A YouTube video claiming to be an al-Qaeda threat against fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was removed by the video service on Saturday as too violent, and then reappeared hours later.
The 2-minute, 45-second video is entitled "Al-Qaeda video against former Thailand Prime Minister".
It showed three men in Arab-style clothing, one armed with what appears to be an AK-47, with the "leader" in the centre reading the death threat. Later in the video, the other two men also carry assault rifles, which appeared to be real or replica AK-47s.
The third man holds a photo of Thaksin.
The English language commentary included threats to kill Thaksin, "to avenge the killing of Muslims in the South in 2004". It referred to the killings at Tak Bai district town, while Thaksin was premier. "You have killed our Muslim brothers in Tak Bai, south Thailand," the video stated.
(Some media reports stated incorrectly that the video criticised the killing of southern militants in 2004 at Krue Se mosque.)
"We will get you any time, anywhere in the world," said the speaker.
There was little other context provided in the video. The accent in the video could indicate the speaker was from South Asia.
The first upload to YouTube was removed after a few hours with the notice: "This video has been removed as a violation of YouTube's policy on violence".
It appeared again from a different uploader several hours after that.
The second upload of the video also was removed.
But the anti-Thaksin posters played tag with YouTube. Early Sunday, a third version of the video was also posted on YouTube, with a Thai-language soundtrack played over the original.
It also was taken down by YouTube after a short time. It was uploaded again at mid-morning Sunday.
Southern militants have denied any connections with al-Qaeda or similar foreign terrorist groups.
Successive attempts to upload the video failed when YouTube removed it from public view. Composite screen caps by BangkokPost.com