 |
 |
| Published in Washington, D.C. June 23, 2003 |
Thailand: Embassy urges readiness for attacks
Arrests, manhunt underline threat
By Richard S. Ehrlich
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
BANGKOK, Thailand
The U.S. Embassy has advised Americans in Thailand to conduct anti-terrorist "emergency drills" at home and at work after police arrested three Muslims suspected of plotting to bomb embassies and tourist sites.
Police hunted over the weekend for a fourth Muslim man, Samarn Waekaji, in connection with the suspected plot to bomb the U.S., British, Australian, Israeli and Singaporean embassies as well as major tourist venues in Bangkok.
U.S. investigators continued a separate investigation into the origin of radioactive cesium-137 that a Thai teacher is accused of trying to sell to U.S. and Thai agents in a Bangkok hotel parking lot.
There was no indication that the two cases were linked, and it appeared that U.S. and Thai officials were treating them as different investigations.
"If you have been reading the newspapers or watching TV over the last two weeks, you are probably wondering what exactly is going on in Thailand concerning terrorism and how it relates to Americans residing here," the U.S. Embassy said in a "security update" to Americans living in this Southeast Asian nation.
"You have most likely seen the story about the three men arrested in southern Thailand for plotting attacks against several embassies and soft targets in Thailand, and the more recent arrest involving a person selling material for possible use in a 'dirty bomb,' " the U.S. advisory said.
The embassy assured expatriate Americans that terrorist operations have been disrupted by recent international efforts, including "arrests in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, the United States, and many other places around the world."
It praised Thai authorities for being "very active in pursuing matters related to terrorism" and expressed confidence in Thailand's ability to reduce the threat.
"While we will continue to work closely with the Thai authorities with regard to the safety of the American community, we urge you to remain proactive in your personal security practices," said the warning, issued Friday.
"You should remain vigilant and prepared. Consider holding emergency drills for your family or business, and report suspicious persons and incidents to the police immediately."
Thailand's population is about 95 percent Buddhist. Its Muslim community lives mostly in the south along the border with Muslim-majority Malaysia.
Bangkok is a relatively modern, sprawling city of six million people with low-key security, despite the recent arrests.
A police presence is visible at the gates of major embassies and at some tourist sites, but the atmosphere is usually relaxed.
Three Thai Muslims arrested on June 10 in southern Thailand are suspected of belonging to Jemaah Islamiyah, a pan-Asian militant group blamed for the Oct. 12, 2002, bombing in Bali, Indonesia, which killed 202 persons.
The three were identified as Islamic religious teacher Maisuri Haji Abdulloh, his son Muyahi Haji Doloh, and drugstore owner Waemahadi Waedao.
"The plan was for high-powered explosives to be concealed in vehicles that would be parked at the targeted places, ready to explode," Interior Minister Wan Mohammad Matha told journalists after the arrests.
The men denied the charges, and their lawyer insisted they did not confess or possess any incriminating evidence.
Three days later in a separate case, U.S. Customs officials helped Thai police arrest a Thai suspect, Narong Penanam, in Bangkok who is accused of offering to sell them a box containing cesium-137, which is used in medical and research technology but can be mixed with an explosive to create a small "dirty bomb" that would spread the radioactive material.