Video threat should not be dismissed so easily

Security authorities were quick to conclude that a video recently posted online by a group of men who claimed to be members of al-Qaeda, in which they vowed to kill fugitive former prime minster Thaksin Shinawatra, was a hoax. 

It’s strange how quick and efficient the authorities can be if they really want to. But do they know the truth – or are they just jumping the gun, simply because Thaksin’s image and international standing is at stake?

It’s good to be alert and prompt. But the manner in which the authorities have gone about dealing with this makes us wonder if their enthusiasm is driven by concern for the national interest or one man, the country’s de facto leader.

Security issues must not be politicised because it undermines national security and intelligence work. 

Regardless of whether the three hooded men seen in the video were genuine or part of a ploy to put the ousted former premier in a bad light, our security officials should not take the issue lightly. The fact that three hooded men have tapped into the “global war on terrorism” theme to make their case against Thaksin should be a cause for concern.

In light of the ongoing political divide that grips Thailand, such a ploy is not necessarily out of the question. Indeed, stakeholders on both sides of the political divide in Thailand’s gutter politics have employed all sorts of dirty tricks to discredit their opponents. 

Although making reference to the Tak Bai massacre might have undermined their credibility and their rationale for wanting to kill Thaksin – since the tragedy took place ten years ago – we cannot ignore the fact that this so-called “ploy” has once again put Thailand in an unwanted international spotlight. 

After all, Thailand’s appalling rights record and culture of impunity on the part of its security forces in the troubled deep South – where controversial emergency laws, torture and abduction are used to try to quell the ongoing Malay-Muslim insurgency – have already cast the country in a bad light in foreign eyes. 

But if radical Muslim groups with global networks come to see the conflict in the Malay-speaking South as a religious one, they might not need an invitation to enter into the conflict. They will see it as part of their duty and obligation to attack Thailand. In this respect, how we handle the alleged al-Qaeda video is important. 

The claim that someone wants to kill Thaksin is nothing new. Last November the same threat was reported emanating from the Myanmar sector of the Golden Triangle. It prompted him to cancel a planned trip to the border town of Tachilek, where he was due to meet red-shirt supporters.

Like the recent threat from the self-proclaimed al-Qaeda members, the one in November was greatly politicised, with political figures making contradictory statements. 

If anything, the politicking and the “sexing up” of the issue demonstrate that our authorities have no qualms about compromising national security for political gain. 

In short, security issues must not be twisted to benefit individuals, because the act itself compromises national security. 

Furthermore, it’s essential that security and intelligence agencies be free from government interference so they can provide sound analysis without worrying about political implications. There has to be a line somewhere. But in Thailand, sadly, no one seems to know where that line is drawn.