A military court in Thailand has charged two men police accused of carrying out a deadly August bombing at a Bangkok shrine that left 20 people dead and more than 120 injured.

The two, identified as Adem Karadag and Yusufu Miefaili, faced 10 charges on Tuesday in connection with the August 17 blast at Erawan Shrine.

Thai officials said there was no political or religious motive behind the attack.

They say the blast was revenge by a people-smuggling network against Thai authorities for breaking up their operation.

Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay, reporting from Bangkok, said there was no mention of terrorism in those charges.

“They have been very keen to avoid using the word terrorism” because of concern it could affect the country’s tourism and foreign investments, he said.

The two have been held at an army base since their arrests in August and September. They are being tried at a military court, where cases of national security have been handled since the army seized power in a coup last May.

That raises “a lot of question marks about the process”, our correspondent said, adding that access have been “very limited” although defence lawyers can go and visit. Al Jazeera