By BangkokPost.com
An unprecedented twin wave of bombings shattered New Year's Eve celebrations in Bangkok, killing three people and wounding more than 30, including at least six foreigners.
Authorities held an overnight series of emergency meetings that continued into New Year's Day to try to find out who was behind at least nine explosions of bombs or grenades.
Without any clues of claim of responsibility, most suspicion fell on two possible groups: Hard-core supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, or other, leftist opponents of both the Thaksin government and the military regime currently running the country.
The military junta which is effectively in control of all of Thailand remained largely uncommunicative. But the explosions underlined the refusal last month by the Council for National Security to lift martial law in half the provinces of Bangkok. Spokesmen have warned that so-called "undercurrents" were planning violence in the name of the ousted Thaksin regime.
Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin cancelled city-sponsored parties at Sanam Luang and at Central World Plaza, formerly called the World Trade Centre. He advised all Bangkok residents to stay at home on New Year's Day unless travel is essential. He met with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on New Year's morning to discuss the bombings and what to do next. Both Monday and Tuesday are official holidays in Thailand.
Authorities in Chiang Mai also cancelled their city-sponsored New Year's Eve party, but no violence was reported. Throughout the country, many celebrated New Year's Eve as usual, but the mood was noticably subdued, and TV broadcasts featured more grim news than happy parties welcoming 2007 - or 2550 of the Buddhist Era.
The government issued statements that the situation was under control, but it was unclear what that meant. Mr Apirak cancelled the annual New Year's morning ceremony at the Sanam Luang central park to give alms to monks.
Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain all issued urgent new travel advisories, telling citizens to stay off the Bangkok streets and, in two cases, recommending cancellation of non-urgent travel to Thailand.
The explosions took place in two waves, over a wide area of the city - from the northern suburbs of Nonthaburi province to the southeastern Praves region.
They aimed mostly at high-profile targets. These included the city's busiest bus terminus at Victory Monument, the Seacon Centre which is Asia's biggest mall, the central Bangkok market areas at Klong Toey and Suphan Kwai, and a busy expressway interchange area at Sukhumvit Soi 62.
One Thai man was killed in the bloody Victory Monument bombing, the most gruesome of a wave of six explosions set off at 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Another was killed in the Kong Toey bombing, outside a Chinese shrine.A third victim died in hospital on Monday.
The most audacious attacks came at midnight, around the Central World Plaza where authorities had hours earlier cancelled one of the world's biggest outdoor New Year's Eve parties, called Bangkok Countdown 2007.
Two midnight explosions wounded at least six foreigners and several Thais at the popular Best Seafood restaurant and at the steps of a pedestrian overpass from the World Plaza to Siam Square.
Two British citizens were among the wounded, and were being treated at a Bangkok hospital, said the Foreign Office in London. Witnesses said the explosion ripped off the leg of one foreigner eating at the seafood restaurant.
Two other midnight bombs targetted Khao San Road, Thailand's most popular and best known gathering place for budget travellers, and the popular, usually packed Lumpini Night Bazaar. Those bombs were found and removed before they exploded.
There have never been terrorist bombings in Bangkok, although southern Islamist extremists have threatened on several occasions to attack the capital. But Sunday night's twin waves of bombings were different in almost all details from terrorist attacks in the South, and few believed the southern insurgents were involved in the Bangkok attacks.
An intelligence source told the AFP news agency that the attacks were likely politically motivated.
"The bombs are not involved with southern unrest," the source said, but did not elaborate. "It is a political issue, it is undercurrents" - the military regime's code word for pro-Thaksin elements.
The Voice of America reporter found a similar reaction. The US-sponsored radio network quoted "Thai officials" as saying Muslim insurgents were probably not behind the New Year's Eve bombings. "Security sources said Sunday the bombings might have been politically motivated," said the radio network.
The current leadership of the Thai Rak Thai party, established by Mr Thaksin, strongly denied anyone from the party was behind the bombs. Spokesman Chatuphon Promphan warned military authorities to be careful in pointing the finger of suspicion.
Although martial law was lifted in Bangkok and surrounding provinces just a month ago, the military is authorised to act when necessary. The coup passed its 100-day anniversary on Dec 28.
The junta leader and army commander, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, is currently out of Thailand, on the Haj in Saudi Arabia, and will not return until Thursday. Officials said he was passing orders to Bangkok from the pilgrimage.
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