THAILAND: TRIPLE BOMBING IN FAR SOUTH, APRIL 3,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002401

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, S/CT, CA/OCS.
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER CASC TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND: TRIPLE BOMBING IN FAR SOUTH, APRIL 3,
2005

REF: A. BANGKOK 2351

B. BANGKOK 2352

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alexander A. Arvizu. Reason 1.4(d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The evening of April 3, three bombs
exploded nearly simultaneously in the southern province of
Songkhla, killing at least two and injuring scores of others.
Two Americans were injured; their injuries, while serious
and requiring hospitalization, are not life-threatening. Two
of the bombs targeted the international airport and a
Carrefour "superstore" retailer in Hat Yai City. The third
exploded at a hotel in the nearby city of Songkhla. These
bombings, which occurred just north of where most of the
recent separatist violence has been centered (Pattani, Yala
and Narathiwat),were direct attacks on highly visible public
commercial symbols in the region. As such, they represent a
significant development in the violence that continues to
afflict southern Thailand. The Royal Thai government's (RTG)
initial public reaction has been to downplay the attacks, but
other officials have told us privately that the attacks are,
in their view, evidence that the violence is spreading. On
April 4, another explosion, in neighboring Yala province,
injured six soldiers. END SUMMARY


2. (C) On April 3, at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time,
three bombs were detonated nearly simultaneously (within 20
minutes of each other) at three distinct locations in the
southern province of Songkhla. At least two people died as a
result of the bombings and scores were injured, including two
American citizens. The first bomb reportedly was placed in a
garbage can near the entrance to a Carrefour "superstore"
retailer, part of the French-owned chain. The second bomb --
which killed two persons and injured the Amcits -- was
apparently left in a bag near the airport information counter
at the Hat Yai international airport. The third bomb was
placed on a motorcycle parked at the Green World Palace Hotel
in Songkhla City, where the regional police headquarters for
the South is located. Asked about rumors that other
explosive devices had been disarmed, RTG Police officials
told the Embassy that no other bombs were found in Hat Yai or
Songkhla City.
The bomb in Songkhla City exploded not far from the residence
of USG (DEA) personnel; at this point, we have no reason to
believe the USG personnel were specifically targeted.


3. (U) The RTG's initial reaction has been to downplay the
attacks. Armed Forces Supreme Commander Chaisit Shinawatra,
the cousin of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, made the
incredible claim that the attacks in Songkhla province, "show
that our measures are working in the three southernmost
provinces," which border the province, i.e. that the bombers
were forced to move North. Deputy Prime Minister and
Interior Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya convened an emergency
meeting of top security officials at the National Security
Council on April 4 to discuss the latest attacks. Following
the meeting, Chidchai announced that security would be
increased at airports, and intelligence efforts redoubled.
Chidchai also claimed that a closed circuit video camera at
the airport had captured the bomber placing the device and
that the authorities were working to identify the culprit.


4. (C) Despite the government's initial attempts to
downplay the attacks, other officials warn they are
indicative of spreading violence. Songkhla Governor Somporn
Chibangyang told the Embassy that the attacks in his province
occurred despite recent stepped up security measures.
Somporn believes that these latest attacks signal that the
violence, which had been largely contained to the three
southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, is
spreading. Netr Chantharasami, a prominent local businessman
and member of the newly established National Reconciliation
Commission, concurred. Netr told the Embassy that the
attacks demonstrated the RTG's failure to contain the
violence to the deep south. Both Somporn and Netr predicted
that the attacks in Hat Yai and Songkhla City, which serve as
the commercial center for far southern Thailand, would have a
negative impact on business investment and tourism for all of
the 14 provinces that make up southern Thailand.


5. (U) On April 4, another explosion was reported in
neighboring Yala province at the Yala Vocational College.
This bomb went off in the parking lot of the college sports
stadium during a school sports day festival. Six soldiers
providing security for the festival were injured in the blast.

6. (C) COMMENT: These latest attacks strike us as a
significant development in the violence in Thailand's far
South. The attacks were against targets outside of the three
southernmost provinces where most of the separatist violence
to date has taken place. Two targets, the international
airport and the Carrefour super-store -- both crowded on a
Sunday evening -- are important symbolically for the region's
economy. Songkhla City, which serves as the headquarters for
the Police for southern Thailand, had no history of attacks
prior to the April 3 hotel bombing.


7. (C) Songkhla province has not been entirely immune from
the violence that has plagued its neighboring provinces of
Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala. In August 1992 and again in
April 2001, the Hat Yai railway station was bombed, with both
attacks resulting in several deaths and dozens of injuries.
However, Songkhla province has escaped much of the daily
incidents of the current upsurge of violence that continued
in the far south since January 2004. Provincial security
officers had told Poloffs as recently as November 2004 that
they believed that violence would one day reach the cities of
Hat Yai and Songkhla. Their prediction has played out in
Songkhla province in a terrible manner. END COMMENT
ARVIZU