This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/16/world/asia/thailand-suspects-uighurs-in-bomb-attack-at-bangkok-shrine.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Thailand Blames Uighur Militants for Bombing at Bangkok Shrine Thailand Blames Uighur Militants for Bombing at Bangkok Shrine
(about 2 hours later)
BANGKOK — Nearly a month after the deadliest bombing in recent Thai history, Thailand’s national police chief made his most explicit comments on Tuesday about who carried out the attack and why. BANGKOK — Nearly a month after the deadliest bombing in recent Thai history, Thailand’s national police chief made his most explicit comments on Tuesday about who carried out the attack here and why.
The perpetrators, he said, were linked to Uighur militants, radical members of an aggrieved ethnic minority in western China, who struck to avenge Thailand’s forced repatriation of Uighur refugees to China and Thailand’s dismantling of a human smuggling ring. The perpetrators, he said, were linked to Uighur militants, radical members of an aggrieved ethnic minority in western China, who struck to avenge Thailand’s forced repatriation of Uighurs to China and Thailand’s dismantling of a human smuggling ring.
If true, the bombing — which killed 20 people, most of them ethnic Chinese tourists — would be the first known Uighur terrorist attack outside China, a development that could have security implications for China and its citizens worldwide.If true, the bombing — which killed 20 people, most of them ethnic Chinese tourists — would be the first known Uighur terrorist attack outside China, a development that could have security implications for China and its citizens worldwide.
But many questions remain unanswered about the attack, for which no one has claimed responsibility.But many questions remain unanswered about the attack, for which no one has claimed responsibility.
Suspicion fell on Uighur militants almost immediately after the attack, which occurred just weeks after Thailand sent 109 Uighurs back to China, their heads covered in hoods, a move widely criticized by foreign governments and activists who said the Uighurs were likely to face persecution there. Suspicion fell on Uighur militants almost immediately after the bombing, which occurred just weeks after Thailand sent 109 Uighurs back to China, their heads covered in hoods, a move widely criticized by foreign governments and activists who said the Uighurs were likely to face persecution there.
Two weeks ago, the Thai police arrested a suspect with a Chinese passport indicating that he was from Xinjiang, the northwestern region in China that is home to Uighurs. Several other suspects are Turks, who share linguistic and cultural traits with the Uighurs. Some Turkish nationalists have embraced the Uighur cause.Two weeks ago, the Thai police arrested a suspect with a Chinese passport indicating that he was from Xinjiang, the northwestern region in China that is home to Uighurs. Several other suspects are Turks, who share linguistic and cultural traits with the Uighurs. Some Turkish nationalists have embraced the Uighur cause.
But if Uighur militants were responsible, the bombing would be a departure from previous attacks attributed to them, which were carried out with knives.But if Uighur militants were responsible, the bombing would be a departure from previous attacks attributed to them, which were carried out with knives.
The bomb, which exploded at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine during the evening rush hour in a busy shopping district on Aug. 17, seemed intended to cause maximum carnage. The bomb was placed under a bench next to the shrine, which is popular with foreign tourists, especially ethnic Chinese. The bomb, which exploded Aug. 17 at the Erawan Shrine during the evening rush hour in a busy shopping district, seemed intended to cause maximum carnage. It was placed under a bench next to the shrine, which is popular with foreign tourists, especially ethnic Chinese.
Such bombs are more common in war-torn nations in the Middle East than in China, suggesting that if Uighurs were behind the attack, they might have had help from allies more versed in bomb-making.Such bombs are more common in war-torn nations in the Middle East than in China, suggesting that if Uighurs were behind the attack, they might have had help from allies more versed in bomb-making.
Speaking at a media briefing, Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, Thailand’s chief of police, said the bombing had been carried out by a human trafficking network that “moved Uighurs from one place to another.” Speaking at a news briefing, Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, Thailand’s chief of police, said the bombing had been carried out by a human trafficking network that “moved Uighurs from one place to another.”
Calling the bombing retaliation for the dismantling of the trafficking business and for the repatriation, he said, “Put simply, we destroyed their business.”Calling the bombing retaliation for the dismantling of the trafficking business and for the repatriation, he said, “Put simply, we destroyed their business.”
In general, the Thai authorities, concerned about their lucrative tourism industry, have been less than forthcoming about the case, at one point directing officials not to use the words Uighur or terrorism while discussing the investigation.In general, the Thai authorities, concerned about their lucrative tourism industry, have been less than forthcoming about the case, at one point directing officials not to use the words Uighur or terrorism while discussing the investigation.
