US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK2441

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002441 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, S/CT. SEOUL FOR AMBASSADOR 
HILL. HQ USPACOM FOR FPA (HUSO). 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, TH, Southern Thailand 
SUBJECT: THAILAND:  RTG REACTIONS TO APRIL 3 TRIPLE 
BOMBINGS IN SONGKHLA PROVINCE 
 
REF: BANGKOK 2401 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Clarke.  Reason:  1.4 (d) 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  The Royal Thai Government (RTG) has 
responded to the three bombs on April 3 that targeted Hat Yai 
international airport and other high-visibility targets 
(reftel) with heightened security nationwide and carefully 
calibrated words.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, responding to 
reporters as he arrived at his office April 4, condemned the 
bombings, expressed his condolences for the dead and wounded, 
and noted that the latest attacks were carried out when a 
concerted, unified effort was underway to restore peace in 
the deep South.  He declined to answer a question on whether 
the suspected bombers were linked to separatist insurgents 
behind the upsurge in violence in the three southernmost 
provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat during the past 
year.  However, Thaksin said he would seek to maintain a 
balance between retaliation and reconciliation in his 
responses, giving particular emphasis to the point that the 
"conciliatory methods" his administration has adopted in 
recent weeks would not be abandoned.  Thaksin opined that the 
latest violence could impact tourism and the economy and 
pledged to take steps to restore confidence as soon as 
possible.  The Prime Minister told reporters that the RTG 
could handle the continuing violence itself and would not 
need assistance from other countries. 
 
3. (U)  An official statement issued April 4 by the Office of 
the Prime Minister sounded similar themes.  Embassy 
translation of the Thai language text of that statement 
follows: 
 
Begin Text:  "It is the policy of the Royal Thai Government 
to promote national reconciliation and adhere to peaceful 
means to resolve the situation in the South and promote an 
atmosphere of unity among the entire Thai nation as can be 
seen by the establishment of the National Reconciliation 
Commission. 
 
It is, therefore, unfortunate that certain groups of 
individuals have been responsible for the tragic bombing 
incidents involving the use of small explosives in Songkhla 
district and Hat Yai district on the evening of Sunday, 3 
April 2005, resulting in the loss of lives and injuring a 
number of people as well as causing severe damages to 
government and private properties. 
 
The Royal Thai Government would like to express its deepest 
sympathy and condolences to the families of those who lost 
their lives and those who were injured in the incidents.  The 
Royal Thai Government has instructed the competent 
authorities to extend full assistance to all the victims. 
The Royal Thai Government condemns in the strongest terms 
such heinous acts of violence and will exert its utmost 
efforts to bring those responsible for the incidents to 
justice.  At the same time, the Royal Thai Government has 
taken additional steps to tighten security measures, 
particularly in the sensitive areas, in accordance with 
international standards. 
 
The Royal Thai Government is fully convinced that the 
demonstration of unity and cooperation among all the Thai 
people throughout the nation in creating an atmosphere of 
genuine national reconciliation will help deter those who are 
behind such heinous acts of violence from becoming further 
emboldened and engaging in such inhumane acts in the future." 
 End Text. 
 
4. (U) The RTG has beefed up security nationwide and is 
intent on demonstrating that it has done so.  Deputy Prime 
Minister and Interior Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya, 
Thaksin's personal choice as the top RTG security official, 
chaired an April 4 meeting of security and intelligence 
chiefs.  The measures this committee plans to put into place 
(and have in some cases) include heightened security in all 
international airports in Thailand, i.e., more patrolling 
officers, installation of additional closed circuit TV 
surveillance cameras, use of sniffer dogs, strict enforcement 
of "no unattended luggage" rules, and closer screening of 
individuals.  Chidchai said the highest international 
security standards would be maintained to restore confidence 
among travelers and he compared the new level of security to 
that during the October 2003 APEC Summit in Bangkok.  In 
addition, Chidchai also established a task force to protect 
other targets judged "vulnerable," including popular tourist 
spots in Bangkok.  The Metropolitan Police claimed April 4 
that over 250 points in Bangkok, and more than 180 points 
elsewhere, have been identified for enhanced security -- 
patrols and more surveillance cameras -- even though no 
intelligence, Thai officials publicly stressed, indicates 
that Bangkok is a potential target.  Reportedly, oil depots 
and public transportation systems like the Sky Train and new 
subway system will also receive greater security attention. 
An informal Embassy survey April 5 revealed that tightened 
security is indeed visibly in effect at airports. 
 
5. (C) Comment:  Prime Minister Thaksin and the RTG seem to 
have immediately grasped that the latest bombings of clearly 
international targets change the situation they face with 
southern violence and could fuel fears about Thailand with 
real consequences for tourism and the economy.  They have 
taken steps to show their seriousness in redressing security 
deficiencies and to restore confidence.  It is notable that 
Thaksin is exercising uncharacteristic discipline in his 
comments to the press, sticking to his recently announced new 
policies of balance in addressing the sources of southern 
violence, and yet trying to direct a comprehensive security 
response to a heightened threat.  It remains to be seen how 
long and competently this response can be sustained but, for 
the moment, the RTG appears committed to acting responsibly. 
End Comment. 
 
 
ARVIZU