Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered a beefing-up of security ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Erawan shrine bomb blast and the one-year anniversary of a spate of attacks in seven provinces -- both this month.
He said security agencies have been put on high alert to prevent violence and they are being told to monitor activities of various groups including Muslim Uighurs and southern insurgents.
On Aug 17, 2015, a powerful bomb went off at the Erawan shrine at Ratchaprasong intersection, killing 20 people and wounding 130 others. The incident was linked to the deportation of 109 Uighur migrants to China in July that year.
Two ethnic Uighur Chinese men were arrested in connection with the bomb attack. The suspects, identified as Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammed, also known as Adem Karadag, are awaiting trial.
Last year, coordinated bombings and arson attacks took place on Aug 11-12 in Prachuap Khiri Khan and six southern provinces, killing four people and injuring 36. It was believed the militants were hired by people with political motives to carry out the attacks.
The incidents came shortly after the Aug 7 charter referendum.
Gen Prawit said it is best that authorities boost security and take extra precautions.
Asked if the trafficking of Uighurs is continuing, Gen Prawit said smuggling has subsided as a result of stepped-up efforts to tackle human trafficking.
"We must take full precautions including [monitoring] southern insurgent groups," he said.
Asked if members of militant groups in the deep South would exploit the political situation to launch attacks, he said he has ordered officials to go on high alert.
On Aug 25 security is expected to be extra tight when the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions hands down a ruling in a trial in which former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is accused of neglecting her duty in failing to prevent corruption in the rice-pledging scheme.
