Auld Lang Syne

One of the main explosions took place near the Skytrain station at Saphan Khwai

As many of you have no doubt heard, on New Year's Eve several coordinated bombs were detonated in Bangkok, killing two people and injuring many others. The bombs were placed at busy intersections, Skytrain platforms, and shopping mall plazas. One bomb even went off in Nonthaburi, the province where we live. After the first few blasts at 6:30 PM, all New Year's festivities were cancelled, and other undetonated bombs were found at three other locations.

The press is busy trying to guess the masterminds. Here are the three main possibilities:

1) Southern Muslim Insurgents - The bombing method fits the profile of recent bombings in the South, particularly Hat Yai. Bombs were placed in trash containers near crowded intersections. Police were quick to claim that this was not the work of Muslims extremist, however, since no Muslim terrorism has ever taken place oustide the South. Furthermore, Southern insurgents always claim responsibility for their attacks and none have done so in this case.

2) Thai Rak Thai - The political party of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Most of the rumors circulating around Bangkok accuse Thaksin of planning this attack in order to further portray the military governmnet as incompetent. Ever since the coup the government has claimed there are Thaksin supporters hiding around every corner ready to subvert the existing order.

3) The Military Regime - It seems unthinkable that a government would use terrorist tactics on its own citizens, but my study of authoritarian governments in Southeast Asia gives me my doubts concerning the current regime. In the 1970s, the Marcos government set off several bombs in the Manila to justify his imposition of martial law. The situation for the current government is not good. They lost a lot of credibility when they mishandled the baht devaluation and the Bangkok stock market crashed. When the military took power in September, its leaders promised they would hand power back to citizen politicians within a year. But, with such threats to national security it will undoubtedly be necessary for the military regime to stay in place.

The investigation surrounding the explosion near Victory Monument.

In Other News...

Kaddi and I want to extend our fondest New Year greetings to everyone. I hope you are all enjoying 2007, but here in Thailand its the year 2550. Yes, we are now contacting you all from 543 years into the future. And let me tell you, the future is quite a place. We have escalators and moving sidewalks in our apartment so we don't have to walk anymore. Everyone has their own jetpack, so I can fly into the library everyday. Also, the world of fashion has been incredibly simplified. About 130 years ago the entire world just decided to adopt the shiny silver suit with the boots and the big V in front. People resisted for a few years, but I was all for it from the beginning - it makes my life a lot easier.

Oh, and Doug - I wanted to warn you from the future. This Thursday at 6:30 AM one of your neighbours will drive their car into you house. You will want to move all your furniture and perhaps put up a barrier in case you....oh, wait...that was last Thursday. Nevermind...