Seventy-two diplomats from 62 embassies and consulate offices as well as 19 officials from 14 international organisations gathered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday for a briefing by permanent secretary Krit Garnjana-goonchorn. General Saprang Kalayanamitr and General Anupong Paochinda, assistant commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army and assistant secretaries of the Council for National Security (CNS), were also present.

Among several questions raised by the diplomats was whether the bombings on December 31, which killed three people and injured some 40 others, would disrupt the process of lifting martial law, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kitti Wasinondh told a press conference after the briefing.

He said Anupong told the diplomats the process was ongoing and the government did not plan to change decisions it had already made.

Anupong insisted the bombings would not affect the drafting of the constitution or the general election, Kitti said.

According to a diplomatic source who attended the briefing, the Army officers told the diplomats the military knew about a possible attack in advance but did not expect one on such a large scale.

"The military told us they lacked funds to enhance their intelligence network, so the information was not so accurate as to step up preventive measures," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

A Western diplomat asked about possible links between the bombings and the ongoing violence in the deep South. Anupong said intelligence gathered so far, particularly on the type of bombs, had shown a link to the southern insurgency was very unlikely, Kitti said.

Another diplomat who attended the briefing said the military officers explained the bombs used in the deep South were more powerful than those that went off in Bangkok.

Responding to concerns over security at embassies, Krit said he was willing to discuss additional security measures and suggested diplomats ask local police stations to deploy additional personnel.

Krit assured the diplomatic corps the government had taken several measures, including increased patrolling by security personnel and approving the installation of surveillance cameras in several sensitive areas, to deter further attacks.

Sopaporn Kurz

The Nation