22 bombs explode in Thailand, killing 2

AP ^ | 08.31.2006 | AP

[neuroconservative]

Nearly two dozen bombs exploded almost simultaneously Thursday inside commercial banks in southern Thailand, killing two people in a region bloodied by a Muslim insurgency, police said.

The homemade bombs, which were triggered by mobile phone signals, were placed in garbage bins, at newspaper stands and near seats where customers wait for service in the banks in Yala province, said Maj. Gen. Paithoon Choochaiya who heads the provincial police. At least 28 people were injured.

Authorities said two suspects were detained. A review of close-circuit video showed that some of the explosives were planted by women, police said.

Some of the apparently small devices were hidden in women's handbags or inside books carried by teenagers in school uniforms, said Lt. Gen. Ongkorn Thongprasom, the army chief in the south.

"We received some intelligence reports, but we did not anticipate it would happen inside banks, especially on the last day of the month. We don't believe they are that cruel," Ongkorn said.

Banks are normally crowded at the end of the month with customers withdrawing funds from their deposited salaries.

Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit said authorities had learned the rebels were planning a major attack Thursday to coincide with the founding day of Bersatu, believed to be an umbrella group for Thailand's rebel groups.

"I ordered them (authorities) to take precautions and prevention but this incident still occurred," he said.

The bombs were set off in 22 of Yala's 30 bank branches, both in the provincial capital and outlying districts.

"It's scary. We can't estimate the damage yet," said Pridiyathorn Devakula, head of the Bank of Thailand, the country's central bank.

The Islamic Bank of Thailand was among those attacked, according to reporters at the scene. The bank, set up in five southern provinces by the government, was created according to Muslim law, which prohibits interest.

More than 1,500 people have been killed in the insurgency since early 2004, most of them in the Muslim-dominated southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani. The rebels are seeking to separate from Thailand, where Buddhists form the vast majority.

Targets of the rebels have included in the past government officials, school teachers, policemen, Buddhist monks and many Muslims suspected of collaboration with the government. Bombings, drive-by shootings and beheadings occur almost daily.

Last weekend, suspected insurgents killed the highest-ranking officer to die in the south since 2004. Col. Suthisak Praertsri and another soldier died when a bomb exploded under their vehicle in Yala.

[neuroconservative]

Those Norwegian Lutherans made it all the way to Thailand!

[Mo1]

22 Banks??

why would the blow up banks?

[taxed2death]

....better to ask why muslim militants would choose to blow up more muslims?

what a cancer on society.

[maryz]

22 banks in the mainly Muslim province of Yala

And Muslim banks -- or at least banks serving Muslims. They charge/pay interest -- isn't that against Islam?

[radiohead]

why would the blow up banks?

1) Cause that's where the money is?
2) Cause the Joos run all the banks?
3) Cause these muzzies are the most backassward people on the planet and they destroy their own infrastructure?

[LeoWindhorse]

blows against the Empire....
the empire of Taksin Shinawatra
and the Buddhist Thai in general.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

(NOTE: The answer to the question is provided at the link below.)

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503543906

and the question is --- QUOTE:

Question
As-Salamu `alaykum. Please, I'd like to know the Islamic ruling pertaining to establishing financial corporation whose main target is to practice an Islamic financial system. I've tried to get in touch with some banks dealing in mortgages or contracts purely based on Islamic law, but these banks attach interest on their deals with clients. Is it permissible to deal with such banks?

[kingu]

Another day, another bombing. A sociologist in a 150 years will be describing to a class the sacred ritual of explosions as a form of ultimate prayer.

[backhoe]

I've been trying to wake people up to this menace for many years:
( Notice anything familiar about that salute? )

Islam, a Religion of Peace®? ( links, blogs, quips, quotes, aggravating pictures ) is located here- click the Picture, and scroll backwards:

Better look up your local mosque

...and the barbarians are already inside our gates. ...and at our neighbour's gates, as well:

Terror Strike Toronto ( Aborted! )-- Click the picture:

And then, there is this other little problem:

For "Thunder on the Border," click the picture:

_________________
( Just an Old Keyboard Cowboy, etc., etc...)

Islam, a Religion of Peace®? ( links, blogs, quips, quotes, aggravating pictures ) is located here- click the Picture, and scroll backwards:

[Cindy]

Looking for updates:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&q=Banks+%2B+Thailand&btnG=Search+News

[maryz]

Thanks! Though it might be more than I really want to know. :(

[ASOC]

Triggered by *cell phones*?

Nah, no connection to the massive buys of cell phones here to that *there*.

[Cindy]

Well, it's short.
It's from 2002, but regarding the interest -- I haven't read of any changes.

[dawn53]

My thoughts exactly. Simultaneous explosions, large purchases of cell phones..."coming to a country near you."

[Cindy]

More Details...


http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=112585

"Bombing spree in Thailand's South kills 2"

Bangkok (dpa) -


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Such simultaneous terrorist attacks in the deep South, where more than 1,300 people have died from violence over the past two and a half years, have become increasingly common as the region's separatist movement attempts to demonstrate its unity and resilience, authorities said."


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Pattani's separatist struggle has been fuelled by the local population's sense of religious and cultural alienation from the predominantly Buddhist Thai state. More than 80 per cent of the 2 million people in the three-province region describe themselves as Muslims."

[Marius3188]

Thailand has 'registered' almost all of their countries cell phones. Most of the cell phones are coming from Malaysia, which also produces the terrorists.

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=211470

[ChristianDefender]

why would they blow up banks?

They just jealous with those who have bank accounts... now everyone's even..

Send the U.N. peacekeepers.

[Cindy]

More details...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=340&ObjectID=10399069
REUTERS

"Bombs outside southern Thailand banks kill one, police say"

6.20pm Thursday August 31, 2006

BANGKOK -

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The bombs were stashed in rubbish bins, hollowed out books and public phone booths at the banks in Yala province near the Malaysian border, they said.

A retired civil servant was killed by a blast in the provincial capital of Yala in a rash of explosions similar to one across the three Muslim-majority provinces of the far south in June which killed at least two people.

An anonymous caller warned one bank it had been targeted, prompting a panic flight, minutes before an explosion, police said."

[Cindy]

More details...

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1730099.htm

Last Updated 31/08/2006, 18:49:03

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Rumours

Our correspondent in Bangkok, Karen Percy, says rumours had surfaced in recent days that there might be trouble in the region on Thursday, which is Malaysian Independence day.

The Malaysian border is just 30 kilometres from Yala town."

[cambodia]

Muzzies have always been a problem in the deep south provinces of Thailand. Thai forces are there in number, but the terrorists just melt into the hills or sneak across the border into Malaysia.