Thailand reassures foreigners following Bangkok hospital attack
PM expects election on track but violence could lead to delays
BANGKOK: Thailand reassured the international community on Tuesday that it would increase security at sensitive locations a day after a bomb exploded at a hospital in the capital, Bangkok, wounding 24 people.
Thailand has been ruled by a junta since a May 2014 coup. The attack on Monday coincided with the third anniversary of the takeover and the army has blamed the incident on groups opposed to military rule.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack which happened at the military-owned Phramongkutklao Hospital.
“Bombs will have an impact anywhere,” Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters.
“Any action at a hospital violates human rights — I would like the foreigners to know that security forces are looking after this,” he said.
Junta spokesman Winthai Suvaree said security would be increased and any measures not working would have to be changed.
Prime Minister Prayuth ChanOcha said an election expected next year was on track, but he raised the possibility that violence could lead to a delay.
“The election is still proceeding according to the roadmap. I haven’t changed anything,” Prayuth told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting.
“I want everyone to think: if the country is still like this, with bombs, weapons, and conflicts among people... can we hold an election?”
One of the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia, Thailand attracted 32.6 million visitors last year, a rise of nearly 9 per cent from the previous year.
But Thailand has been rocked by attacks, including a series of explosions last year at beach locations and a bomb at a Bangkok shrine popular with Asian tourists in 2015, which raised questions about safety.
The shrine blast killed 20 people, 14 of them foreigners, while the attacks on the beach towns killed four Thais and wounded dozens, including foreigners.
The beach attacks came a day after Thais voted overwhelmingly to accept a military-backed constitution that critics say will entrench military power. The military seized power on May 22, 2014, to end months of protests aimed at overthrowing a government led by a populist movement that has won every election since 2001.
The coup was Thailand’s 12th military takeover since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.
Separatists fighting for years in the deep south of the predominantly Buddhist country have been responsible for many bombs, while angry supporters of ousted populist governments have also been involved in small bomb attacks.