While fireworks are supposed to be enchanting and entertaining, the kind of fireworks witnessed at the turn of this year are not exactly awe-inspiring. The 30th of December saw a bomb blast in Barajas international airport, while a total of eight bombs went off in Bangkok during New Year's Eve. Sri Lanka suffered a bomb attack of its own and lest we not forget Iraq - though there is nothing new in seeing lethal fireworks there anymore. One thing these blasts all have in common is that they seem to be linked to separatists and a lot of uncertainty surrounds the question of who is behind the deadly shows.
Three people were killed and more than 38 injured in Bangkok by a total of eight explosions. A bomb also exploded in a mosque in Chiang Mai on January 2, but according to the Chiang Mai police, the mosque's janitor confessed to making the bomb himself. As for the Bangkok bombings, nobody claimed responsibility. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, however, appears convinced that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered dissident soldiers and police to plant the bombs and make it seem as though it was done by the Southern insurgency. Thaksin, on the other hand, denies all responsibility, claiming the bombings expose the flawed approach of the military government's new policies in dealing with the Islamic insurgency in the south of the country.
The bomb in Madrid's international airport took place in the terminal's car garage and saw two deaths (both Ecuadorian citizens) and 26 people with slight injuries. The deaths are the first attributed to ETA in three years. An anonymous caller warned of the bomb ahead of time, saying it was planted by the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA - a Basque separatist movement). Some ETA members have since denied being involved in the blast, creating some confusion on the matter. Nevertheless, it seems likely that despite the ceasefire that was declared in March 2006, ETA is behind the bombing. The question is rather, why now?
At least five people have been killed and 50 injured after a bomb attack on a bus in Sri Lanka, with the blast occurring near Nittambuwa town, 40km north-east of Colombo. While the defence ministry officials have blamed suspected Tamil Tiger rebels for the attack, the Tamil Tigers have denied any involvement. In fact, the Tigers condemned the attack, saying they reject the killing of innocent civilians. The Tamils (who make up almost 9% of the population and are mostly either Hindu or Roman Catholic) want an independent homeland in the north and east of Sri Lanka, where they form the majority. The Sri Lankan government is run mainly by Sinhalese (a mostly Buddhist group that makes up 78% of the population) and strongly opposes these secessionist ideas.
Baghdad is anything but immune to such scenarios of bloodshed, with two bombs exploding at a petrol station in the capital's western Mansour district, killing 13 people and wounding 22. Sadly this incident is just one of countless explosions, but it provides yet another case of New Year's explosions.
Hopefully these out of hand firework shows are not a prelude to further "celebrations" in 2007. In any case, we at the Weekend Economist suggest you all stick to the less fulminating crackers and wish you a Happy New Year!!!
Three people were killed and more than 38 injured in Bangkok by a total of eight explosions. A bomb also exploded in a mosque in Chiang Mai on January 2, but according to the Chiang Mai police, the mosque's janitor confessed to making the bomb himself. As for the Bangkok bombings, nobody claimed responsibility. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, however, appears convinced that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered dissident soldiers and police to plant the bombs and make it seem as though it was done by the Southern insurgency. Thaksin, on the other hand, denies all responsibility, claiming the bombings expose the flawed approach of the military government's new policies in dealing with the Islamic insurgency in the south of the country.
The bomb in Madrid's international airport took place in the terminal's car garage and saw two deaths (both Ecuadorian citizens) and 26 people with slight injuries. The deaths are the first attributed to ETA in three years. An anonymous caller warned of the bomb ahead of time, saying it was planted by the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA - a Basque separatist movement). Some ETA members have since denied being involved in the blast, creating some confusion on the matter. Nevertheless, it seems likely that despite the ceasefire that was declared in March 2006, ETA is behind the bombing. The question is rather, why now?
At least five people have been killed and 50 injured after a bomb attack on a bus in Sri Lanka, with the blast occurring near Nittambuwa town, 40km north-east of Colombo. While the defence ministry officials have blamed suspected Tamil Tiger rebels for the attack, the Tamil Tigers have denied any involvement. In fact, the Tigers condemned the attack, saying they reject the killing of innocent civilians. The Tamils (who make up almost 9% of the population and are mostly either Hindu or Roman Catholic) want an independent homeland in the north and east of Sri Lanka, where they form the majority. The Sri Lankan government is run mainly by Sinhalese (a mostly Buddhist group that makes up 78% of the population) and strongly opposes these secessionist ideas.
Baghdad is anything but immune to such scenarios of bloodshed, with two bombs exploding at a petrol station in the capital's western Mansour district, killing 13 people and wounding 22. Sadly this incident is just one of countless explosions, but it provides yet another case of New Year's explosions.
Hopefully these out of hand firework shows are not a prelude to further "celebrations" in 2007. In any case, we at the Weekend Economist suggest you all stick to the less fulminating crackers and wish you a Happy New Year!!!
2 comments:
I hope 2007 will not be another year of terror (allthough in the U.S) there were no major threats (except what they want us to believe so we vote republican)
I share the hope with you that terror shall not be a part of our lives in 2007, but in all likelihood, if it doesn't hit us, it will hit somebody else. A "terror free" world is sadly not on the cards just yet (if it ever will be).
But a Happy New Year nonetheless!
Post a Comment