• By Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist

However dim the Thai situation is getting, there continues to be rays of hope-as Yingluck‘s Defense Minister, Sukumpon, have told the Thai military establishment, that the always coup trigger happy Thai military, must not exists as an independent state.

Thai Rath, a far extreme right newspaper in Thailand, reported today, that Sukumpon, said quote: “The military can not set itself up to be an independent state, and must support the elected government.”

That independent state existence, have shielded the Thai military from accountability and have turned the Thai military highly political. With that politicization of the Thai military, many have argued, that the Thai military establishment, is far from being professional.

With the rise of Asean, as a single unit and the increase in a common external threat for ASEAN, many national security strategist, have called for increase professionalism by the Thai military establishment.

Thai Rath reports, follows a string of highly important Tweets, from Bangkok Post‘s national security journalist, who yesterday, quoted Sukumpon of making many policy statements.

Wassana, an extremely pro-Thai military establishment journalist, was not clear-however, Wassana appeared to indicate that Sukumpol, will amend how human resources in the Thai military is managed.

Currently, under the military coup drawn constitution, the appointments of soldiers, is handled exclusively by the military. While clearly, that type of situation, lends to a strong command and control system, it has also turned the Thai military, into much of an independent state.

There are some clear dangers to what Wassana is hinting to. While on the surface, most Thai coups and up-rising of Yong-Turks military officers, are said to be related to protecting the Thai Royalty, most neutral observer says, most Thai coups and Young Turks up-rising, involved a power-play, inside the Thai military establishment itself-from mainly factionalism.

Wassana, also said Sukumpon, intends to re-engineer the Thai military establishment. Wassana gave little detail, but said the Thai military will take input, from several bodies, set up, to link the Thai military establishment with the wider public-for example, a program under an education system, where, the Thai military would distill national security positions, to the students.

The students here, comes from a cross section of Thai society.

At this educational institution, instead of having a top-down indoctrination process, have in the past, saw many students in Thai national security,including professional Thai soldiers, using the venue, to put forth modern national security concepts, that is not far extreme right-wing oriented, to the whole class of students to digest.

However, that type of “Open Debate on Modern National Security Concepts and Free Flow of Information” seldom leads to any real policy changes with the Thai military establishment.

Related articles

• ASEAN Defense: Bangkok Post reports Thailand & India to forge “Close Active Military Ties” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Leader in Thai Coup staging, 1st Regiment of the Royal Guard, threatens human rights lawyer’s life (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Thai army chief, Prayuth, wants more tanks, but the Thai defense establishment wants air & sea power (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Thai military chief push Thai made similar to Israel Uzi machine gun for Yingluck to test (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist

The USA Army, just reported that the USA Army Chief of Staff, Raymond, plans to increase the activity of the USA Army in the Asia Pacific region, stressing old allies-Thailand, Philippines, Japan and South Korea.

It is unclear at this point, what that increase activity will be involved.

Bloomberg, the wire service, just reported a few days ago, that because of the shifting geopolitical picture globally, investors should focus on investing on air and sea related defense firms-as that will be the main area where defense spending will continue to grow.

However, with Thailand, there is the annual Thai American, Cobra Gold Exercise, much to do between the Thai marines and the USA Pacific Fleet.

The annual Thai American military exercise, Cobra Gold, will take place shortly. Already, as a preparation of that exercise, apart from a joint Thai America exercise working group, having been set-up, the American troops are reportedly, greatly involved in community services activity in Thailand’s remote areas-like building schools and hospitals.

Cobra Gold, is one of the globe’s largest annual military exercise, and from just being a Thai American exclusive thing, have expanded to include much of ASEAN. While the USA and countries making up ASEAN do conduct bilateral exercise, there is nothing quite like Cobra Gold, where much of the military in the region, converge at a single exercise.

Cobra Gold, is not without its critics. Many observer have said, instead of Cobra Gold going forward as usual, after the Thai military coup in 2006, the USA should have canceled Cobra Gold as a signal to the Thai military. Then worse, as Thai Intel reported, the USA Pacific Command, have been involved in teaching advance public relations tactics, to very senior Thai military generals, right after the 2006 coup.

• The following is from the USA Army

Odierno: Army Seeks Increased Partnerships in Asia

By Todd Lopez

US Army

WASHINGTON  – The Army is looking for increased opportunities to partner with allies in Asia, including both Korea and Japan.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno recently returned from a trip to the Pacific region, including Korea and Japan, as well as other parts of Pacific Command to include Hawaii and Alaska.

Odierno spoke Jan. 25 at a breakfast hosted by the Association of the United States Army’s Institute of Land Warfare in Arlington, Va.

In Japan, the general met with the Japanese minister of defense and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force commander.

“Both expressed their optimism and were excited about increased opportunities to work together with the Army, which they see as critical to the future of the Asian region,” Odierno said.

While in Korea, he met with the country’s minister of defense and army chief of staff.

“Both leaders were extremely appreciative of our Army’s continued commitment and dedication to security in Northeast Asia,” Odierno said.

Odierno expects development of a trilateral relationship between South Korea, Japan and the United States for security cooperation, something he said “is an important step as we continue to expand our relationships in Northeast Asia.”

The general said the trip to Asia was productive, adding that it’s “clear that our partners and allies in Asia/Pacific desire increased engagement with our great Army — especially as we continue to maneuver our way through these complex and uncertain times we have,” Odierno explained.

The general said he has three “principal and interconnected” goals for the Army: prevent, shape and win.

He explained that the Army can prevent conflict by maintaining the Army’s own credibility, adding that the service’s capacity, readiness and modernization can “avert miscalculation by potential adversaries.” He also said the Army must not lose the ability to conduct missions across any operational environment, including regular and irregular warfare, civilian operations, counter insurgency and humanitarian assistance.

The Army can also shape the international environment “with strong military relationships with allies and by building partner capacity,” he added.

Such relationships, Odierno said, are already strong in Asia, and will continue to grow.

“We will strengthen our presence in the region,” he said. “We have five of our seven mutual defense treaties in this region and we continue to conduct longstanding exercises with Korea, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. The Army will actively seek new opportunities for expanding and existing training and engaging with new partners.”

In Europe, Africa and South America, Odierno expects similar partnerships. Even with a reduced footprint in Europe, for instance, the Army maintains its commitment there to NATO allies, Odierno said, and will have increased training opportunities with its European partners.

The Army must also be “ready to win,” dominantly and decisively. “The cost of indecision and cost of entering the fight without a dominant capability, enabled by superior technology and unmatched leadership, is the unnecessary loss of American lives,” Odierno said. “We must and will retain an Army with the capacity and capability to win decisively on any battlefield, should the terms fail.”

Odierno touched on the recently released National Defense Authorization Act, which he said reflects Army modernization priorities, and includes the Army network, an infantry fighting vehicle that can accommodate an entire infantry squad, and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

With force reductions looming, Odierno said the Army will reduce “incrementally” over time, and he expects a “great deal” of force reductions can happen through natural attrition — and that the Army “will reduce in a manner that preserves our readiness while avoiding any type of hollow force.”

Related articles

• Army chief sees greater role for reserves (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• ASEAN Defense: CIA says “Thailand weak link in ASEAN defense, ready to help ASEAN arms industry” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Army chief sees greater role for reserves (cbsnews.com)
• Two Army units in Europe will be dismantled (abclocal.go.com)
• Army chief lays out Army cuts in Europe (sfgate.com)

• By Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist

Matichon, a newspaper for the intellect here in Thailand, reported that Yingluck‘s political party, Pheu Thai Party, said the Thai establishment have raised about US$120 million to be used to recreate the “October 6th Massacre Model” to dispose Yingluck.

That October 6th Massacre, had a great deal to do about the far extreme right-wing, coming out to protect Thai Royalty, against students-who were seen as a threat to the Thai Royalty-who were in fact, protesting the return to Thailand, of an ousted dictator.

Currently, in Thailand, the situation is similar.

Highly divisive, currently, in Thailand, is the lese majeste issue, that is pitching Thais against Thais-with the far extreme right-wing, saying that those who wants to amend the lese majeste laws, are trying to topple the Thai King.

The far extreme right wing is correct to a certain extent.

Lese majeste law in Thailand, while in legal terms is meant to stop all criticism of Thai Royalty, but in fact, in its real usage, it is the Thai establishment’s main tool to keep Thailand on the far extreme right wing aganda-of a highly top-down heirachy system, with the Thai establishment on top, along with the Thai Royalty.

By defusing, lese majeste to a lesser potent form, those who wants to amend the lese majeste laws, argues, that democracy, liberty, justice and human rights principles, will have a chance to develop in Thailand.

Leading the call for amending the lese majeste laws are lecturers at Thammasart University, and Yingluck just won an election landslide that got rid of the Thai establishment pupet government of Abhisit.

However, in a twist of fate, Yingluck, is proving, itself, to be the return of a puppet government of the Thai establishment-taking Thailand, towards the far exterme right wing agenda.

