Thai Army fears terrorism outbreak, steps up surveillance

BANGKOK - Fearing a large-scale outbreak of terrorism, Thailand’s Army has stepped up its surveillance to prevent another Red Shirts-type of uprising.

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.

According to the Bangkok Post, 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 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.

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.

Bangkok and 23 other provinces are under curfew from midnight tonight to 4am tomorrow.

The government will decide today whether to extend the curfew. (ANI)