Ramkhamhaeng is safe, say residents

Residents of the Ramkhamhaeng area insist their neighbourhood is not a hideout for southern insurgents, but suspicions that the May 26 bomb-blast had a southern connection remain.

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The street life is lively at the scene of the May 26 bomb blast at the mouth of Ramkhamhaeng Soi 43/1. PHOTOS BY THANARAK KHOONTON

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Southern influx 'not a threat' in bomb-hit community

Lamphai Intathep 
Manop Thip-Osod

Residents of the Ramkhamhaeng area insist their neighbourhood is not a hideout for southern insurgents, but police continue to probe a possible far South link to the May 26 bomb blast.

The Ramkhamhaeng explosion injured seven people and stoked public fears over whether insurgents in the far South are extending their operations to Bangkok.

Police arrested two suspects in Narathiwat and one of them, Idris Sapator, 24, allegedly confessed he was involved with the violence in the deep South. Authorities say they are trying to verify the information.

Mr Idris and another suspect, Affaham Sa-a, 25, were apprehended in separate operations in Narathiwat under the emergency decree.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) said police have tightened security in the Ramkhamhaeng area, which is home to a large population of young people from the South who study at Ramkhamhaeng University.

However, several Ramkhamhaeng residents brushed aside suspicions their neighbourhood is a hideout for offenders.

Treeyos Chaimut has lived in an apartment at Ramkhamhaeng Soi 51 for more than five years. He said police had a negative view of Ramkhamhaeng and its residents from the South.

"Ramkhamhaeng is not as dangerous as they think. Violence can happen anywhere," said the 33-year-old Nakhon Si Thammarat native.

He said the May 26 blast was the first incident of its kind since he has lived in the area.

There is not enough evidence to suggest that Ramkhamhaeng is a hideout for insurgents, he said.

If southern offenders really wanted to ignite violence in the capital, they would attack other areas, he said. They would not cause trouble in their own neighbourhood, because it would draw too much attention, he added.

"There are lot of different people who live here," says Usa Zo-dob, 33, a Surat Thani native, who runs a food stall in the area.

Usa Zo-dob, 33, a Surat Thani native, said people can make up their own minds about the neighbourhood, but she welcomed more attention from the police.

"There are lot of different people who live here," she said. "I'd be glad if the police would monitor the area closely, because we have many social problems here, especially drug use among teenagers."

She has run a food stall in Ramkhamhaeng Soi 53 for 10 years.

You can read the full story here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/356585/at-ramkhamhaeng-road-diversity-not-adversity

lively – full of life and energy; active and enthusiastic มีชีวิตชีวา, เร้าอารมณ์
scene – site; a place where something happens or happened สถานที่เกิดเหตุ
blast – an explosion การระเบิด
influx – a large number of people or things coming in to a place การหลั่งไหล การไหลบ่า  (เข้าไปยังที่ใดที่หนึ่ง)
threat – a danger อันตราย
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
neighbourhood – a particular area of a city or town ละแวก, ย่าน
hideout – a place where somebody goes when they do not want anyone to find them  สถานที่หลบภัย (โดยเฉพาะกับพวกที่ตำรวจต้องการตัว)
insurgent – someone who belongs to a group of people fighting to take control of their country by force กลุ่มก่อการกบถ
probe – to investigate; to attempt to find out the truth about something; to examine ตรวจสอบ
link – a connection ความเชื่อมโยงกัน
injure – to hurt or cause physical harm to a person or animal ทำให้บาดเจ็บ, ทำร้าย
stoke – to make people feel something more strongly
extend – to include something more; to make something longer  ขยายออกไป
operation – an activity which is planned to achieve something การดำเนินการ
allegedly – stated without giving complete proof ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
confess – to admit that you have committed a crime  สารภาพผิด
involved – taking part or having a role in something เกี่ยวข้อง
violence – physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง, การใช้กำลังทำลาย
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
verify – to prove that something is true, or to make certain that something is correct พิสูจน์ว่าเป็นความจริง
suspect – a person who is thought to have committed a crime ผู้ต้องสงสัย
apprehended – arrested; caught by the police ถูกจับ, โดนจับกุม
separate – different; not connected ซึ่งไม่ต่อเนื่อง, ซึ่งไม่เชื่อมกัน
emergency decree – a situation where the government takes on special powers in a dangerous situation and the rights of the people are often limited in some way ประกาศภาวะฉุกเฉิน  source
metropolitan police – the police in responsible for a city ตำรวจนครบาล
tighten – to make something become stricter ทำให้รัดกุม, กวดขัน
security – protection; systems providing for safety from attack, harm, or damage ระบบรักษาความปลอดภัย
population – a particular group of people or animals living in a particular area กลุ่มที่อาศัยอยู่ในที่เดียวกัน
brush aside – to refuse to accept that something is true ไม่เชื่อ, ไม่ยอมรับ
suspicion – a feeling that something bad is probably true or likely to happen ความสงสัย
offender – a person who is guilty of a crime ผู้กระทำความผิด
negative – bad ที่เป็นด้านลบ
violence – physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง, การใช้กำลังทำลาย
native – someone who was born in a particular place ชาวพื้นเมือง
incident – something that happens, usually something bad เหตุการณ์
evidence – facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not someone has committed a crime หลักฐาน
ignite – to start a particular feeling in someone  ปลูกฝัง, ทำให้เกิดขึ้น
capital – the most important town or city of a country, usually where the central government operates from  เมืองหลวง
attention – interest; the interest or thought that you give to something you are doing, listening to or watching ความสนใจ
stall – a large table or a small building that is open at the front, used for selling things (or for giving people information) รถ หรือแผงขายของ
welcome – to be pleased to receive or accept something รับด้วยความยินดี
monitor – to regularly check something or watch someone in order to find out what is happening จับตา เฝ้าระวัง ตรวจตรา