South blasts: police arrest three

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha reiterated yesterday that several arrest warrants had been issued but did not identify the suspects or provide details as to which of the incidents they were allegedly involved in.

So far, two suspects are in custody after having been identified by other sources of information.

One of the suspects, Samlee Puluduereh, was arrested on Tuesday over charges of terrorism, attempted murder and possessing explosives. He is suspected of having planted a roadside bomb in Pattani, one of the many bomb attacks last weekend, including those in Yala and Songkhla’s Hat Yai district.

The other is Anuwat Tohjeh, 22, a resident of Yala’s Muang district, who was seen in security camera footage driving a vehicle following a pickup that was used in the Yala attack. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Samlee was apprehended in a police raid on his Pattani home, where he was found to have a 100-metre electrical cord, along with nails and steel-cutting pliers – material and equipment required for setting up roadside bombs. 

Security camera footage showed a suspect resembling Samlee, and wearing clothing similar to what was found at his home. 

At a press conference in Pattani yesterday, Samlee said he had been at home with his wife at the time of the attack, and denied that the trousers found in his house were his.

Speaking earlier in an interview, Yuthasak warned against the likelihood of further bomb attacks or other violence in the coming months to mark several notable occasions, including the anniversaries of the Tak Bai and Krue Se incidents, together with a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

“Whatever havoc they want to inflict, they will make it happen now, and get their rewards,” he said.

As for those subject to yesterday’s arrest warrants, he said the suspects worked at several levels, were attached to several groups of insurgents and were both old hands and new faces. He did not, however, give details of their identities or affiliations, or whether the warrants also covered people other than those suspected of carrying out last weekend’s car bomb attacks at three locations.

He said a number of vehicles reported missing were being tracked down, and added that registration and parking regulations must be overhauled and strictly enforced in order to minimise the chance of more vehicle or motorcycle bombs in the future. 

Asked about possible suicide bombs in the South, he said such a practice was still unlikely in Thailand.

Questioned on recent talks between Thai politicians and an insurgent leader, Yuthasak declined to comment. He also refused to say anything about talks with BRN Coordinate, an umbrella group representing various groups of insurgents in the deep South. 

“I don’t agree with negotiations and will not comment on the BRN talks. I am not allowed to do so,” he added.

Yuthasak said he agreed with the Opposition’s call to convene a parliamentary session to discuss the bomb attacks and possible solutions, but insisted that it would be a closed-door session.

Security has been heightened at four key airports in the wake of the bomb attacks, while surveillance was put in place at major locations with Muslim residents, including a soi in Sukhumvit and areas close to Ramkhamhaeng University, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobam-rung said yesterday

He said extra measures would also be adopted at several locations tomorrow, Good Friday in the Christian calendar. He said the car bomb attacks in the deep South had nothing to do with the triple blasts in Bangkok in February involving five Iranian suspects.

The mayor of Hat Yai, Phrai Phatthano, said Malaysian authorities were happy with the assistance provided to Malaysian tourists affected by or wounded in the Hat Yai car bomb, but would raise the security issue at the Asean meeting being held in Cambodia. 

He quoted senior Malaysian officials who visited Hat Yai on a regular basis since the attack to check on the situation. 

Phrai said another 400 security cameras had been installed in the Hat Yai area, in addition to the first 100 units in operation before the weekend’s attack. Private businesses will also be encouraged to install more units on their premises.

The Internal Security Operations Command said yesterday that it was capable of handling the situation in the South and maintaining security on its own, without intervention or assistance from international or other outside agencies. 

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to rethink the government’s strategies towards the violence in the South. 

He also criticised Defence Minister Sukamphol Suwannathat for floating the idea of negotiating with the insurgents.