Yesterday, as reported in The Nation, Ten sites face bomb threats: police, the Thai Police, under the direction of the Thai Government Deputy Prime Minister, Chalerm Yoobamrung, posted a New Year’s Eve warning to those in Bangkok.

This is the prudent thing to do by the Thai Government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand should follow suit and warn tourists instead of encouraging them to go to an area designated as a possible target.

Royal Thai Police Bomb Data Center

Richard Barrow, at Thai Travel News, posted the following today – UPDATE: Police [DID NOT} Name 10 New Year Bomb Targets In Bangkok.  Actually, the Thai Government did.

Barrow is referring to an article in the Bangkok Post about the Thai Government, PM orders tight security over break, where the it is reported that the Deputy Prime Minister said:

Mr Chalerm yesterday denied saying there would be bombings at 10 locations over the New Year.

That is correct.  The Deputy PM of the Thai Government said that there was a THREAT at 10 locations.  And, I agree.  Apparently, so does Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has told authorities to beef up security to ensure peaceful New Year festivities.

This all goes back to the New Year’s Eve bombing on 31 December 2006.  Eight bombs were set off primarily to show the Thai people that the Thai Government had no control.  This was shortly after the September coup that ousted former Prime Minister and fugitive from the law, Thaksin Shinawatra.

There are quite a few people that are dissatisfied with the current Thai Government and the way it mishandled the floods and the way it is trying to bring back Thaksin.

It would not surprise me at all if there were bombing in Bangkok during the holiday season.  All the Thai Government police and military in the country will not be able to stop someone really determined to make a loud point.

Barrow says it is irresponsible of the Thai Government Police to issue a bomb threat warning based solely on rumor – but I feel that awareness on the part of all is better than not saying anything and then someone dies from a bombing.

Will this affect tourism?  Sure it will.  But, isn’t it smarter for the Thai Government to be upfront and warn of the possibility instead of sugar coating everything like was done during the floods?

The Nation did a follow-up story today on the Thai Government, Tight security in the capital for New Year, and it also shows that Prime Minister Yingluck is serious about New Year’s security:

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said a centre to coordinate security measures among police, military and civilian agencies would be set up for the four-day period.

Not sure which 4 days as The Nation doesn’t specify and the Thai Government didn’t state (at least not in the article).

And, I guess the Thai Government is taking the THREAT of a bomb at CentralWorld seriously:

More than 1,000 police would be deployed at the CentralWorld plaza during the New Year countdown to ensure the safety of all party-goers, he said.

Despite damaging tourism, I still feel it is the right thing for the Thai Government to do.  Better for the Thai Government to overly cautious than to ignore the THREAT altogether.

Tags: 2012 bomb fugitive new year prime minister thai government thaksin threat yingluck