Already, the Thai military chief, Prayuth, have reacted in a highly explosive manner, telling Thais who wants to amend the law to leave Thailand and have also questioned if they are Thais or not. Prayuth also accused those who wants to amend the lese majeste laws, as being ungrateful to the Thai King.

Additionally, the 1st Regiment Royal Guard, have threatened the life of those who wants to amend the lese majeste laws. Also already have taken place, is the burning of effigy of those who wants to amend the lese majest laws-by groups of far extreme right-wing.

As during that time of October 6th Massacre, the media played a significant part, in raising hatred towards the protesters. Currently, Thailand’s far extreme right-wing media, such as Manager, Thai Rath and Nation Group, is fast on target of creating hatred towards those who wants to amend the lese majeste laws.

The October 6th Massacre, occurred about 35 years ago, when students at Thammasart University gathered to protest the return to Thailand, a dictator that was kicked out of Thailand about three years earlier, through a mass up-rising of mostly students.

The massacre, began, after Bangkok Post, ran pictures of students staging a play, and as the Bangkok Post reported, there were characters in the play made out to be members of the Thai Royalty.

That picture, coupled with the fact that the students protesting the return of the dictator, were mostly socialist, sparked several of the far extreme right wing groups, to converge at the university, slaughtering the students there.

Related articles

• Democracy News: Yingluck sends police to close-body-observation of human rights activist for against the law activity (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Democracy News: Yingluck calls her drift to the far extreme right “Sustainable Democracy” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political News: Several iconic Royalist calls for “coup” to protect Thai King’s reputation (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Diplomatic News: Iconic Royalist accuses Obama of using CIA to topple Thai King (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Leader in Thai Coup staging, 1st Regiment of the Royal Guard, threatens human rights lawyer’s life (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Foreign Relations: Thai Royalist gyrates between “We hate USA & We love USA” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political Intelligence: Apocalypse Now in Thailand with a “Democracy, Royalism & Lese Majeste” quagmire (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Tammy, Thai Intel’s humanity journalist

Thai Rath, a far extreme right-wing newspaper here in Thailand, reported today that Yingluck’s deputy, Chalerm, have sent police to “Closely Follow and Watch”  a group of human rights lawyer, Nitirat, for against the law activity.

• Yingluck Intimidates Human Rights Activist:

The group of human rights lawyer, Nitirat, was just handed a death threat, by the Thai military 1st Regiment Royal Guard-for their activity to re-form the Thai lese majeste laws.

“If they say any word that break the lese majest law, they will be arrested,” said Chalerm.

Nitirat Group, is a group of human rights lawyer, proposing amendments to the lese majestre law. UN, EU, USA and most global level rights and freedom units have called for reform of the Thai lese majeste laws.

• Election and Democracy:

Yingluck, won a fiercely fought after election, in what many global observers believed, was between the forces of democracy in Thailand, and the far extreme right-wing Thai establishment.

Indeed, much of Yingluck support, came from the Red Shirts, a democractic leaning grassroots segment of Thailand. Most non-political human rights and democratic activist in Thailand, also threw their weight in support of Yingluck.

• Election Campaign Promise:

Yingluck, while not campaigning on human rights issues, heavily campaigned on the re-drawing of the Thai constitution, to become more democratic. Under the current constitution, drew up by the coup makers, Thailand is being ruled under the grips of a “judicialization” of Thailand, where the courts and the independent unit, serves the Thai far extreme right wing establishment.

• Yingluck on a Far Extreme Right Agenda:

It is currently, unclear, to the objective of why Yingluck is taking Thailand along the far extreme right-wing path-and turning her government close to being a puppet of the Thai establishment. Neutral observers, tend to say, that it is mainly for political survival.

• Thaksin’s CEO Type Influences:

Thaksin, Yingluck’s brother, while credited with awakening the grassroots to understand their political voice, and improving their lives significantly, exhibited a great deal of the CEO turn politician type of behavior-of having a very strong leadership character-often associated with the dictatorship style.

Thaksin continues to exert significant influence on the Yingluck government-often quieting the proponent of democracy and human rights in Pheu Thai Party. There are many iconic democratic and human rights activist in the party-that have disappeared in silence.

• Back Stabed Red Shirts:

It is also unclear, to the reaction of the Red Shirts, whose long protest, often stressed human rights and democratic principles-when addressing the Red Shirts on the stage, during their protest.

The Red Shirts calling card, “We are surf that never got justice” which is used with “They are the priviledge who has everything” indicates a longing for equality-which is the foundation of human rights.

However, many neutral observers, says the Red Shirts, have been nothing more than a tool for Thaksin, and the proof is in the current drift of Yingluck, to the far extreme right wing position.

The Democrat Party, clearly, the first chioce of the Thai establishnent, but incapable of winning any election, says the Red Shirts, are the new priviledge class. Indeed, many Red Shirts have joined Yingluck’s cabinet, while their core leaders, continues to speak of human rights and democracy.

However, their voice, very seldomly, gets media atttention.

Related articles

• Democracy News: Yingluck calls her drift to the far extreme right “Sustainable Democracy” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political Analysis: Is it time liberty & justice loving people to stop supporting Yingluck? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Leader in Thai Coup staging, 1st Regiment of the Royal Guard, threatens human rights lawyer’s life (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Yellow Shirts Anslysis: Yellow Shirts & English “From Thailand never colonized to bitching at Yingluck’s English” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• by Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist

A group of human rights lawyers in Thailand, Nitirat,  just told the Thai press that members of the group have received death threats, in the form of a letter, signed by the First Regiment of the Royal Guard.

The group of human rights lawyer, is trying to bring about reform to the lese majeste laws, where offenders, under current law, can be sent to jail for 20 years for insulting the Thai royalty.

• Explosive Issue:

The issue is highly explosive in Thailand, pitching Thais against Thais, and the danger is, the conflict could drag the Thai military into the situation-where, already, the Thai army chief, Prayuth, have elevated soldiers, involved in the crackdown on the Red Shirts protesters, to most important force commanding positions in the Thai military.

In conditioning the massive numbers of soldiers required in the crackdown operations, the Thai military told the soldiers, that the Red Shirts protesters are trying to topple the Thai King.

Prayuth himself, exploded in an emotional outburst a few days ago, against this same group of human rights lawyer, that just received the death threats.

• Regiment for Staging Coups:

In Thailand, the first regiment of the Royal Guard, stationed near Bangkok, have always been the Thai military’s establishment “Leading Coup Making” tool. The regiment, have also been used in numerous crack-down on protesters in Thailand.

The death threat lettter against the group of human rights lawyer, could be an indication, that the some limit, may have been breached.

The extent of this regiment loyalty to the Thai Royalty, can not be understated-but even saying this regiment is a super-ultra-Royalist, is an under statement.

Soldiers in this regiment, are ready, to sacrifice their lives, protecting the Thai Royalty. According to published information, soldiers in this regiment under-goes massive indoctrination.

• Thailand Rocked with Coup Threats:

Unfortunately, for Thailand, every coup in Thailand, have been done with the stated rationale, of “Protecting the Thai Royalty.”

• Far Extreme Right Agenda:

While there have indeed been threats to Thai Royalism in the past, such as during the communist up-rising, however, in recent times, the rationale to protect Thai Royalty from threats, have been nothing much more than an excuse, to keep Thailand on the far extreme right wing path-with an approved puppet as the government.

Thailand’s current government of Yingluck, increasingly is seen, along this line as well, having taken up positions, that is identical to the far extreme right.

• Guarantor of Far Extreme Right:

Indeed, Thai Royalism have become one and the same, tied tgether inseperably, with a far extreme right-just a derivative of a dictatorship.

According to statistic, Thailand ranks 4th globally, for the number of coups staged, and there have been countless blood bath on the streets of Bangkok-with most of the time, it is related also to the rationale, “Protecting Thai Royalty.”

• Search and Destroy:

To the far extreme right, meaning the Thai establishment, as part of that protecting the Thai Royalty, have been concerned of a faltering Thai Royalty’s reputations-and the natural reaction, of a far extreme right wing mind, is “search and destroy.”

While, here in Thailand, with the far extreme right, Thai Royalty are like “Gods,” but globally, the situation is deteriorating.

Many, even Thais with un-questionable loyalty to the Thai Royalty, have called for changes to the Thai lese majeste laws, as a last-ditch effort, to save the reputation of Thai royalty on the global level. However, accepting channges is difficult, as it would result in the lost of a major rationale, to keep Thailand focused, on the far extreme right wing agenda.

Related articles

• ASEAN Defense: Thai army chief, Prayuth, wants more tanks, but the Thai defense establishment wants air & sea power (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Diplomatic News: Iconic Royalist accuses Obama of using CIA to topple Thai King (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Democracy News: Yingluck calls her drift to the far extreme right “Sustainable Democracy” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political News: Several iconic Royalist calls for “coup” to protect Thai King’s reputation (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Yingluck & Thai army chief shift Thai national security focus to external challenges (LeseMajeste Up-Dated) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist

Normally, Thai Intel does not report on the “Insane Ranting” of mentally ill people.

