This section of the blog will provide a gathering of articles from troubled situations in Southern Thailand. Initially, I didn't want to collect these articles but on March 11, 2019, have exacerbated to other provinces in Southern Thailand. Most of the terrorist bombings occur in the provinces of Jala, Narathiwat and Pattani. But on March 2019, explosions have caught the authorities off guard in Satun and Phattalung provinces. The discussions that are facilitated by Malaysian authorities for the Thai rebels and the Thai government was called off because some rebel factions are disagreeable with the conditions put forth by the Thai Government.
To gather what's being transpired, its best to collect these articles facilitated by both Malaysian and Thai media. However, I think since most of the situations happened in Thailand, the Thai media will be more reciprocative as the information gathered in Malaysia is for the consumption of those will be travelling or working or doing business in Thailand.
Bombs recovered in Thailand made in Malaysia?
ReplyDeleteBernama | June 22, 2018
A police officer claims the PVC used to make bombs was not available in Thailand and could have originated from Malaysia. (Bernama pic)
BANGKOK: A police officer in southern Thailand has claimed improvised explosive devices seized there were made in Malaysia.
Security forces in the restive province have been instructed to intensify investigations over the seizure of 41 home-made bombs from a pickup truck in Narathiwat yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan wants the authorities to identify the culprits behind the bombs.
“The authorities need to find out who was responsible for bringing the bombs.
“They need to investigate more,” he told reporters today, adding that officers were also instructed to hunt and arrest a suspect who evaded arrest by fleeing into some jungle.
His statement came as Thai security forces in the southern provinces stepped up surveillance following the seizure of the bombs.
Narathiwat police chief Maj Gen Manas Sikamat was quoted as telling the local media today that the bombs were made in neighbouring Malaysia and were intended to harm security officers.
He, however, did not provide any evidence to back his claim about the origin of the bombs.
An unidentified Thai officer quoted by the local media claimed the PVC pipes used for the bombs were not available in Thailand.
At 11.45am yesterday, officers manning a checkpoint in Kampung Saring in the Takbai district in Narathiwat stopped a pickup truck and arrested a 39-year-old man at the wheel.
The truck, from Sungai Golok near the Thai-Malaysian border, was heading to the Ranget district in Narathiwat.
Upon inspection, the officers found the 41 bombs hidden under a thick blanket at the back of the vehicle, along with other equipment, including timer and communication devices for detonating the explosives.
According to the Explosive, Ordnance and Disposal officers at the scene, the bombs were ready to be used at any time.
Non-governmental organisation Deep South Watch said the southern Thailand conflict between the government forces and armed groups since 2004 had claimed about 7,000 lives.
Border agency's power curtailed
ReplyDeletePublished: 19/06/2018 at 08:38 AM
The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) will see its role limited to that of a regulator of development policies implemented in the far South as operational works will be carried out by various ministries, according to the National Security Council (NSC).
The reduction of the centre's role was announced at the meeting of the steering committee for solving problems in the far South held at Government House yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy prime minister in charge of national security.
NSC secretary-general Wallop Raksanoh said the committee meeting was informed of several important issues including the role reduction as well as the fiscal discipline associated with state budget spending in such projects in the restive region.
Gen Wallop said the SBPAC will step aside to let the ministries and related agencies do their jobs in operating the development projects to help tackle work and budgetary overlaps.
He added the SBPAC has limited personnel, which makes it necessary to delegate tasks.
Monday's meeting discussed measures to deal with problems from acquiring additional land for expanding and increasing efficiency of the Buketa border checkpoint in Narathiwat. The improvement is needed at the checkpoint to better facilitate cross-border trade and tourism with Malaysia.
The meeting also approved the project to promote the intercultural education of people in the far South, which can help bring local residents closer together and allay mistrust fueling unrest, officials said.
Gen Wallop said a budget would also be granted for buying new patrol boats for border security surveillance.
He added that vocational training is also under way as part of the government-initiated Pracharat (Citizen and State) campaign to offer opportunities for youths to learn and acquire employment skills.
Gen Prawit, as chair of Monday's meeting, said the disbursements and other spending related to state budgets for developmental programmes must comply with the budgetary rules set out by the fiscal discipline law.
The spending must be above board and able to be monitored effectively for the sake of transparency, according to the deputy premier.
Meanwhile, Gen Wallop said security has shown a positive outlook in Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat after the district was last week removed from the areas covered by the emergency decree.
The improved security situation owes partly to greater cooperation from local people in tipping off the authorities about insurgent-related violence.
Author: Wassana Nanuam,Senior news reporter
Rubber tapper steps on bomb, loses leg in Yala
ReplyDeleteBangkok PostPublished: 28/06/2018 at 11:42 AM
YALA: A latex tapper stepped on a landmine and lost her leg at a rubber plantation in Yaha district early on Thursday morning.