The police explanation of the motive has already been widely challenged. While the local news media and others have long suspected that the bombing might have been payback for the repatriations, Thai news outlets have expressed skepticism over the suggestion that it was tied to the crackdown on human trafficking. One Thai newspaper called the claim “unreasonable” because, if it were true, there would have been a more intensive crackdown on traffickers after the bombing.The police explanation of the motive has already been widely challenged. While the local news media and others have long suspected that the bombing might have been payback for the repatriations, Thai news outlets have expressed skepticism over the suggestion that it was tied to the crackdown on human trafficking. One Thai newspaper called the claim “unreasonable” because, if it were true, there would have been a more intensive crackdown on traffickers after the bombing.
The police explanation fits a pattern of obfuscation and reticence about the case by not only officials in Thailand, but also those in China and Turkey.The police explanation fits a pattern of obfuscation and reticence about the case by not only officials in Thailand, but also those in China and Turkey.
Since the Thai military seized power in a coup last year, drawing criticism from the United States and the West, Thailand has seemed to move closer to China. Thailand’s leaders are wary of disturbing its relationship with China, the source of millions of tourists and the country’s largest trade partner. Since the military seized power in a coup last year, drawing criticism from the West, Thailand has seemed to move closer to China. Thailand’s leaders are wary of disturbing its relationship with China, the source of millions of tourists and the country’s largest trade partner.
On Monday, Col. Winthai Suvaree, the spokesman for Thailand’s military government, warned the Thai news media to avoid analysis of the attack that might affect “international relationships,” a comment that many interpreted to mean China.On Monday, Col. Winthai Suvaree, the spokesman for Thailand’s military government, warned the Thai news media to avoid analysis of the attack that might affect “international relationships,” a comment that many interpreted to mean China.
But Thailand has made it clear that the Uighurs were repatriated at China’s request, a decision Thailand seems unlikely to repeat anytime soon.But Thailand has made it clear that the Uighurs were repatriated at China’s request, a decision Thailand seems unlikely to repeat anytime soon.
China has been oddly silent, deferring to the Thai police.China has been oddly silent, deferring to the Thai police.
Asked about the case at a news conference on Tuesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, said only: “The case is still under investigation. I don’t have more information for you at the moment.”Asked about the case at a news conference on Tuesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, said only: “The case is still under investigation. I don’t have more information for you at the moment.”
China has for decades maintained that there is no ethnic conflict within Chinese borders and that any acts of violence involving Tibetans, Uighurs or other ethnic minorities are carried out by a few disaffected individuals who have been led astray by outside forces.China has for decades maintained that there is no ethnic conflict within Chinese borders and that any acts of violence involving Tibetans, Uighurs or other ethnic minorities are carried out by a few disaffected individuals who have been led astray by outside forces.
Turkey has been increasingly involved in the Uighur issue in recent years and is home to an estimated 20,000 Uighurs. Hours after the Thai government repatriated the Uighurs in early July, angry mobs of nationalist Turks and Uighurs attacked Thailand’s consulate in Istanbul.Turkey has been increasingly involved in the Uighur issue in recent years and is home to an estimated 20,000 Uighurs. Hours after the Thai government repatriated the Uighurs in early July, angry mobs of nationalist Turks and Uighurs attacked Thailand’s consulate in Istanbul.
On Tuesday, the Thai police chief linked the attack on the consulate with the Bangkok bombing, saying both episodes were driven by “the same motive.”On Tuesday, the Thai police chief linked the attack on the consulate with the Bangkok bombing, saying both episodes were driven by “the same motive.”
The comment was the first time the police had tied the bombing to the repatriation.The comment was the first time the police had tied the bombing to the repatriation.
Turkey also has taken an arms-length approach to the case.Turkey also has taken an arms-length approach to the case.
Some Thai officials have said that a Chinese national now in Turkey, Abudureheman Abudusataer, may have masterminded the attack, and the Thai authorities are seeking Turkish assistance in tracking him down. Some Thai officials have said that a Chinese national now in Turkey, Abudureheman Abudusataer, may have masterminded the attack, and that the Thai authorities were seeking Turkish assistance in tracking him down.
But the Turkish Embassy in Bangkok on Tuesday issued a statement saying it had not been contacted by the Thai authorities about him.But the Turkish Embassy in Bangkok on Tuesday issued a statement saying it had not been contacted by the Thai authorities about him.
