TERROR THREAT:Missions ordered to step up security

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TERROR THREAT: Missions ordered to step up security

 

Published on Apr 8, 2004

 

 

But Thaksin says embassy letter may be ploy to discredit his government

 

The Foreign Ministry yesterday ordered the Kingdom?s embassies worldwide to step up security a day after receiving a letter threatening terrorist attacks on Thai soil, while Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra played down the threat, suggesting it might be a political ploy to discredit his administration.

 

According to a government source, Thaksin yesterday told the Cabinet the letter had been sent by a group of Swedenbased ?political activists? determined to discredit the government. Thaksin did not say which group, but added that it was well known that political activists from around the world had made Sweden their base.

 

The leadership of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) and the Free Aceh Movement (Gam) have both made the European country their base for political activity.

 

According to the source, Thaksin went as far as linking the letter to domestic politics and a move by ?opposing forces? to ?dissolve the Parliament and the noconfidence debate?.

 

The prime minister did not elaborate and the Cabinet did not ask him to do so, the source added.

 

The letter, signed off with an Arabic name ? Al Bashir alMakkawi ? and posted from Malmo in Sweden, was received by the Thai Embassy in Stockholm on Monday afternoon.

 

It read: ?Since Thailand has cooperated with USA, the Satan?s states, and have interfered in the concern of Iraq by sending 443 Thai soldiers to the occupied land. We have our duty to inform you that Thailand is one of our targets after Spain. Insha Allah.?

 

Anders Thornberg, a spokesman for Sapo, the Swedish security service, told Associated Press the Thai Embassy had requested increased police protection and said the agency was investigating the letter?s origin.

 

Defence Minister Chettha Thanajaro said Thai soldiers would remain part of the coalition forces in Iraq.

 

Chettha said other countries with troops in Iraq had also received such letters and that there was no need to change the government?s policy because of the threat.

 

However, this does not mean the government should take the threat lightly, he added.

 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said investigations were being made by both the Thai and Swedish authorities, but there was no definitive conclusion as to the source of the threat.

 

He said the government had asked Sweden to step up security at the Thai Embassy, and provide a personal bodyguard for the ambassador, His Excellency Poksak Nilubon.

 

Thailand has had about 440 medical and engineering troops in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala since September. They are under the command of Polish forces. Two Thai soldiers died in December after a suicide truckbomb attack against the camp.

 

The government continues to play down the security risks involved, insisting the troops are there for humanitarian purposes, despite escalating violence on the ground against coalition forces during the past week.

 

Piyanart Srivalo

 

The Nation