Breakingnews
Arrested men 'not terrorist suspects'
Writer: Bangkok Post.com
Published: 21/07/2009 at 03:57 PM
Four people who were arrested by the navy on Tuesday on Koh Yao in Phangnga province are not terrorist suspects, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said.
Navy chief Kamthorn Phumhiran earlier confirmed that four men were arrested in the province close to Phuket, where the Asean meeting is being held.
Some local news websites reported that security officials were interrogating the suspects to see whether they were connected to the militant Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group.
But Gen Prawit said he had not received any confirmation that the men were armed, nor they were members of a terrorist group.
He then criticised the media for linking the arrests of the men with the militant group, saying the reports were based on unconfirmed rumour.
Adm Kamthorn said he had been informed the men were arrested for possessionof illegal drugs.
Phuket governor Wichai Praisa-ngob also said the arrested men had not planned to cause unrest during the Asean meeting.
Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan also dismissed the reports as a ''misunderstanding''. Security units were just trying to make sure that the Asean meeting would not be disrupted.
He also dismissed reports that the men were found in possession of explosives.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/149700/four-men-arrested-not-terrorist-suspects
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