The explosion was reported to police from the plantation in Ban Khae village of tambon Tachi at 5.05am.
Police identified the injured woman as Wipawan Plodkaenthong, 34, a local resident. She lost her left leg from below her knee and sustained wounds in her eyes and arms. She was referred to Yala regional hospital.
Security officials examined the area late in the morning and found a small bomb crater close to a rubber tree. There were also scraps of wire and batteries. It was estimated a one-kilogramme improvised bomb had been placed there.
The 20-rai plantation belongs to Patana Punsawat. Mrs Wipawan and her husband Preecha Pongsamut were hired to tap latex there.
Officials blamed insurgents.
Author: Muhammad Ayub Path
Another Yala rubber tapper seriously wounded
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 30/06/2018 at 12:50 PM
YALA: Another rubber tapper was badly wounded in a bomb blast at a plantation in Muang district on Saturday morning. It was the third bomb explosion this month at rubber plantations in this strife-torn southern province.
A combined team of police, soldiers and local officials went to the scene at the plantation behind Tawan Ok village Moo 5 in tambon Lamphaya and found shrapnel and debris scattered all over the area, said Pol Col Thaweesak Thongsonsee, chief of Lammai police station in Muang district, who was reported at 6am.
The injured man, identified later as Chutipon Namwong, 47, had been rushed to Yala Regional Hospital earlier.
A police investigation found that the home-made bomb, weighing about 2kg, was planted under a rubber tree at the plantation.
When Mr Chutipon arrived at the plantation and was about to take a cup attached to the tree for cleaning, the bomb suddenly went off. The force of the blast badly hurt the tapper.
Police blamed southern insurgents for creating unrest in the area.
It was the third bomb blast at rubber plantations in this southern province. On June 28, Mrs Wipawan Plodkaenthong, 34, a latex tapper, stepped on a landmine and lost a leg at a rubber plantation in Yala district of this province. Officials blamed insurgents for the attack.
Author: Maluding Deeto
Narathiwat man slain in drive-by shooting
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 30/06/2018 at 07:53 PM
NARATHIWAT: A villager was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Rueso district of this southern province on Saturday afternoon.
The attack occurred on a local road in Ban Bon village in tambon Suwaree, said Pol Lt Thanit Wutthicha, deputy investigation chief at the Rueso police station, who was alerted at 2pm.
Burahan Jaekor, 30, of Sungai Padi district, was found dead on his fallen motorcycle on the road. He had sustained two gunshot wounds to his neck and nape.
A police investigation found the man had left his house for his orchard by motorcycle earlier. When he was on his way back home, two men on a motorcycle followed him and the pillion rider opened fire on him and fled.
The motive for the attack was still not known.
Related search: Drive-by shooting, Narathiwat
Author: Waedao Harai
Tapper loses foot in latest attack on plantations in South
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 2/07/2018 at 01:57 PM
YALA: A 60-year-old man lost his foot after stepping on a buried bomb that exploded at a rubber plantation in Krong Pinang district on Monday morning, the third such attack in the province in five days.
Police were informed of the explosion in Ban Kuyae of tambon Sa-eh about 7.30am. The explosion left a shallow crater in the ground, which was spattered with blood.
The victim was identified as Suthin Haewkhunthod. His right foot was blown off. He was rushed to Krong Pinang Hospital and later referred to Yala Regional Hospital.
Mr Suthin is a latex tapper and the latest victim of landmines placed in Buddhist-owned rubber plantation in the far South.
Last Thursday a 34-year-old woman lost her lower leg in Yaha district, Yala, and a 47-year-old man was severely wounded in Muang Yala district on Saturday.
Two buried bombs were also recently safely defused after being found in rubber plantations in Ban Ae Lae village of Yala's Kabang district and an area adjoining Saba Yoi district of Songkhla.
Related search: insurgency, bomb, south, rubber, plantation
Author: Maluding Deeto
Farmer loses foot in mine blast
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 3/07/2018 at 04:00 AM
A 60-year-old man lost his foot after stepping on an explosive device at a rubber plantation in Yala's Krong Pinang district Monday morning. It was the fourth such attack in the province in five days.
Police were alerted to the blast in Ban Kuyae of tambon Sa-eh at about 7.30am. The victim was identified as Suthin Haewkhunthod.
He was rushed to Krong Pinang Hospital and later referred to Yala Regional Hospital.
A shallow blast crater was found close to a rubber tree with bloodstains. Pieces of wood, electric wires and shrapnel were discovered at the site.
Authorities said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive weighing 1-2kg hidden in a metal box which detonated when it was stepped on.
