The bank accounts of about 4.000 Thais will be blocked if the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) receives permission from the court. These are international terrorists, southern insurgents and people who finance terrorists.
The Amlo makes this known in response to its investigation into suspicious money transactions. Between 2010 and 2012, the southern provinces of Yala, Pattana and Narathiwhat and four neighboring districts in Songkhla recorded annual remittances of 50 billion baht, an unusually high amount compared to other provinces. That money must have been earned from drug trafficking and smuggling, and is used to finance rebel groups and attacks.
By way of comparison, Yala had an annual turnover of 8 billion, more than the three provinces of Sa Kaeo, Mukhadan and Prachin Buri, where a lively border trade takes place. In Pattani it was 17 billion baht, more than in Lamphun, a province full of factories. And in Narathiwat, the 13,2 billion baht was more than what goes on in Ranong and Samut Prakan provinces, where the fishing industry is concentrated. The value of cash transactions increased by 64 percent annually during the period under review.
"From now on, terrorists will not be able to withdraw money from an ATM after shooting teachers," said Amlo Secretary General Seehanat Prayoonrat. “The money in all accounts and all assets are seized. Only when they stop killing people and committing other acts of terrorism will we take their names off our list.'
Amlo wants to encourage insurgents to lay down their weapons, turn themselves in and take advantage of a rehabilitation program, a possibility offered by Section 21 of the Internal Security Act.
(Source: bangkok mail, April 12, 2013)