However, the iconic Royalist, Sondhi of the Yellow Shirts, on broadcast TV, yesterday accused Obama is using the CIA to topple the Thai King.

“The CIA is secretly funding groups with the aim of toppling the Thai King,” said Sondhi.

• Lese Majeste Concern:

Obamas‘s problem in Thailand started, when Kristy Kenny, the USA ambassador to Thailand, said lese majeste usage in Thailand was inconsistent with international laws, to which Thailand is a party of.

The USA move on Thai lese majeste, follows a string of other, like the UN, EU and just about every global level rights and freedom groups, calling for Thailand to amend the lese majest laws, that have seen people jailed for 20 years, for insults on the Thai royalty.

And the royalist Thais have protested the USA embassy over this USA call on lese majeste, with 100s of royalist Thais, blasting away in anger, at the USA Thai Embassy Facebook page.

Then there was the USA terrorism warning on Bangkok, to which the Royalist said it was a CIA infringement on Thailand’s sovereignty.

• Royalist Impact on Thai American Relations:

There may not be significant impact to the USA, from Sondhi’s accusations on Obama.

Yet there is a risk, because Thailand’s prime minister, Yingluck, is highly sensitive to the threats from the Royalist.

And there are some delicate negotiations going on between the USA and Thailand-for example, the USA initiated Trans Pacific Partnership, to which earlier, Yingluck said she is in favor of joining.

And Sondhi, while seeing his influences diminished in recent years, may just have some power left.

• A Far Extreme Right Wing Media:

The very sad fact is, Sondhi’s media is very popular with the Thai nationalist and royalist. For example, Manager Newspaper on the internet, a Sondhi flagship, is ranked among the top 10 most popular news site in Thailand.

Apart from the problems for the Americans, the problem for Thailand in general, is that no one in Thailand, quite knows what to do with Sondhi, as well. All Sondhi says, between all those utterances that sounds insane, is that he loves the Thai King.

• Protected by Royalism:

And who dares touches people who say they love the Thai King?

For example, a few days ago, Sondhi called for the Thai military to stage a coup, and reason given, is to protect the reputation of the Thai King. Obviously, Sondhi, have no clue at all, so wrapped up in his own world, that most human beings do not build reputations with coup.

But again, Sondhi, has some type of weird and unique Thai power.

For example, he went to occupy the airport, that by international treaty, is an act of terrorism. Yet he has this “Immunity Card” granted to him by the Thai courts. There are many other illegal activity by Sondhi, but for some reason, he has always escaped justice.

Then under the constitution, calling for a coup is illegal. But then Sondhi can go around calling for coups 24 hours a day, and still he is untouchable.

• The Bottom Line:

God knows where Thailand is heading, when this type of insane people, are allowed to do anything, just because they say they worship the Thai King.

Related articles

• Political News: Several iconic Royalist calls for “coup” to protect Thai King’s reputation (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Foreign Relations: Thai Royalist gyrates between “We hate USA & We love USA” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: 8) Chalerm lese majeste war “Is Yingluck over sensitive, ignorant or does not care?” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Diplomatic News: As carrier Abraham Lincoln docks in Thailand, Royalist blasted USA Embassy’s Facebook for posting Lincoln’s words (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political Intelligence: Apocalypse Now in Thailand with a “Democracy, Royalism & Lese Majeste” quagmire (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: Rolls Royce to target rich Thais, but will Royalist charge Rolls Royce owners with lese majeste (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political News: Thailand’s Yellow Shirts leader, Sondhi, compares himself to Apple’s Steve Jobs (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: 17) USA embassy in Thailand warns of possible violence at Royalist protest at embassy (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Democracy News: Yingluck calls her drift to the far extreme right “Sustainable Democracy” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist

Thailand‘s powerful army chief, Prayuth, just told local reporters yesterday, that the Thai army would like to purchase 50 to 60 modern main battle tanks to replace old tanks.

Prayuth said however, that he understands the tight budget situation with the government, and would hold back his request.

“If the government supports the Thai military, that would be beneficial to Thailand’s defense…..But if the government has no budget, I understand,” said Prayuth.

• Details and confirmation is very difficult to get, however, under the previous government of Abhisit, Prayuth tabled for Abhisit, a project to build up a new mechanize armoured division in the E-Sarn region, that is adjacent to Cambodia.

This new division, is said to be a long time dream of the all-powerful in Thailand, privy council Prem. In fact, Prem told senior Thai military figures, that this new division would see him rest in peace, when is no longer living.

Under Abhisit, budget began to flow to this division, and the new division head quarter took roots. It is un-clear, how much weaponry have been bought for this new division, or what had been filtered to it, from other divisions.

Yet, when Yingluck won the election, she made a visit to the Thai military academy meeting, to give the academy her policy on national security.

• At the academy meeting, attended by high-ranking Thai generals, the academy told Yingluck, quote: “Thailand requires more air and sea power.”

There has been much analysis done on Thailand’s defense spending-with the Thai army, taking the lions share of the spending-not because it is the largest branch of the armed forces, but also because of its political clout.

• However, clearly, the Thai military academy has a point.

With the military forces making up ASEAN, spending more and more on air and sea power-Prayuth, clearly needs to re-examine the priority of Thailand’s military spending.

Related articles

• ASEAN Defense: Yingluck & Thai army chief shift Thai national security focus to external challenges (LeseMajeste Up-Dated) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Thai military chief push Thai made similar to Israel Uzi machine gun for Yingluck to test (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political Analysis: Thai military “Leveraging” flood success to re-gain “Political Clout” (CFR Up-Dated) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Bangkok Post reports Thailand & India to forge “Close Active Military Ties” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• ASEAN Defense: Thai & USA arms maker to dominate Defense & Security Thailand Exhibition (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist

Just a quick note, but absolute power corrupts absolutely, so they say. And as always, the road to absolute power is the path of the far extreme right.

• Thai Tradition of Absolute Power:

With that danger of absolute power and absolute corruption in mind, there is off course the other side of the equation, and that is democracy, liberty, justice and human rights.

Recently, in responding to the UN, USA, EU and every global level human rights and freedom body concerns over Thailand‘s lese majeste laws, Yingluck‘s government responded with a letter, headed by the words: “Sustainable Democracy.”

• Yingluck Invokes “Sustainable Democracy:”

Below that “Sustainable Democracy” head, Yingluck’s government called the UN, USA, EU and every global rights and freedom body, quote: “Some Quarters.”

There is no doubt, Yingluck’s government is drifting towards the “Far Extreme Right.” Putting people in jail for 20 years for insults, is a clear indication of a corrupt non-democratic society.

Earlier, the UN made calls for Thailand to amend the lese majeste laws, and Yingluck responded, quote: “Thailand needed more time to study lese majeste laws usage in Thailand.” So there was hope.

Then it was the “Sustainable Democracy” and the “Some Quarters” statement. And the hope dimmed.

And the latest, is an outright rejection to amend the lese majeste laws, with members of her cabinet attacking those who wants to amend the lese majeste laws. And now there is no hope.

• Plenty of Theories to Explain Yingluck’s Behavior:

There are several theories, floating about, in explaining Yingluck’s position.

First, it is that Yiongluck actually believes in putting human beings to 20 years jail term for a mear insulting the Thai royalty. Then second, it is just for political survival against a threatening Thai military establishment. Then another theory, is that taking Thailand along the far extreme right wing path, is just the quickest way to bring her brother Thaksin back to Thailand, a free person. And there are many other theories, to explain this drift of Yingluck-with many saying Yingluck has no courage, to Yingluck not wanting to make the same mistake as her brother, Thaksin.

But Thai Intel’s finds the explanation of “Sustainable Democracy” interesting.

• On the Positive Side:

What Sustainable Democracy means, is the acceptance that in Thailand, there are many, even media such as the Nation Group that rejects democracy. And there is little need to mention here, that when ones reject democracy, automatically, one rejects liberty, justice and human rights. And this segment of the Thais who rejects democracy, are backed by a powerful Thai military, that as always, is so ready to take control of Thailand. So the Thai environment is not conducive to democracy.

Here, Thai Intel agrees with Yingluck, that Thailand’s progress towards democracy, is rocked with danger. The fact is, given Thailand’s political and social fundamentals, democracy has never been sustainable in Thailand. So here, Thai Intel agrees, that Yingluck must be cautious.

And perhaps, additionally, the real explanation of why Yingluck is taking Thailand towrds the far extreme right, is to gain some leverage for some power for the constitutional re-draw. And with a new constitution, perhaps, Thailand’s democracy can be sustained.

