ID :
134691
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 11:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/134691
The shortlink copeid
One dead, 10 wounded in Big C bus stop bombing
BANGKOK, July 26 - One man was killed while another ten people were wounded in a bombing outside the Big C department store branch in Bangkok's Ratchadamri Road in the first major incident of violence in the Thai capital since the anti-government rally ended two months ago.
The dead man was identified as Thawatchai Thongmak, 51. He was seriously injured in the explosion at a bus stop in front of the department store Sunday evening and later died.
The Erawan Emergency Centre reported Monday that 11 people were wounded after the bomb exploded in trash at the bus stop across from Isetan Department Store and Central World. Eight of them returned home, while another two remain hospitalised.
The area was cordoned off for inspection to gather evidence. Four lanes of traffic from Ratchaprasong intersection to Pratunam intersection were closed. Nearby traders and vendors closed their shops and sidewalk stands for safety.
The blast occurred as Panich Vikitsreth, Democrat candidate for Bangkok's Constituency 6 announced his victory over rival Puea Thai Party contestant Korkaew Pikulthong in Sunday by-election.
Mr Panich said Monday that he deeply regrets the incident and believes it is an attempt to create a situation. He urged police to investigate whether the bombing is connected to politics.
Mr Panich conceded that land near the bomb scene belongs to his wife's family, but it has been rented by other person since 30 years ago.
"What has happened is not about who owns the land but is an attempt to create a political situation which led to death and injuries and the victims have nothing to do with politics," said Mr Panich.
Acting New Politics Party Somsak Kosaisuk said on Monday that the government should bring the offender to face prosecution and that lifting the emergency decree should be thoroughly considered.
The explosion occurred despite the state of emergency in response to the movement of the anti-government United Front United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) remaining in place in the capital and 15 other provinces. The security law was earlier lifted in eight provinces
Called by many sectors to lift the Emergency Decree, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday morning said in his weekly TV address that the emergency decree would be gradually lifted. But some security-related agencies said the decree is still needed because there is still an "active underground movement" by anti-government elements.
Big C Ratchadamri, a Ratchaprasong shopping complex, was forced to close during the UDD mass rally at Ratchaprasong intersection where they had encamped since early April. The protest ended May 19 after a military operation to seal off the compound and protest leaders surrendered to police.
The department store however remains closed until present as it was partly burned in an act of arson.
Following the incident, Pol Gen Panupong Singhara Na Ayutthaya, national police chief adviser, said Monday that the acting police chief has asked for more checkpoints and tightened security at the homes of key public figures, at government buildings and in crowded areas.
Gen Panupong said he will convene a meeting of investigators Monday morning, saying he believes the incident is aimed at causing chaos and that the attack is in accord with the security intelligence report over possible unrest. (MCOT online news)
The dead man was identified as Thawatchai Thongmak, 51. He was seriously injured in the explosion at a bus stop in front of the department store Sunday evening and later died.
The Erawan Emergency Centre reported Monday that 11 people were wounded after the bomb exploded in trash at the bus stop across from Isetan Department Store and Central World. Eight of them returned home, while another two remain hospitalised.
The area was cordoned off for inspection to gather evidence. Four lanes of traffic from Ratchaprasong intersection to Pratunam intersection were closed. Nearby traders and vendors closed their shops and sidewalk stands for safety.
The blast occurred as Panich Vikitsreth, Democrat candidate for Bangkok's Constituency 6 announced his victory over rival Puea Thai Party contestant Korkaew Pikulthong in Sunday by-election.
Mr Panich said Monday that he deeply regrets the incident and believes it is an attempt to create a situation. He urged police to investigate whether the bombing is connected to politics.
Mr Panich conceded that land near the bomb scene belongs to his wife's family, but it has been rented by other person since 30 years ago.
"What has happened is not about who owns the land but is an attempt to create a political situation which led to death and injuries and the victims have nothing to do with politics," said Mr Panich.
Acting New Politics Party Somsak Kosaisuk said on Monday that the government should bring the offender to face prosecution and that lifting the emergency decree should be thoroughly considered.
The explosion occurred despite the state of emergency in response to the movement of the anti-government United Front United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) remaining in place in the capital and 15 other provinces. The security law was earlier lifted in eight provinces
Called by many sectors to lift the Emergency Decree, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday morning said in his weekly TV address that the emergency decree would be gradually lifted. But some security-related agencies said the decree is still needed because there is still an "active underground movement" by anti-government elements.
Big C Ratchadamri, a Ratchaprasong shopping complex, was forced to close during the UDD mass rally at Ratchaprasong intersection where they had encamped since early April. The protest ended May 19 after a military operation to seal off the compound and protest leaders surrendered to police.
The department store however remains closed until present as it was partly burned in an act of arson.
Following the incident, Pol Gen Panupong Singhara Na Ayutthaya, national police chief adviser, said Monday that the acting police chief has asked for more checkpoints and tightened security at the homes of key public figures, at government buildings and in crowded areas.
Gen Panupong said he will convene a meeting of investigators Monday morning, saying he believes the incident is aimed at causing chaos and that the attack is in accord with the security intelligence report over possible unrest. (MCOT online news)
