BANGKOK, April 5 – Thailand’s foreign ministry and army chief have flatly rejected a terror target list by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) saying that Thailand ranks first in Asia and fifth in the world as possible target of terrorism.
And the US embassy’s military attache agreed, and apologised for a situation report on the southern unrest which mistakenly appeared to show Thailand as a whole was at risk.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol consulted with Thailand’s National Security Council, the Royal Thai Army, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the US embassy in Bangkok, all of which rejected the accuracy of the report.
DSI Director Tarit Pendith on Wednesday made the disclosure of the FBI list.
Mr Manasvi called on the Thai public not to panic or overreact, saying there has been no indication of risks of terrorism.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said the US military attache in Bangkok apologised for the misunderstanding and he has informed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on the issue.
Gen Prayuth said the violence in southern Thailand may be more severe than other countries but it is limited to the South, and that elsewhere the public and visitors to Thailand carry on with their daily lives and activity as usual.
