BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s army said on Monday it had detained several people for questioning over a wave of deadly bombings in some of the country’s best known-beach resorts that killed four people and wounded dozens, including tourists.
Last week’s blasts came days after Thais voted to accept a military-backed constitution that paves the way for an election at the end of 2017.
No group has claimed responsibility, although police and the government have ruled out ties to foreign groups, linking the bombings to an unspecified domestic issue.
Analysts say suspicion would inevitably fall on enemies of the junta aggrieved by the referendum results, or insurgents from Muslim-majority provinces in the south of the predominantly Buddhist country.
Several people are being held at army facilities, but none have been charged, military government spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree told Reuters.
“Ever since the incident on August 11, the army has used Article 44 to summon people who the state think can give useful information,” Winthai said.
The legislation gives the military government absolute power to take any steps needed to protect the public peace and detain people for up to seven days without a court warrant.
“They were sent to various army camps,” added Winthai, who declined to say how many were detained, although rights groups fear the number runs into the dozens. “Nobody has been charged so far.”