel were targeted by bombers in Tbilisi and New Delhi, using methods remarkably similar to alleged Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists in recent years.
Nonetheless, it is too early to jump to any conclusions. Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat has tried to allay fears and anxiety over Tuesday's explosions, saying the blasts should not be construed as terror attacks. Police Chief Priewpan Damapong conceded the effort to thoroughly screen every foreigner entering Thailand could be seen as lax because Thailand has a policy to attract international tourists.
The Thai intelligence and security incidents must work relentlessly and cooperate with relevant embassies to get to the root of what happened. As of press time, the police had already taken into custody two Iranian bomb suspects. But another suspect remained at large after fleeing from a rented house.
The question is why these foreigners chose to assemble bombs in Thailand? The inference is that they were planning to launch attacks on Thai soil. These are the questions we urgently need answers to.
The authorities should also start looking at such incidents in a different light, instead of quickly dismissing any connection between the discovery of explosives and possible terror attacks. Thai security officials have often been quick to dismiss such links because they are more concerned with maintaining the image of Thailand as a safe and peaceful tourist destination.
Whatever the motive of these bombers, there is no question that the safety of the public was endangered. Even if they were not plotting to execute a terrorist act on a grand scale, they put innocent lives at risk. The authorities must also look for evidence on the suspects' part of other illegal activities such as drug trafficking or arms smuggling. This is a further warning that Thai security officers must not be complacent in allowing foreigners use Thailand as a base for criminal activity.
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