The explosion took place as Mr Suthin entered the plantation to tap rubber trees for latex. Officials said the device was likely planted by southern insurgents.
Last Thursday, 34-year-old Wipawan Plodkanthong lost her lower leg in Yaha district of Yala, when she stepped on a mine in a rubber plantation in tambon Tachee.
Another blast took place early on Saturday, when Chutipon Namwong, 47, was tapping a rubber tree in tambon Lam Phayao of Muang Yala district. He was badly wounded during the incident.
Recently, officers succeeded in defusing an explosive device in Ban Ae Lae village of Yala's Kabang district and another in Saba Yoi district of Songkhla.
Meanwhile, the Internal Security Operations Board, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, on Monday approved the "Betong 61" plan to ensure Betong district of Yala is violence-free as it serves as the government's "triangle economy" city model.
The triangle comprises Nong Chik district of Pattani, Sungai Kolok of Narathiwat and Betong of Yala. Betong has become the first area which will be developed under the model as no serious cases of violence have been reported there for several years.
Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) spokesman Peerawat Sangthong said authorities plan to adopt Betong as a sustainable development city, where tourism will be promoted and basic infrastructure developed.
On March 20, Betong was removed from the list of severe emergency areas by the government after being strictly regulated under the 2005 Executive Decree for Public Administration in Emergency Situations for over a decade due to the insurgency.
This southern town is now the only district in Yala in which the decree has been replaced by the less draconian Internal Security Act.
The emergency decree gives widespread power to authorities by allowing them to detain any suspect for up to 30 days, while the security act caps detentions at seven days.
The security act gives Isoc the power of direct supervision, unlike the emergency decree which is overseen by a national committee headed by Gen Prawit.
Isoc is now responsible for integrating efforts and rushing other relevant agencies into working in accordance to the "Betong 61" plan.
Related search: mine, bomb, mines, explosive, Yala, South
Author: Post Reporters
5th bomb explosion at Yala rubber plantations in 8 days
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 5/07/2018 at 01:58 PM
YALA: A rubber tapper was seriously wounded by a bomb explosion while working in Muang district in the early hours of Thursday - the fifth victim of a bomb in a rubber plantation in eight days in this southern province.
Jarin Chanluek, 47, was working at a plantation in tambon Yupho when he stepped on the mine, said Pol Capt Pattana Kaenkaew, investigation chief at Muang police station. It was reported to police about 3am.
The tapper sustained injuries to his face, eyes, his right arm and his right leg and right foot. He was rushed to Yala Regional Hospital. He was seriously injured, but remained conscious.
A team of police, soldiers and bomb disposal officers inspected the scene. Pieces of metal, wires, and bomb materials were found scattered over the area.
The blast left a crater beside a rubber tree, where the home-made bomb was planted.
According to police investigators, Mr Jarin went into the plantation around 1.45am to tap latex as usual. He noticed there was freshly overturned soil near one of the rubber trees.
Suspicious, he used his hands to see what was in under there. The bomb, weighing about 1kg, exploded.
Authorities blamed separatist insurgents, saying they were trying to instill fear in people working at rubber plantations.
Mr Jarin is the fifth victim of a bomb buried in a rubber plantation in Yala province since June 28. The other victims a woman and three men.
Pol Maj Gen Kritsada Kaewjandee, chief of Yala police, told local residents to alert police if they spotted something suspicious at their plantations. He also warned them to stay clear of it and wait for police to arrive.
He said investigators do have a good idea who is responsible for the attacks. Some of them were already the subject of arrest warrants.
The investigation was continuing.
Author: Maluding Deeto and Ayub Pathan
Soldier slain by motorcycle gunman in Narathiwat
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 10/07/2018 at 05:22 PM
NARATHIWAT: A soldier working with a development unit was gunned down on a road in Cho Airong district on Tuesday in what police blamed southern insurgents for the attack.
The body of Pol Sgt Maj Phatchai Suree, 26, was found near his motorcycle in roadside grass on Charusathian road, part of the Cho Airong-Sungai Padi route, Pol Lt Atthapol Boonthawee, deputy investigation chief for Cho Airong district, said.
The senior non-commissioned officer was attached to the 41st mobile development unit. He left his living quarters in tambon Tanyongmas, Rangae district, by motorcycle, heading to work in nearby Sungai Padi district, on Tuesday morning. About 10.15am it was reported to police he had been attacked and killed.
In Cho Airong district he was followed by two men on a motorcycle. The pillion rider fired five shots at him. He fell off his bike and the attackers fled.
Police blamed separatist insurgents.
Related search: insurgency, southern unrest, shooting, soldier, Narathiwat
Author: Waedao Harai
Narathiwat rubber farmer shot dead
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 14/07/2018 at 04:18 PM
NARATHIWAT: A villager was gunned down at his rubber plantation in Chanae district of this strife-torn southern province on Saturday morning.
