Bombs linked with UDD

BANGKOK, 2 March 2010 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has speculated that many recent bomb attacks in the capital city of Bangkok might be connected with the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Regarding bomb attacks at branches of Bangkok Bank, Mr Suthep believed that the bomb incidents were linked with the UDD group because some UDD core leaders used to announce that they would incite situation in many places. He then asked people and all motorcycle-taxi riders to help monitor the situation and notify police officers for any irregularities.

The deputy prime minister also stressed that the government did not instigate such incidents themselves. The denial came following accusation that the government tried to instigate violence in order to enforce the Internal Security Act and control the UDD while the UDD denounced those engineering the incidents and confirmed that the group upheld peaceful rallies.

Mr Suthep also downplayed rumors about a possible coup d’état, the attempt to arrest all UDD core leaders, and the blacklist of 212 people.

News earlier claimed that the government made a blacklist consisting of people deemed a threat to the security of the nation. Apart from members of the Shinawatra and Damapong families, the list is said to include politicians, businesspeople, and officials with close relationship to the Puea Thai Party, core leaders of the UDD, and some high-ranking Buddhist monks.