Lone Ranger, Our Man in Bangkok reports:
Well, starting as the sun went down today, a coordinated series of bombings kicked off here in Bangkok, where I live. I've heard specifics about explosions at at least seven locations - and at least five fatalities.
All bombs have thus far gone off in stationary locations (not on public transport), and appear to be of size to be hand-carried. Initial reports suggest military type explosives (grenades & similar).
Having lived here in Bangkok for seven years, and closely watched the Muslim insurgency progress in Southern Thailand, I am personally quite certain that this bombing campaign is not related to the problems in Southern Thailand - nor to the global Islamic terrorist pestilence.| Nevertheless, things that go *boom* go on page one. |
My first guess is that the violence tonight is the work of disaffected malcontents from the Taksin government that was unseated in a military coup in September 2006.
If that proves to not be the case, I will then guess that the attacks are the work of the present interim Thai government, seeking to create an excuse to either crack down on the disaffected malcontents from the previous government, or to crack down on the Muslims in the South. Muslim insurgents are a very distant third possibilty. | Toxin deadenders or the present gov't bombing its own citizens. That must make you fell all warm n' fuzzy... |
My assignment of probabilities:
85% that malcontented Taksin remnants are responsible
12% that current government has orchestrated this, as part of a "false flag" campaign
2% that some other outside influence is responsible
1% that Muslim minsrgents from the far south of Thailand are responsible
It looks to be a long night in Bangkok, and a totally disrupted holiday evening for millions of Bangkokians. | Thanks for the report and the analysis, LR. Happy New Year? |
|