THAILAND: RTG REACTIONS TO APRIL 3 TRIPLE

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
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