Recent Bomb Blast Heightens Uncertainty of Promised Elections

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa, BERNAMA’s correspondent in Thailand shares his take on the Bangkok capital city. BANGKOK, June 8 (Bernama) – As the Thais wait anxiously for the much anticipated general election slated for next year to return to democracy, a spate of three unexplained bomb blasts in the past two months has created a deep sense of uncertainty. The first two explosions happened near the National Lottery Building at Ratchadamnoen Road on April 5 and the National Theatre building at Sanam Luang on May 15, caused by crudely assembled pipe bombs leaving a total of four people injured. The third blast occurred on May 22 on the third anniversary of the coup d'etat, when a powerful pipe bomb hidden inside a flower vase went off at the military-run Pramongkutklao Hospital leaving 24 people injured , mostly retired military officers. The junta government immediately rejected any suggestion the blast coincided with the military takeover anniversary. No groups have claimed responsibility for the three blasts but the National Police Chief Gen Chaktip Chaijinda believed all three explosions were related and intended to create public chaos. The investigations which was supposed to seek answers on the blasts has generated more questions instead, with the media speculating on the probable involvement of certain individuals or groups within and without the country and their motives. PM'S LEADING QUESTIONS Following the hospital's bombing which was condemned by many, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha came out in his weekly televised address and posed four "leading question" to the people, among others about the government, governance and the nation's future. The "questions" posed by the prime minister has created a firestorm within the country’s political circles including from major parties, Pheu Thai and the Democrats, as well as within the civil society. They accused Prayut of trying to keep the military in power. Political opponents of the government have voiced out their displeasure against any slightest indication that the military has plans hold on to power by using the bombing incidents and instability as the excuse to further delay the general election. The truth is, the depth of distrust among political parties and the government are way too deep. While the prime minister's "leading questions" remain a bone of contention, the authorities were confronted with the discovery of another pipe bomb near a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station at the busy Ratchadapisek Road, approximately one week after the blast at the hospital. The unexploded bombs according to the investigation, bore the same hallmark as the three other pipe bombs. Days after the discovery of the fourth pipe bomb, workers of a courier company at Bangkok's Bang Khen district stumbled upon four hand grenades inside a parcel after efforts to deliver the parcel to a recipient failed due to incomplete address. While no one is sure of the motives behind these bombs and bombings, they have certainly created doubts over the junta’s promise to hand over power to a democratically elected government. -- BERNAMA