• On The Negative Side:

Yet Thai Intel disagrees with Yingluck. To sustain Thailand’s democracy, what does that has to do with Thailand turning into a far extreme right “dictatorship state?” To sustain democracy, there needs to be democracy, not the absent of it.

The fact is, there is less and less left about Thailand, with this drift, that is about “Sustainable Democracy.”

Instead, since coming to office, Yingluck has taken Thailand further away from democracy, with one compromise after another being made with the Thai establishment. It is to the point, that one must ask, “Can Yingluck deliver a democratic constitution.” Especially, when Thailand, is so close in the grips of a “dictatorship state.”

• Yingluck Going Over Board:

Furthermore, Thai Intel just wonders, what is Yingluck’s objective, when her government came out and attack those who wants to reform lese majeste? Does Yingluck needs reminding, that lese majeste, by all accounts, is the primary tool used to destroy democracy in Thailand?

Related articles

• Political News: Several iconic Royalist calls for “coup” to protect Thai King’s reputation (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Davos Special: Yingluck heads to Davos, but is it a Thai establishment’s “Set-Up for a Kill?” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Foreign Relations: Thai Royalist gyrates between “We hate USA & We love USA” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political Analysis: Is it time liberty & justice loving people to stop supporting Yingluck? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political Intelligence: Apocalypse Now in Thailand with a “Democracy, Royalism & Lese Majeste” quagmire (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: 18) On lese majeste, Yingluck government calls UN, EU, USA & every global class human rights body “Some Quarters” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist

Just very briefly, that Bangkok Post‘s national security journalist, Wassana, Twittered yesterday, that Thailand and India will forge a very close and active military tie-that includes a variety of joint patrols, including naval.

Yingluck, Thailand’s prime minister is currently in India. Senior people in the Thai defense establishment, including the newly appointed Thai Defense Minister, have went to India with Yingluck.

Wassana, said, the Thai India defense cooperation agreement will be reached during Yingluck’s trip to India. However, Wassna’s information can not be confirmed at this point.

Earlier, Wassana, Twittered, that India’s ambassador to Thailand, in his meeting with Thailand’s former Defense Minister, who is now Yingluck’s man in charged of national security, proposed to Thailand, a joint naval patrol.

Wassana, did not report however, if the joint naval patrol involves patrolling the Indian Ocean of the Pacific Waters-where in the Pacific, India’s navy has been active in protecting its interest with Vietnam in oil and gas development.

India’s and China‘s navies came on the verge of clashing over that India’s interest in Vietnam.

Potentially also significant,Wassana also mentioned that Thailand and India will exchange military related technology. Yingluck told the Thai parliament that building up a Thai defense industry, is one of her mandate for the Thai military.

The Thai military had made significant stride in advance missiles and rockets development. India, particularly, have made a local missile industry a priority. However, Wassana, did not mentioned in what area this military technology development and exchange will  involve.

Related articles

• Political News: Several iconic Royalist calls for “coup” to protect Thai King’s reputation (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Davos Special: Yingluck heads to Davos, but is it a Thai establishment’s “Set-Up for a Kill?” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Media Analysis: Is it time for Thailand’s Nation Media Group to re-align to become neutral? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Obama in ASEAN: India & USA wants Yingluck to counter-balance China as a failed Thai military dampens her power (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Yellow Shirts Anslysis: Yellow Shirts & English “From Thailand never colonized to bitching at Yingluck’s English” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• by Pooky, Thai Intel’s economics journalist

Thailand‘s prime minister, Yingluck, is heading to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos Switzerland, directly after her trip to India.

The WEF is the annual meeting of the globe’s richest individuals, top economist, and business leaders. The meeting is also attended by head of states, from around the world.

For Thailand’s prime minister, fresh after the devastating flood that rocked the globe’s electronics supply chain, the question journalist from the globe around will probably be asking Yingluck, is what is Thailand doing to make sure such flooding does not occur again.

And what Yingluck will probably be saying, is that the Thai government plans to spend substantial amount of funds, to put into effect  flood prevention infrastructure. And Yingluck’s cabinet have approved a piece of legislation, to raise vast amount of funds.

The problem is, here in Thailand, the Thai establishment, represented by the Democrat Party and its news outlets, such as the Nation Group and Thai Rath, have questioned that piece of legislation.

In fact, the Democrat Party, have petitioned the courts against that piece of legislation-for the courts to throw out the legislation.

At Davos, perhaps all those high powered and high level people, will be impressed with Yingluck’s message of vast spending to fix the problem. And many, perhaps will gain a sense of confidence in Thailand and on Yingluck.

But back here in Thailand, the Thai courts, long known for being a part of the Thai establishment rule of Thailand through the “Judicialization” of Thailand, may just indeed throw out the legislation.

What it looks like, perhaps, is that Yingluck, will turn into a global joke at Davos proportion.

The last big Davos joke, is Thailand’s Democrat Party head, Abhisit-who in responding to WEF ranking Thailand poorly under him, said he will send more Thais to represent Thailand at the WEF, because, quote: “WEF does not understand Thailand.”

Related articles

• Media Analysis: Yingluck try to get across to Thai press, but observers say “Stay Away from Abhisit’s Mistake” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political News: Several iconic Royalist calls for “coup” to protect Thai King’s reputation (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Yingluck Analysis: 7) Is it wise for Yingluck, Pheu Thai Party & Red Shirts to shut-down their political machine facing Thai flood crisis? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Natural Disaster: 2) Yingluck and Thai military put differences aside to help Thais hurt by flooding (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Foreign Relations: Thai Royalist gyrates between “We hate USA & We love USA” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Breaking Thai News: Yingluck deny pregnancy rumor (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Yellow Shirts Anslysis: Yellow Shirts & English “From Thailand never colonized to bitching at Yingluck’s English” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thainess: 3) Thailand’s anti-corruption body to invstigate Yingluck for “Management Failure” on Thai flood (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Tammy, Thai Intel’s humanity journalist

• Hot Girls are Plenty in Thailand:

A local tabloid, focusing on the celluloid world of Thai celebrities, just reported that Sun and Bee, two previously un-known Thai modes that are stacked with very large boobs, have seen their career exploded in popularity, with several high paying gig, to show themselves.

Here in Thailand, gorgeous models with large boobs, are a dime a dozen. And breaking out from just being another large boobs model, is very difficult.

• Sun & Bee at the Right Place at the Right Time:

But for Sun and Bee, stardom came in a very unexpected way.

It all started with a New Year Party, at a gambling den. The gambling den, as the Thai police says, was laying dormant because of the current crack-down on gambling. But on New Year’s eve, so many Thais showed up at the den demanding gambling, that the gambling den went active.

Being New Year, the gamblers demanded sexy women. Sun and Bee were contacted and went to the den. There, they went servicing the gamblers with drinks. The pay for both of them was about US$300.

But according to the tabloid, Sun and Bee wore very tight-fitting shirts, that accentuated their large boobs. That excited the gamblers. And the gamblers began encouraging that Sun and Bee to go topless, offering about US$500 each.

Sun and Bee thus went topless.

• Sun and Bee go Video Viral:

Up to that point, what happened to Sun and Bee, is just something that happens all the time. And Sun and Bee, perhaps was just looking for the extra US$500 and perhaps, lucky gamblers to take them home-for more extra money.

However, after going topless, one of the gambler video them and posted it on the internet.

Within hours, word got out that there was a gambling den in Bangkok with topless women-and the video went viral. Gambling dens are popular in Thailand. Topless shows of large boobs women are popular in Thaiuland.

But this was the first-a gambling den with topless model.

For those who have seen the video and for those who have seen Sun and Bee being questioned by the Thai police, there is no question, Sun and Bee has everything to reach stardom.

The Thai police charged Sun and Bee, with about a US$10 fine and released them.

However, the local tabloid, reported that since yesterday, Sun and Bee had been swamped with request for them to make an appearance. According to the tabloid, Sun and Bee are being offered about US$1,000 for a one hour appearance-topless included.

• What Now?

Thailand, on the surface or the face, is a very conservative country. Here in Thailand, it is all about being political correct. However, underneath that conservative packaging, is a very liberal country.

Thus one would see Thailand’s popular culture highly controlled to be politically correct. For example, a very famous that singer, Sek Loso, captured on video for smoking grass in a European country that grass was legal, was hounded to the maximum by the Thai press and the Thai entertainment industry. It was as if Sek Loso had committed murder.

But a string of stars, coming from the very liberal under-ground Thai culture have been making an impact on the Thai cultural industry. Itchy Ears is an example.

It is just unfortunate, that Thailand’s culture industry, is set up for inside the box thinking. The resources here in Thailand, for a global famous and successful culture industry, is just so abundance.

