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Southeast Asia
Bomb plot halted, Thaksin fires general
2006-08-24
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has dismissed Deputy Director of Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) Gen Pallop Pinmanee after one of his officers was arrested with a huge bomb in his car near the premier's residence. Police explosive experts defused a bomb hidden in the car near the residence of the prime minister. They charged Gen Pallop's lieutenant in the alleged plot to assassinate the prime minister.

Pallop told reporters he had nothing to do with any plot, but that if he had wanted Thaksin dead, he would be dead. "It's impossible that I would assassinate the prime minister. If had wanted to do it, I would have done it more subtly," said the retired soldier who fought in Vietnam and Laos during the Vietnam War. "If I had wanted to kill him, the prime minister would not have escaped."
Now that's a defense you don't hear every day
National Intelligence Agency chief Pol. Gen Chumphol Munmai said he believed the car bombing plot was intended to assassinate the caretaker prime minister, given the size of the explosive charges, which could have levelled a one-kilometre radius had they been detonated. The explosives-laden car was also near a school.

Mr Thaksin held an emergency, 30-minute meeting with top brass of the military - Defence Minister Gen Thammarak Isarangura na Ayutthaya, Army commander Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, Navy commander Adm Sathiraphand Keyanond and Air Force commander ACM Chalit Pukphasook.

Police displayed 67.5 kg (149 lb) of ammonium nitrate fertiliser blended with fuel oil, nearly 5 kg (11 lb) of TNT, 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) of powdered C4, a plastic explosive, and a remote control circuit. "The bomb was ready to explode. The circuit was completely connected. There were seven sandbags to be used to steer the explosion in the direction of the prime minister's motorcade," government spokesman Surawong Suebwonglee told a news conference.
Made a directional charge, did they? That's a pro job, not surprising for a military hit
Mr Thaksin said he had left his home in Bangkok's Bang Plad neighbourhood at about 8.30am - an hour earlier than originally scheduled. The bombing suspect was arrested by his security agents and police in a busy street barely half a kilometre away.

Lt Thawatchai Klinchana, of ISOC was arrested. Investigators said Lt Thawatchai admitted to being Gen Pallop's driver.
Oops!
Police said they had followed the driver for several days and detained him after he parked a car at a busy intersection near Thaksin's house in Bangkok.
They'd been tipped off
"Yes, I signed an order to fire him," said Thaksin, who has been fighting a campaign to oust him since late last year led by foes accusing him of corruption and abuse of power, charges he denies.

General Pallop is a military ``tough guy'', infamous for his heavy-handed management of the Krue Se mosque incident years ago, as well as his hawkish views on the insurgency in the deep South. Gen Pallop told local reporters earlier this year that a military coup could not be ruled out if political instability persists.
Guess he tried, and failed
The caretaker prime minister admitted he would have to take more precautions, especially outside Government House, and indicated that he would delegate others to attend some official commitments on his behalf.
Mr. Thaksin did not comment if the attempted plot on his life might have been connected with repeated calls for him to stay out of politics - at least until after the approaching general election, adding he could not say anything until the police probe into the incident has been completed.

Mr Thaksin cancelled his afternoon schedule, including a plan to discuss Khao Phra Vihear with his Cambodian counterpart and taping an address for the 14th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) scheduled to take place in Havana next month.
Posted by:Steve

#1  Sounds like somebody wanted to go hardass on our Muzzie friends and wanted Mr. Origami outta the way...
Posted by: tu3031   2006-08-24 12:05  

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