No country has eradicated terrorists entirely

If, as Eric Bahrt claims, the rationale for the coup was shaken by bomb atrocity in Bangkok, then presumably the same thinking applies to the democratic British government. It failed to prevent IRA atrocities against innocent people in England for much of the 20th century. The American administration failed to prevent the Boston bomb outrage, among others.

No human society has yet managed to banish altogether violent dissidents, whether you call them terrorists or freedom fighters.  Adolf Hitler managed (just) to survive 30-plus attempts on his life, some involving bombs that either detonated near him or failed to go off. Yet he had a more elaborate security service than any other leader of his generation.

 It would be fairer to judge the Thai junta on whether it manages to bring the perpetrators of last week’s obscenity to justice. It could hardly do worse than the previous government, which failed in its bid to track down the Bangkok bomb-throwers who indiscriminately massacred men, women and children in early 2014.

Barry Kenyon