Related articles

• Justice News: Police mulls committee to investigate Seh Daeng’s assassination & saying “We can figure out who did it” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Embeded with Thai Police at terrorist targeted Jewish center in Bangkok (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Foreign Relations: Thailand recognized Palestine amid Hezbollah terror plot (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Yellow Shirts News: Yellow Shirts say Kum Paka’s boobs are not pretty so here is stunning boobs for Uncle SMS (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Foreign Relations: Thai Royalist gyrates between “We hate USA & We love USA” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• by Stingray, Thai Intel’s national secerity journalist

Just very briefly, the new head of the USA Pacific Fleet has taken command, after having been appointed by Obama last year.

The new commander of the USA Pacific Fleet has a long stint in submarine group command.

In Asia Pacific currently, there is a submarine deployment race. ICD earlier reported that Asia Pacific spending for submarines, will match Europe, at about US$45 billion.

During the cold war, most of the USA submaring activity was about strategic nuclear weapons. However, currently, in the Pacific, many countries have now deploy submarines.

While these submarines may not be as advance as USA submarins, clearly, the situation in the Pacific is not about strategic nuclear weapons-but about a great deal in numbers of capable submarines-that can do a great deal of damage.

The world’s largest fleet command, U.S. Pacific Fleet encompasses 100 million square miles from the west coast of the United States into the Indian Ocean. The Pacific Fleet consists of approximately 180 ships, nearly 2,000 aircraft and 125,000 Sailors, Marines and Civilians.

• The following is from the Pacific Command:

Adm. Cecil Haney assumes command of U.S. Pacific Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amanda Dunford

PEARL HARBOR (Jan. 20,2012) Adm. Cecil Haney delivers remarks during the U.S. Pacific Fleet change of command ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Kolmel)

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – Adm. Cecil D. Haney, former deputy of the U.S. Strategic Command, relieved Adm. Patrick M. Walsh as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during a change of command ceremony onboard Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Jan. 20.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert presided over the ceremony and praised Walsh for his service in the Navy and the impact his leadership had on the command.

“He’s had a marvelous career. He knows what it means to take care of a family, he knows what it means to take care of a command, and he’s encouraged his staff to do the same,” said Greenert to a crowd of almost 900 attendees. “He’s (Walsh) all about being ready, he’s harnessed that Pacific Fleet teamwork, the talent and resources.”

Greenert also praised Walsh for his ability to foster strong international relationships.

“Pat has been committed to the building and improving of our relationships in and around the Western Pacific.”

Under Walsh’s command, U.S. Pacific Fleet provided humanitarian relief for numerous countries struck by natural disasters including Operation Tomodachi, a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort conducted in response to the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent radiological crisis that impacted Japan in March 2011.Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Adm. Robert F. Willard praised Walsh for his work leading all US military support efforts during Operation Tomodachi.

“As the magnitude of this epic disaster reached an unprecedented scale of any of our experience, my senior staff implored me to assign our senior most joint warfighting commander to lead the U.S. response. That morning Adm. Pat Walsh assembled elements of his joint task force staff and prepared to depart for Japan,” said Willard. “Everyday I observed Pat’s organization, initiative, imagination and drive to provide Gen. Oriki (Japan Joint Staff) and his forces every service they required, including nuclear engineering expertise on an unprecedented scale. Such leadership will never be forgotten in Japan nor in the Pacific Fleet, that is the legacy of Admiral Pat “Sponge” Walsh.”

In his remarks, Walsh spoke of the important role maritime forces play in the vast Pacific Fleet area of responsibility, and the U.S. Navy’s commitment to that role.

“In this region, sea power is an essential element of national power,” said Walsh. “In the Pacific Century, sea power resumes its traditional role in the sea-lines of communication. It’s an instrument of peace; it’s an instrument of stability; it’s a protector of trade and development.”

He warned that other nations are gauging our commitment, particularly in light of budget constraints.

“They are watching with keen interest the effect of the U.S. economic challenges, the strain of more than a decade of war on the Navy’s ability to remain forward, to remain engaged and ready,” said Walsh.

But he stressed that the Navy has overcome such challenges before and remains committed to maintaining regional stability.

“Let’s be very clear: we have been here before,” said Walsh. “We have faced austere economic cycles in the past. And while the American public has kept faith with the Navy, they have not changed their view of our mission or their expectations of our response to crisis conditions.”

Walsh, who is retiring after 34 years in the Navy, is confident in Haney’s capabilities and leadership.

“If ever there were a person who’s ready for the challenge to assume command of the Pacific Fleet with all its complexities, with all of its challenges and who has worked and held critical leadership positions at every level, it’s Cecil Haney,” said Walsh.

After reading his orders and assuming command, Haney thanked “our international allies and partners and our local community for (their) enduring relationship with the U.S. Navy” and expressed enthusiasm about his tour at Pacific Fleet.

“I look forward to getting acquainted with you and building on the foundation of trust and mutual respect that Adm. Walsh has nurtured,” Haney said. “The U.S. Navy has been a dutiful servant of the nation and its people, and a champion of freedom, security and prosperity abroad. In the Pacific, our history is rich and we have played an integral role in furthering those principles to better the lives of others.”

Haney said he will work with the other military services to support U.S. Pacific Command to enhance “maritime security and freedom of the seas with the talented men and women of Pacific Fleet and our allies and partners.”

Haney said he is “most grateful to Adm. Walsh for his unparalleled leadership of Pacific Fleet and tireless efforts strengthening critical ties to enhance security of the region” as well as the Sailors “headquartered here and on station across the Pacific (who) performed remarkably across a wide spectrum of our Navy’s mission areas.”

Haney is the 33rd naval officer to command the Pacific Fleet since it was established in February 1941 with headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a bachelor’s of science degree in oceanic engineering, Haney is also a recipient of the Vice Admiral James Stockdale Leadership Award for 1998.

Related articles

• Adm. Cecil Haney Assumes Command of U.S. Pacific Fleet (damontucker.com)
• Navy Plans to Deploy a “Great Green Fleet” Powered by Alternative Fuels (damontucker.com)
• AP Interview: Adm. Concerned About South China Sea (abcnews.go.com)
• AP Interview: Adm. concerned about South China Sea (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Launch (atreegrowsinbklyn.wordpress.com)

• by Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist

Just briefly:

Local news reports the iconic leader of the Yellow Shirts, Sondhi, calling for a coup to protect the Thai King‘s reputation. That call was backed by the Thai military prep-school former students association, in calling for a coup, also to protect the Thai King’s reputation.

Both, Sondhi and the association leader, feel that calls to amend the lese majeste laws in Thailand, will lead to an erosion of the Thai King’s reputation. Currently, anyone who has anything negative to say about the Thai King, faces 20 year jail time.

• The man in charged of the cyber unit that cracks down on lese majeste offenders, told the New York Times that anti-monarchist sentiment in Thailand, exploded up-ward after the 2006 coup.

That 2006 coup, cited Thaksin as being an anti-monarchist-as a rationale for the coup.

However, local press, currently, is focused on Yingluck appointment of a reform hawk to the Defense Minister post. News outlet in Bangkok, such as the Bangkok Post, predicts a confrontation between the Thai military establishment and Yingluck’s new Defense Minister-ove laws governing the relationship between the government and the military, which by most account currently, the Thai military exists as an independent state within a state.

Some western military analysts, tell Thai Intel, that the Royalist current call for a coup and the protection of the Thai King, with link to the highly explosive lese majeste laws situation, is an attempt by the Royalist to exploit the wage created with the appointment of the new Defense Minister.

The latest, is that the Defense Minister and the Thai military establishment, have made statement for coexistence, down playing the type of report in the Bangkok Post. The former Defense Minister, highly accommodative to the Thai military establishment, was moved to become Yingluck’s deputy in charged of national security.

A Thai poll yesterday, also found that about 85% of the Thais are against the disposing of the Yingluck Government, but cited the lese majeste situation and an attempt to redraw Thailand’s constitution-as reasons for concerns.

Related articles

• Foreign Relations: Thai Royalist gyrates between “We hate USA & We love USA” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Political Intelligence: Apocalypse Now in Thailand with a “Democracy, Royalism & Lese Majeste” quagmire (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: 8) Chalerm lese majeste war “Is Yingluck over sensitive, ignorant or does not care?” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: Rolls Royce to target rich Thais, but will Royalist charge Rolls Royce owners with lese majeste (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: 17) USA embassy in Thailand warns of possible violence at Royalist protest at embassy (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Diplomatic News: As carrier Abraham Lincoln docks in Thailand, Royalist blasted USA Embassy’s Facebook for posting Lincoln’s words (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist

• Inconsistencies:

This is just a short report, that on the social media, many are noticing the inconsistency with the Thai Royalist, when it comes to how they feel about the USA.

• Royalist hate USA:

First, it was Kristy Kenny’s Twittering about how Thailand‘s lese majeste law is not consistent with international law. And the Thai Royalist got so angry, they went to the USA’s Thai Embassy Facebook account, and blasted away. Then it was a protest at the USA Embassy.

“Thailand is unique with its own law that the USA does not understand,” said the Royalist.

