- by Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist
On one side is Israel and another is Iran, and with the recent terrorism warning and then the Bangkok bombing-clearly, Thailand is sitting between a rock and a hard place.
In the first case, on the terrorism warning last month, Yingluck‘s main reaction was to re-aligned Thailand’s foreign relation, taking Thailand close to supporting Palestine and Lebanon, in what many analyst said was to build a closer relations with the Muslim World in the Middle East.
Yet that re-alignment, proved little beneficial, and saw the Bangkok bombing-where now, Israel claims it was agents of the Iranian government, and Iran claiming it was agents of the Israel government-that is responsible.
Yingluck’s hand is quite forced now, from having fired the “major” foreign policy shots on Palestine and Lebanon.
So what is Yingluck doing now?
Thailand has a very long foreign relation with Israel and many Thais are working in Israel and with Iran, many Thais of Muslim heritage have went to Iran to study. Here in Bangkok itself, sports a sizable Israeli and Iranian community. Then Thailand’s Deep South, is infected with terrorism-said to be in contact with foreign units.
It appears that Yingluck, is now focusing on “A Dual Track” policy of tightening Thailand’s security against terrorism threat, and also distancing Thailand from confronting and offending, either Israel or Iran.
Yingluck’s reaction now, on tightening security, involves a package that includes the setting up of an intelligence unit for counter-terrorism, the more strict airport check in, the heightened security at sensitive soft targets like tourism sites, and also to both welcome more intelligence received from foreign units, and at the same more cautious of that intelligence.
But perhaps, on the macro-picture, Yingluck is distancing Thailand from the situation-and here, apart from having Yingluck saying in public that Thailand is not involved in Israel and Iran’s long struggle and conflict, Yingluck investigation into the Bangkok bombing, has very much went into a silent mode.
This silent mode, could help reduce the information, that could embarrassed either Israel or Iran-and setting up Thailand as an enemy of either.
How effective will this “Dual Track” approach be, all depends if Thailand is safe from further bombings by terrorist.
And the Bangkok bombing, appears to have been part of a “Series” of terrorism attempt, in several countries, by someone-meaning, in the future, if terrorist activity takes place in other countries, perhaps Thailand will have a chance to be on more alert.
Concerning the Thai police, often rediculed for lack of effectiveness, however, it must be noted, that the Thai police, was able to un-cover, a major terrorist cell that was stockpiling bomb making materials, just days, after last month terrorism warning. And in this current Bangkok bombing, the Thai police was also able to capture members of the cell, within a very short-time.
The following is from Bangkok Post:
Yutthasak: No tolerance for terrorists
Published: 23/02/2012 at 01:14 PM
Online news: Local News
Thailand needs to make it clear to the world that it will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said Thursday.
Gen Yutthasak said that a high level of vigilance and a serious approach to combating terrorism would deter terrorist from committing violence in Thailand.
“If they know that we are serious, they will not be coming to Thailand, but if we are slack they will be inclined to come. Therefore we must make it clear.”
Gew said terrorism has now replaced the Cold War in global conflict.
“We have to adapt our strategy in order to prepare for any possible situation,” he said.
He said that security measures must be implemented in a way that does not alienate either side in the conflict, but must also stern so that no one would try to take advantage of any security lapse.
Asked about the newly formed intelligence team, Gen Yutthasak said it is needed and it would help integrate the intelligence operations of the different agencies.
He said that any intelligence information received from foreign agencies would have to be checked before being distributed in order to prevent offending any party.
“We have to be careful with any news received. We can’t simply say what they said without verifying the facts. We have to avoid taking sides because if we take one side we will lose the other,” he said.
Gen Yutthasak also said he did not expect any difficulties in the extradtion of the Iranian suspect in the Feb 14 bomb explosions who was arrested in Kuala Lumpur the following day.
Malaysia was cooperating well and it was just a matter of completing the necessary legal procedures.
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