On Monday, a Turkish official said the country had no record of the suspect entering Turkey.On Monday, a Turkish official said the country had no record of the suspect entering Turkey.
“We are now trying to understand why the Thai government is insisting on implicating Turkish citizens in this attack,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol. “All Turkey has been linked to so far is baseless speculation.” “We are now trying to understand why the Thai government is insisting on implicating Turkish citizens in this attack,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with government protocol. “All Turkey has been linked to so far is baseless speculation.”
But other suspects in the bombing were Turkish, and the Thai authorities say one of them was found in an apartment in a northern Bangkok suburb that contained bomb-making materials and stacks of fake Turkish passports. The human smuggling network, the Thai police say, involved transporting Uighurs to Turkey.But other suspects in the bombing were Turkish, and the Thai authorities say one of them was found in an apartment in a northern Bangkok suburb that contained bomb-making materials and stacks of fake Turkish passports. The human smuggling network, the Thai police say, involved transporting Uighurs to Turkey.
In addition to seeking Mr. Abudusataer, the Thai police have issued warrants for a Thai woman and her Turkish husband, both believed to be in Turkey, and two other Turkish men.In addition to seeking Mr. Abudusataer, the Thai police have issued warrants for a Thai woman and her Turkish husband, both believed to be in Turkey, and two other Turkish men.
But in an investigation that has been hindered by false leads and confusing signals, Thailand’s police say they still have not found the mastermind of the attack or the man in a yellow shirt who was seen on security cameras as he placed a backpack under the bench shortly before the explosion. But in an investigation that has been hindered by false leads and confusing signals, Thailand’s police say they still have not found the attack’s mastermind or the man in a yellow shirt who was seen on security cameras as he placed a backpack under the bench shortly before the blast.
The police have not explained specifically what role the Uighurs are suspected of playing in the bombing. As the search for perpetrators continues, analysts point out that Thailand’s military government has made a number of enemies.The police have not explained specifically what role the Uighurs are suspected of playing in the bombing. As the search for perpetrators continues, analysts point out that Thailand’s military government has made a number of enemies.
The potential Turkish connections to the attack raise questions about growing alliances with the Uighurs and an expansion of their conflict with China.The potential Turkish connections to the attack raise questions about growing alliances with the Uighurs and an expansion of their conflict with China.
While many Uighurs resent Chinese policies that they say discriminate against them and feel closer cultural and religious ties to the Muslim Turkic people to the west, only a minority of them advocate separation from China, and only a small number have taken up arms.While many Uighurs resent Chinese policies that they say discriminate against them and feel closer cultural and religious ties to the Muslim Turkic people to the west, only a minority of them advocate separation from China, and only a small number have taken up arms.
But since 2009, violence linked to Uighurs inside China has risen along an arc of oasis towns in Xinjiang, as well as in the region’s capital, Urumqi. Deadly attacks have also taken place outside the region, notably in the train station of Kunming in March 2014, when a handful of Uighurs armed with long knives or swords killed at least 29 people and wounded nearly 150 others.But since 2009, violence linked to Uighurs inside China has risen along an arc of oasis towns in Xinjiang, as well as in the region’s capital, Urumqi. Deadly attacks have also taken place outside the region, notably in the train station of Kunming in March 2014, when a handful of Uighurs armed with long knives or swords killed at least 29 people and wounded nearly 150 others.
“First, we saw violence out there escalating, then we saw it showing up around the country, and now we are seeing it happen abroad,” said Raffaello Pantucci, director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies in London. “First we saw violence out there escalating, then we saw it showing up around the country, and now we are seeing it happen abroad,” said Raffaello Pantucci, director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies in London.
“The outstanding question for me, however, is whether we can say that this is somehow directed or pushed from Xinjiang or whether it is rather linked to Turkic nationalists,” he added. “The Turkic community has always championed the Uighur cause, and is behind a lot of the protests in Turkey, so it would make sense they are also linked into criminal human-smuggling networks that might be the source of this particular plot.“The outstanding question for me, however, is whether we can say that this is somehow directed or pushed from Xinjiang or whether it is rather linked to Turkic nationalists,” he added. “The Turkic community has always championed the Uighur cause, and is behind a lot of the protests in Turkey, so it would make sense they are also linked into criminal human-smuggling networks that might be the source of this particular plot.
“If this shakes out as it seems to be, it seems to be a particularly worrying development.”“If this shakes out as it seems to be, it seems to be a particularly worrying development.”