Secondly, it was the terrorism warning, that all the far extreme right-wing press, all of them staunch Royalist, blasting away at how the USA, particularly the CIA did not consult with the Thai intelligence apparatus before issuing the “Terrorism Warning” on Thailand.

“Infringement on Thai Sovereignty,” was the headline of one of the far extreme right-wing Royalist press.

• Royalist love USA:

But when it came to the USA having a “Black List” on Malinee, just appointed a minister under Yingluck, the staunch Royalist press, like the Nation Group, is on a maximum attack of Yingluck, for that USA “Black List.”

Nation Group, is Thailand’s media group, that “staunchly” propagates heavily, the concept of a “unique Thailand, with a Thai Way.” Yet, the group, have led a fierce attack on Yingluck, on the Malenee “black list” situation.

• Americans under attack then loved:

One staunch Royalist press, here in Thailand, just went to do research on how the American business people view the “Black List” and have published on the social network, the reaction of USA business people.

If you are not familiar with the situation, the Royalist, is greatly angered by the American business community for years now, for calling for Thailand to liberalize the real estate sector and for the Marlboro cigarette, to have circumvented Thai tax and refusing to pay back tax.

“Stealing from the Thais,” said one far extreme right-wing press, in bold headlines, last year, when the Marlboro crisis hit maximum impact curve.

• Well, a conclusion?

How do one explain the Royalist gyrating, between hate of USA involvement with Thailand, like lese majeste-to a Royalist inciting USA law, with love?

It is a “Love and Hate” relationship between the Royalist Thais and the Americans. Maybe the USA, to kiss the Royalist butts, should just focus on releasing news that is bad for Yingluck.

Related articles

• Diplomatic News: Is the USA embassy in Thailand over-reacting to the Thai royalist’s position on lese majeste law? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: 17) USA embassy in Thailand warns of possible violence at Royalist protest at embassy (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: Rolls Royce to target rich Thais, but will Royalist charge Rolls Royce owners with lese majeste (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: 8) Chalerm lese majeste war “Is Yingluck over sensitive, ignorant or does not care?” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Diplomatic News: As carrier Abraham Lincoln docks in Thailand, Royalist blasted USA Embassy’s Facebook for posting Lincoln’s words (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Human Rights Review: China in fresh play of Thai Royalism card as UN & USA in fresh condemation of Thai lese majeste (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Foreign Relations: Thailand recognized Palestine amid Hezbollah terror plot (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Royalism: 15) Thailand on the edge of catastrophe as “One Insane Thai Royalist” can shut down Google (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

• By Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist

• Background:

At the center of the problem between Israel and Arab world, is Israel existence question and relating to that, is the displaced Palestine question. There is off course, a wider consideration on energy security and also cultural factors.

But safe to say, such a volatile Middle East, can be exploited by rising regimes in the region. One rising regime is Iran and to gain influence in the wider Middle East geopolitics picture, have been supporting the Lebanese based group, Hezbollah.

• Thailand‘s Nature:

With Thailand, being a center for global transnational crime, the Hezbollah have come to Thailand hunting for bomb making ingredients, and if lucky, also to pull off a terrorist attack against Israel or the USA in Bangkok.

With that situation on hand, the Thai government, highly sensitive of the Thai tourism industry interest, have just recognized Palestine.

The Thai move is described by foreign wire service as being Thailand’s concern about its relations with the Arab World, as the Thai police has a Hezbollah man under arrest.

• In Comes Hezbollah:

Hezbollah, a master of public relations, is seen as an iconic protector of Palestine interest, even when in Lebanon, the Palestine there is treated badly by Hezbollah and Hezbollah and Palestine in Lebanon have clashed, fighting.

• Perfect Move by Thailand?

Is this Palestine recognition move a “Perfect Timing Move” or is it a “Worse Timing Move” by Thailand?

The benefit, is clearly that Thailand will enjoy better relations with the Arabs in the region.

But here, the Thai authorities must accept that the interest of the Palestine people, is not that important to most Arab regimes, who tend to only use the Palestine question to their interest.

The negative, is in the timing of the move, being in the middle of a Hezbollah terrorism crisis. The Thai move can be seen as Thailand being very “accommodative” when it is threatened.

• A Weak Thailand?

Externally, the threat of global terrorism on Thailand may not be that frequent.

However, in Thailand’s Deep South, there is also a terrorism crisis. How will the Thai terrorist view the Bangkok move on recognition of Palestine, when threatened with terrorism?

Remember, Thailand’s Deep South terrorist, are fighting for recognition and independence.

And can Thailand’s relation with the Arab world, be glued together, given the Deep South Thailand situation, with news after news of an abusive Thai security apparatus on the region’s population?

• State of Flux:

Already, the link between Thai terrorist in the Deep South, and global level terrorist organizations have been exposed. And originally,with this Thai Hezbollah terrorism crisis, there were talks of link to the Deep South situation, in some way.

The conclusion here is that at this stage, it may be too early to draw any conclusion. Yet having said that, Thai Intel bet, there are some serious analysis going on globally, on the Thai Palestine move.

Clearly, the situation is in a state of “High Flux.”

• The following is from AP:

Thailand recognizes Palestine as independent state

By AP News Jan 20, 2012 3:45AM UTC

BANGKOK (AP) – Thailand says it has recognized Palestine as an independent state.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said Friday that Thailand has informed the Palestinian delegation and all member states at the United Nations in New York that it “has given recognition to the state of Palestine.”

The move comes as Palestine pushes for full membership at the U.N., a bid Washington opposes because it says a political settlement with Israel must be reached first.

Thailand has friendly ties with Israel and is a major tourist destination for Israeli travelers.

Thai officials have expressed concern that the recent arrest of a Lebanese man allegedly linked to Hezbollah and plotting an attack in Bangkok could hurt ties with Middle Eastern countries.

Related articles

• Terror Alert: Three years after Thai USA counter-transnational-crime school started, had it failed? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Fake video surveillance cameras hurt Thailand’s fight against terrorism (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Embeded with Thai Police at terrorist targeted Jewish center in Bangkok (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Israel says Terrorist Recruiting with Social Media & USA’s Bangkok “Terror Alert” with Social Media (with UPI) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Large catch of bomb making, Urea Fertilizer, found with police link to Bangkok terror plot (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Bangkok Is on Edge After U.S. Terrorism Alert and Arrests (time.com)
• Vague Terror Alert, Arrests Put Bangkok on Edge (time.com)
• Terror Alert: Interview with a Canadian couple on Bangkok terror alert indicates mixed-readiness (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)

I am sitting at an Internet cafe at Sukhumvit Soi 22, about 5 minutes walk from the Jewish center in Bangkok after having gone to embed myself with the Thai police for a while.

• Security Audit:

As I have said on Twitter, I plan to make a security audit of the center, since news is that terrorist have targeted this Jewish center. “No” apart from having friends in the CIA, I really have no intelligence training.

• Amateur:

So this will be very amateurish. But still, first, we are talking about life and death here, and so I am going to keep a great deal secret. Then secondly, God knows Thailand‘s police is trying very hard to fight this terrorism crisis. And so I am not going to bitch at them.

• Thai Police Activity:

But what I can say, is that I did not sense that the alert level was at crisis level, when it came to the Thai police. “Yes” there is a 24 hour security detail, but we are not talking serious defense here. There was just one police and one security, on guard at  the Jewish Center.

• Mossad Presense:

But then I felt like the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad, was watching, meaning, there were evidence of a second layer of security. And what surprises me, is that if I noticed it, meaning I am not a professional, this second layer is there to be seen by professionals.

So the question is, there must be a third layer, hidden somewhere. Here, I did not see it. Which is very comforting. The problem is, the whole compound is not greatly structured for defense. In fact, I could see way into the rooms, inside the house, inside the compound.

• Car Bomb:

What worries me, is that the Thai police would only station road blocks, front and back of Sukhumvit Soi 22, only at very late night. And as I walked along the road, I can see about 10 – 20 vans and trucks, with darkened windows, which is normal in hot and sunny Bangkok. And I am like thinking car bomb.

• Jewish Community Known:

I talked with the local Thais in the area, and there is an abundance of information on the Jewish community in the area. No secret, is that the Bangkok Jewish Center houses one of the most important Jewish religious man in Asia. No secret is also that every Friday and Saturday, the Jewish community in Bangkok would converge at the center. No secret either, like today, even with the terrorism threat, there was religious service for Jewish children. No secret too, is that this and that condo is packed with Jews.

Getting into the center is very difficult. Currently, the Mossad is in charged, and the Jewish community here lives with security codes.

• Thai Comunity:

But what I found very troublesome, is that the local Thais, can not tell the differences between Jews and Arabs. So basically, the local Thai community, is just about no good for security watch at all-like everything is normal.

Well, that is just my amature security audit, with a great deal kept in secret.

