Paradise lost

In the summer of 2001, just days before the Sept. 11 attacks in New York, a terrorist attack in Bangkok grabbed the world's attention. It wasn't an actual terrorist attack, and although it was Islamist in nature, it was fictional. French writer Michel Houellebecq published a novel titled "Platform," mostly about the relationships between European men and Thai women, but there was also an Islamist terrorist attack in the story, similar to the one in Bali. Not only was he an author, Houellebecq could also be called a prophet, even if he angered quite a few Muslims along the way.

In the summer of 2015, an explosion rocked Bangkok. This time, however, it was the work of real terrorists, not Houellebecq. Because no group has yet to claim responsibility for the attack, we can, of course, speculate. We are not lacking for potential candidates.

From the tourist's perspective, Thailand is paradise. For the locals, things aren't quite as good. Over the past century, the enchanted kingdom has seen its share of upheaval. Just a year ago, Bangkok was paralyzed as thousands of oppositionist demonstrators (Red Shirts) clashed in the streets with government supporters (Yellow Shirts). The negotiations between the government and opposition stalled. The country ground to a political standstill. On May 22, 2014, the commander of the Thai Royal Army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, decided to seize control of the government. For the 12th time since 1932, Thailand fell into the hands of a military junta.

It's hard to believe that the military government has managed to overcome the social, economic and political crisis. From the outside, Thailand, a country of 67 million people, looks like one of the wonders of the Far East. In reality, the situation is far more complex.

In recent years Bangkok has become a terrorist target. In January 2012, not far from the Chabad house in the city, a Lebanese citizen was arrested for allegedly planning a terrorist attack. About one month later, an Iranian citizen detonated several explosive devices in a residential neighborhood. Just one day earlier, there was a coordinated terrorist attack on the Israeli embassies in India and in Georgia. When we think of Thailand, we think of a holiday destination. Others, however, think of Thailand as a terrorist destination.

As stated, no one has taken responsibility yet for Monday's attack. The military junta rushed to say the attack was aimed at tourists. In other words, the attack sought to damage the tourism industry, the economy, Thailand's attractiveness. For the Thai citizen, an attack on a tourist is an attack on one's livelihood.

The quiet prevalent in Thailand since the military takeover has been relative. Many people are interested in undermining this situation. First to mind, of course, is the opposition, the anti-government Red Shirt movement -- supporters of former prime minister and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, primarily from the working class, rural Thailand and the country's north. They want to see parliament disassembled and are demanding to get back the government they say was stolen from them. Bombings, like the one we saw on Monday, aren't exactly their style, and it's not certain they have the logistic capability to carry one out.

The chosen target, however -- the Hindu Erawan shrine in Bangkok -- became a symbol of oppression for the Red Shirt movement in 2006.

It is also possible of course that the attack is a continuation of the bloody conflict taking place in the country's south, which has already claimed thousands of lives in recent decades. This conflict is between the government and Muslim separatists near the border with Malaysia. It needs to be noted that the separatists have thus far refrained from exporting terrorism to the capital.

The bombing could also have been the work of foreign elements. It's always possible this was an Islamist terror attack. Although the selected target was a shrine, as opposed to a foreign embassy, the possibility cannot be completely discounted.

We might wonder who Houellebecq suspects.

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