The army is stepping up its surveillance in fear armed men allied to hard-core protesters could launch terror attacks in Bangkok and other provinces in revenge for the May 19 crackdown, an army source says.
Intelligence reports and an assessment of the situation in the wake of the rally have concluded there is a real possibility of violent retaliation by groups who fled the protest site at Ratchaprasong intersection after the military operation, the source said yesterday.
The revenge could be in the form of car and motorcycle bombs, taking the lives of soldiers and government figures, and arson attacks at locations which are symbols of the government and armed forces. They could take place in the capital or the provinces.
Some red shirt politicians who have connections in the three southern border provinces could hire insurgents from the lower South to launch attacks in Bangkok, the source said.
The concerns have prompted intelligence authorities to monitor the movements of suspected insurgents, especially those who are already in Bangkok.
One incident which led the army to fear possible terror attacks was a car bomb at the Poseidon massage parlour car park on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok on April 4, the source said.
While the army is preparing for the possibility of violence, the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation favours ending the curfew in Bangkok and other provinces tomorrow.
The government will decide today whether to extend the curfew.
Security agencies held talks yesterday to evaluate the situation, consulting with army leaders in other regions and provincial governors.
Many were of the view that the situation in the wake of the red shirt rally was improving and the curfew therefore should be lifted, CRES spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.
But the armed forces needed to be deployed in some key places, while security duty in other areas of the capital should be returned to police if they were ready to take over, Col Sansern said.
Bangkok and 23 other provinces are under curfew from midnight tonight to 4am tomorrow.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said earlier that although the curfew might end, the state of emergency law was still necessary to allow security authorities to arrest so-called terrorists.
"What can be lifted is the curfew but the executive decree will continue," Gen Prawit said after meeting the Defence Council yesterday which was attended by all armed forces leaders.
Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng said Gen Prawit had ordered soldiers to secure their units and local government offices and to stay alert despite the end of the riots.
The minister ordered continuous surveillance and protection at arsenals and fuel yards of the armed forces, he said.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has plans to reconcile the country's political divisions but he has vowed there would be no compromise with terrorists, the defence minister said.
28/05/2010
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
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