Related articles

• Terror Alert: A compilation of news on Bangkok terrorist alert (with Analysis & Background from The Long War Journal) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai Police Raid Warehouse in Terror Probe (abcnews.go.com)
• Terror Alert: Three years after Thai USA counter-transnational-crime school started, had it failed? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Suspect Leads Thai Police to Explosives (israelnationalnews.com)
• Thai police raid warehouse in terror probe (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Thai Police Find Bomb-Making Materials in Suspected Hezbollah Warehouse (ibtimes.com)
• Thai police raid warehouse in terror probe (ctv.ca)

Introduction:

So OK, I am over-weight and wear this big t-shirt. Standing there in front of Times Square Tower, on Sukhumvit Road smoking, a Canadian couple, Bill and Betty, walked up and asked where they could find large t-shirt. And that was the start of a long conversation-and thank god, the couple smoked.

At Best I can Remember, Conversation Follows:

Betty: We are just curious, where did you buy that big t-shirt.

Bill: We cut our Samui trip short because of the weather and just got back to Bangkok, but the news in Bangkok Post looked bad for a few days. We do not know what to do or where to go.

Betty: Can you recommend some safe place where western tourist can go? But I really need t-shirts, before anything else. Where did you get yours?

Me: If you are looking for large t-shirt, try along the Sukhumvit Road, but when you get to the Middle East enclave, I think you should stop.

Bill: Middle East enclave in the middle of Bangkok, on Sukhumvit Road?

Me: Yes, it is around Nana Plaza. It is a sex tourism center frequent by 1,000s of tourist every night? Perfect terrorism target.

Betty: Twenty years ago we were in Bangkok for the first time and went to the sex strip, but that was a long time ago just to see it once.

Bill: Maybe if there is a lot of Middle East people around Sukhumvit, we should go look for the t-shirt at Patpong.

Me: Patpong is not safe right now for westerners, because of the terrorist alert says area frequent by large numbers of western tourist is not safe.

Bill: But the newspapers says the terrorist have been captured and the Thais also got all the explosive?

Betty: Come on Bill, the newspapers are just saying that not to hurt the tourism, and get people like us back at being tourist.

Me: The Thai police said they captured a terrorist but two remain un-accounted for, but also that all terrorist have left Thailand. I do not have a clue what that really means. If I were you, I would not believe anything the newspaper says.

Bill: I was wondering the same thing, because if they know all the terrorist have left, they would have provided proof.

Betty: And the American Embassy would have lifted the terrorism alert.

Bill: I thought they have.

Me: The Thai government tried to get the Americans to lift the terror alert, but the American Embassy refuse, so I think they still see a threat. The Americans would not lie about terrorism. But they might be too sensitive.

Betty: Too sensitive about terrorism? That is a new one.

Bill: The newspapers in Bangkok seems to be playing down the news, so I just got the impression that the terror alert is over with and an over-reaction by the American Embassy.

Betty: Come on Bill, we are just money for the Thais.

Bill: I love Thailand. The people are wonderful. The mass transit is wonderful. The prices are wonderful.

Betty: The shopping is also great and the sight-seeing terrific.

Me: Lots of tourist fall in love with Thailand, but for now, until the American Embassy lifts the terror alert, I recommend staying away from tourist area popular with western tourist.

Bill: We are staying in a hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 20. There is lots of tourist there. Do you think it is safe?

Me: There is a Jewish community on Sukhumvit Soi 22nd and it is mentioned as a terrorism target area. If I were you, I would move away from Soi 22nd.

Betty: Maybe we should go to see Burma, Bangkok sounds too dangerous.

Me: Have you tried Chiang Rai? I heard it has the Burma feeling to it, but it is still in Thailand with all the great Thai ways to go with it. Not too many westerners goes there. It is like an un-explored place.

Bill: I will think about it. But first I really need some t-shirts, because I came from Canada with only 3 t-shirts. I did not think it will be this hard to get big t-shirts in Bangkok.

Me: Well I have to go. Nice meeting both of you.

Related articles

• Terror Alert: Fake video surveillance cameras hurt Thailand’s fight against terrorism (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Israel says Terrorist Recruiting with Social Media & USA’s Bangkok “Terror Alert” with Social Media (with UPI) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Large catch of bomb making, Urea Fertilizer, found with police link to Bangkok terror plot (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Bangkok Is on Edge After U.S. Terrorism Alert and Arrests (time.com)
• Vague Terror Alert, Arrests Put Bangkok on Edge (time.com)
• Vague Terror Alert, Arrests Put Bangkok on Edge (time.com)

• True TNN TV Reports:

As Bangkok is rocked with a terror crisis, in Thailand‘s Deep South, living with terrorism, has become a normal everyday occurences.

This morning, True Cable TV’s TNN news reported yesterday, in Thailand’s terrorist infected Deep South, two Thais were killed by terrorist. The news person said, quote: “The police went to the video surveillance system near the attack and found that the system, does not work.

• Coded Message:

Much of the video cameras in the Deep South, are fake cameras. And when Thai press says, a video system in the Deep South does not work, it is the “coded message” that the video system that is in question has a “Fake” video camera.

• Bangkok’s Fake System:

In Bangkok, it is much the same as in Thailand’s Deep South, in that many of the surveillance camera are fake camera. The Bangkok Post Reports:

BMA admits to fake security cameras

Published: 20/09/2011 at 12:34 PM Online news: Security

Some dummy security cameras were installed in parts of Bangkok in 2007 after the capital suffered nine bomb explosions during the New Year 2007 celebration, former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin admitted on Tuesday.

A dummy security camera was set up on Sathorn road in 2009 by Bangkok authorities. (Photo by Kosol Nakachol)

Mr Apirak was responding to comments by  Bangkok deputy governor Thirachon Manomaipibul earlier in the day that about 500 dummy security cameras were set up in April 2009, during the red-shirt riots.

• Fake Camera Normal:

When the news of fake camera in the Deep South and in Bangkok became news, there were great up-roar from the public. However, fake camera, even in other countries, is also part of the wider system. The rationale is, just the sight of the camera system, would deter crime.

• Wise Terrorist?

However, with so much news in the press, that there are fake video camera in the Deep South and Bangkok, perhaps, the result is that terrorist has wised up.

In fact, the news of Bangkok having used fake video camera system, broke because a single Thai observed the camera box, and found that the inside was empty.

Related articles

• Terror Alert: Large catch of bomb making, Urea Fertilizer, found with police link to Bangkok terror plot (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Three years after Thai USA counter-transnational-crime school started, had it failed? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Terror Alert: Israel says Terrorist Recruiting with Social Media & USA’s Bangkok “Terror Alert” with Social Media (with UPI) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• National Security News: At least 500 “Video Surveillance Camera” covering Bangkok are fake systems (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai police raid warehouse in terror probe (ctv.ca)

Well, about three years ago, Thailand and USA jointly started a school in Thailand to combat transnational crimes, including terrorism.

But had it failed?

Assessment of the school effectiveness is difficult. A knee-jerk reaction to the current terrorism alert in Thailand, would tend to indicate that the school had failed.

Weakness?

However, when one considers Thailand’s fundamentals, such a highly corrupted society, significant black market and a culture based on face, which generally result in a great deal of transnational crime-the lack of global level news of international crime activity in Thailand, for the past few years tend to indicate that the school had been successful-particularly, if one were to look at the Victor Bout case.

Yet the current terrorism alert in Thailand, which involves the Mossad, Israel intelligence apparatus and the CIA, the USA intelligence apparatus-given Thailand’s un-happiness over the USA alert notification process-there may need to be a focus on cross-intelligence-agency co-ordination.

Professionalism vs Politics?

Yet perhaps, the negative reaction by the Thai government, to the terror alert, indicates that the voice of professionals is being rejected for political reasons. For example, there is a great deal of concern about Thailand’s image after the terror alert, as for hurting the tourism industry. This can particularly be seen by the Thai government, quick reaction to the alert, in saying the situation is under control.

Fundamental Problem?

Having said that, it should be noted, that when it comes to intelligence agencies, traditionally, there is a great deal of “Fire Wall” between agencies. Then concerning politics, since after the 2006 coup, Thailand’s representative governments system have been weakened-and perhaps, have become over-sensitive to public sentiment.

The following is from ILEA Blog:

The concept of developing an International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Southeast  Asia began in late 1996. This idea was generated due to the success of the ILEA in Budapest, which began operating in 1995. A recommendation was made to explore the establishment  of a regional ILEA  in Bangkok, Thailand.  It  was envisioned that the ILEA  would  focus on enhancing the effectiveness of regional  cooperation against  the principal transnational crime threats in Southeast  Asia – illicit drug trafficking, financial crimes, and alien smuggling.

The ILEA  would provide a core curriculum of management  and technical  instruction for supervisory  criminal  investigators and other criminal justice managers.The principal objectives of the ILEA were the development of effective law enforcement cooperation within the participating countries (ASEAN)  and the strengthening of each  country’s criminal  justice  institutions to increase  their abilities to cooperate in the suppression of transnational crime.

The Royal Thai Government agreed to co-sponsor  ILEA and host it in Thailand.  During 1998, training needs assessmen were conducted by competent US and Royal Thai authorities, with  assistance  from  authorities  in  the  countries of  Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the  Philippines, and Singapore. 

The  needs  assessment  confirmed the mission objective of  ILEA  should  be  drug  trafficking  and  related transnational crimes

On September 30, 1998, ILEA Bangkok became a reality with the signing of  a  cooperative  agreement by the governments of the United States of America and Thailand. The Agreement Between the Royal Thai Government  and  the Government  of the United States of America concerning an International Law Enforcement Academy established the ILEA and defined the objectives  and management of the institution, as well as the roles and responsbilities of both countries in management and funding.

As a result of the agreement, the Joint United States – Thai Oversight  Committee was established  to oversee the policies and operation of the Academy.  The Joint Committee, which consists of  representatives appointed by each party,  meets at least once each year and operates by consensus of the parties.

Besides the Oversight Committee, ILEA  relies  on input from the participating countries in meeting its objectives. In November 1998, a Key Leaders Conference was hosted in  Bangkok to review the proposed curriculum for the core programme. The United States,  Thailand, Laos,  Malaysia, Singapore,  Brunei,Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam,  the  People’s  Republic  of  China and Hong  Kong  participated  in  the  conference. 

As  a result of this conference, a six-week core programme  was established and ILEA was to place an emphasis upon specialised  training course  presentations.  Another  Key  Leaders  Conference  was  conducted  in  August 2001.

As a result, changes were made to the training schedule at  ILEA Bangkok  to reflect  Southeast Asian needs. At the last Key  Leaders Conference, held in May 2004, ILEA  made further changes to  the curriculum and training regimen based on input from the participating countries.

The first course offered  by  ILEA Bangkok  began March 8, 1999, and provided ten days  classroom  instruction  focusing   on  precursor  chemical   control  and  the  investigation  of clandestine  laboratories.  Experts  from  the  US  Drug   Enforcement   Administration  and the  Office  of   the  Narcotics  Control   Board  of  Thailand  served  as  instructors,  with attendees  representing  Thailand,  Laos,  Vietnam,  Malaysia,  Singapore,  Indonesia,  the Philippines,  the  People’s  Republic  of  China  and  Hong  Kong.  This  initial  specialised ourse  was  followed  by  two other specialised  courses  addressing  white-collar  crime and multi-national  investigations and controlled deliveries. 

The first ILEA Core Programme, the Supervisory Criminal Investigator Course (SCIC), began on June 7, 1999. Since then, ILEA Bangkok has completed its 25th session of the SCIC.  As of October , 2008, ILEA Bangkok  has provided  training  to eight thousand five hundred sixty – one (8,561) participants, composed of  commissioned law enforcement officers, prosecutors and members of the Judiciary.

The  permanent  staffing  at  ILEA  Bangkok now numbers 37 personnel.  Provided by the Royal Thai Police is  an  Executive  Director,  Deputy Executive Director, as well as Chiefs of  each of  the three ILEA Sections. A  Programme  Director  and  two Deputy Programme Directors are provided by the United States. On staff at  ILEA  are 15  interpreters,  as instruction  at  ILEA  courses is translated  into  Mandarin Chinese, Bahasa Indonesian, Khmer (Cambodian), Vietnamese and Thai/Lao.

Breaking Bits of Information:

Local Thai press reports Thai police raided a shophouse, near Bangkok, in connected with heightened security relating to the Bangkok terror alert, and found a large catch of Urea fertilizer. Details remain scarce, at this time of reporting.

Thailand is a major agricultural country, and urea fertilizer is greatly used by the sector.

• The police told the press that they believe the catch is related to the Bangkok terror plot-and said the Urea is similar to a catch found in Bangkok some 18 years ago that was linked to 2 terrorist.

How Dangerous is Urea Fertilizer Bomb?

Ammonium nitrate is the chemical that creates the massive explosion, the fuel oil is typically mixed with it to prevent the ammonium nitrate from absorbing moisture, typical ignition should be done with high shock or another small scale explosion! Lighting and running is NOT A GOOD plan you can and will DIE!

Mix the fuel oil by volume 6% dsl, kerosene etc to 94% ammonium nitrate,additionally with the use of powdered aluminum or magnesium dust added by percentage of the whole weight of charge approximately 5% will create a “high explosive” with an extremely dangerous decomposition rate! Best left to professionals.

Fertilizer bombs are a very good a cheap bomb that will cause a lot of damage. A good fertalizer to use is ‘Urea’ as it has the perfect ammount of Nitrogen in it for a big explosion.

Conflicting Infomation:

However, reports in the local press have also surfaced, that this Bangkok terror alert is linked to terrorist activity that have been in preparations for about 4 years, conducted through Southern Thailand-in an intricate long-term plot. Southern Thailand is infected with terrorism.

This clearly, dispute Israel intelligence reports that the Bangkok terror alert is related to recent global  incidents.

Analysis:

For Thai Intel readers not very familiar to the Games of Intelligence, Thai Intel just wants to warn that the truth, behind the scene, can be much more than is seen and what is seen, may have little to do with the truth. So please be careful about believing anything.

But perhaps this case is about a long established network of terrosism in Thailand, being exposed by a recent global incident.

Thai Police Seize Explosives, Charge Lebanese Man 

By THANYARAT DOKSONE

Associated Press

BANGKOK January 16, 2012 (AP)

A foreign suspect with alleged links to Hezbollah militants led Thai police Monday to a warehouse filled with materials commonly used to make bombs, as Thailand and the U.S. disagreed over whether Bangkok was the target of a terror plot.

Police seized more than 8,800 pounds (4,000 kilograms) of urea fertilizer and several gallons of liquid ammonium nitrate at the warehouse in Samut Sakhon, on the western outskirts of Bangkok, according to police and media reports.

The U.S. Embassy had issued an “emergency message” Friday warning of a possible terror threat against Americans in Bangkok, and Israel warned its citizens as well. A dozen other embassies have since urged their citizens to exercise caution.

The warnings come during heightened tension over U.S. and Israeli responses to the prospect that Iran is moving ahead with its nuclear program.

Thai authorities were caught off-guard by the U.S. announcement, hastily revealing they had detained a Swedish national of Lebanese origin with alleged links to pro-Iranian Hezbollah militants and that intelligence indicated a plot could be carried out between Jan. 13 and 15. The defense minister said the news was not released earlier to avoid panic that could hurt Thailand’s tourism industry, one of the country’s biggest revenue earners.

Damage control continued Monday, with the prime minister calling for calm.

(A Lebanese suspect with alleged links to Hezbollah militants is escorted for interrogation at the Thai border police headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. A Thai television station is reporting that the Lebanese suspect has led police to a warehouse housing materials that could be used to make explosives. The suspect was detained Thursday. (AP Photo) Close”I’d like to tell people not to panic. The situation is under control. There is no problem,” Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told reporters, adding that security was increased and intelligence agencies were closely following the situation. “We can assure the safety of the (Thai) people and foreign tourists.”)

Details of the alleged plot remained hazy due to conflicting accounts from Thai officials, some of whom said that Thailand appeared to have been a staging ground but not the target of any attack.

“I think Thailand is likely a transit point for other regions of the world,” national police chief Gen. Prewpan Dhamapong told reporters after the raid. “It is unlikely that they would have staged terror attacks in Thailand.”

The U.S. Embassy stood by its warning and said it was still in effect Monday.

“Whenever we have specific, credible, not-counterable threats, it is our responsibility to inform Americans in Thailand,” said embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler. “That’s what we did Friday. We issued an emergency message, and that remains in effect.”

Police were led to the warehouse by the suspect, identified as Atris Hussein. Hussein told police that he and other accomplices had rented the warehouse a year ago, according to a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The official said that police also found shipping containers, leading them to believe the materials were destined for shipment elsewhere, though he declined to say where.

Hussein was charged later Monday with illegally possessing explosive materials and faces up to five years in prison.

In Stockholm, Swedish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Linn Duvhammar confirmed the detained suspect has dual citizenship and said the Swedish embassy is helping him find a lawyer. He moved to Sweden in 1991 and spent 2006-09 in his native country before returning.

Duvhammar said he was carrying a valid Swedish passport when he was arrested, as well as an old one that had been stained.

Police were still looking for another Lebanese suspect.

Thailand has rarely been a target for foreign terrorists, although a domestic Muslim insurgency in the country’s south has involved bombings of civilian targets.

Related articlal

• Terror Alert: Israel says Terrorist Recruiting with Social Media & USA’s Bangkok “Terror Alert” with Social Media (with UPI) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
• Thai police hunt second bomb plot suspect in Bangkok (guardian.co.uk)
• Thai police hunt second bomb plot suspect in Bangkok – The Guardian (guardian.co.uk)