Thavorn Hayeema, 52, was found lying dead on the plantation grounds opposite a house in tambon Chang Pluek when police arrived, said Pol Col Adipong Promnu, a deputy investigation chief at Chanae station, who received the all at around 9am.
The man sustained a gunshot wound to his chest. A spent bullet was found near his body.
Latae Samae, the father-in-law of the victim, said Thavorn was slashing weeds in a plot opposite his house when an assailant opened fire and fled. The sound of the gunshot prompted Mr Latae and other residents to rush to the sire, where they found Thavorn lying dead.
Police are investigating the cause of the attack. An initial investigation found the victim had no involvement with illicit drugs.
In neibbouring Yala province, three bomb blasts occured at rubber plantations last month, seriously wounding three rubber tappers in separate attacks. Officials blamed insurgents for the attacks.
Related search: Thailand Southern unrest, Narathiwat, rubber plantation
Author: Waedao Harai
This article is sourced because I think there's a connection to the attacks and terrorism. Terrorists need to source their fundings and this is perhaps one way as well.
ReplyDeleteKBank, KTB targeted in cyber-attacks
123,000 customers' info leaked in hack
Bangkok Post Published: 1/08/2018 at 04:00 AM
Cyber-attackers have stolen the data of 123,000 customers of Kasikornbank (KBank) and Krungthai Bank (KTB) in what appears to be the first massive data leak of local financial institutions.
The Bank of Thailand was told by both banks late last week about the leakage of their customers' non-financial data, said Ronadol Numnonda, the central bank's assistant governor for the supervision group.
He said no customers have reported financial losses so far.
KBank, the country's third-largest bank by assets, told the central bank that some of its corporate customer information had been leaked but it was all general data, while KTB said most of the leaked data involved lending applications from retail customers, though some of their corporate customer data was also stolen, Mr Ronadol said.
Both banks said the leaked information was not financial transaction data, adding that they had already stemmed unauthorised access, he said.
The banks have inspected all related systems and allowed experts to assess every operating system to ensure that everything is protected, Mr Ronadol said.
The Bank of Thailand has instructed the banks to tighten their cybersecurity systems, protect customers from the fallout and inform those whose information was leaked, he said.
The central bank also ordered KBank and KTB to prepare assistance measures in case damage crops up and informed other financial institutions to be more vigilant.
Chantavarn Sucharitakul, the Bank of Thailand's assistant governor for corporate strategy and relations group, said the central bank cannot identify whether the cyber-attacks were carried out by the same hacker. He said it would have to wait for the conclusion of an in-depth investigation outcome.
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ReplyDeleteKBank president Pipit Aneaknithi said the bank on July 25 found that the names of 3,000 corporate customers using KBank's website to provide letters of guarantee might have been leaked.
"As soon as KBank detected this irregularity, we immediately closed the loophole and increased the level of data surveillance and protection to prevent a potential leak," he said. "The data that may have been leaked to the public concerns the names and telephone numbers of KBank's corporate customers using the online letter of guarantee service. This does not entail important information related to transactions or the financial data of those customers. Therefore, the data cannot be used for illegal purposes."
According to a preliminary investigation, no customers have suffered any damages as a result of the incident, the bank said, but KBank officials will monitor any customer account irregularities.
KBank said it plans to inform its corporate customers affected by the hack individually.
"If our customers notice anything suspicious in related transactions, KBank is ready to take responsibility and provide assistance," Mr Pipit said.
Meanwhile, Kasikorn Business Technology Group (KBTG) chairman Somkid Jiranuntarat said the attacks may have originated from outside of Thailand.
KTB president and chief executive Payong Srivanich said in a statement that the bank had detected that the general information from 120,000 retail clients who applied for mortgages and personal loans online, including 3,000 corporate customers, was hacked in the days leading up to the July holidays.
KTB, the country's fourth-largest lender by assets, said it is working with IT security firm Cyber Security & Digital Forensics to investigate the incident and upgrade its security system.
"The bank has strong investigation and tracking systems to regularly and continuously protect customer information," he said. "We admit that hackers' capabilities are growing and it is a challenge for the bank to improve its cybersecurity system -- an important task in digital age."
Prinya Homanake, secretary of the Thailand Security Information Association, said banks must look into their security systems because other banks may face similar attacks.
"We don't know how much information the hackers got, and they might post it online to damage the banks' reputations," he said. "So it's best for the victimised banks to share their vulnerabilities."
Bhume Bhumiratana, a cybersecurity commission member, said both cases showed that at least two banks have the ability to detect intrusions on their own, but less is known about the sophistication of the hackers.
The Bank of Thailand and those banks need to come up with a solid action plan to cope with the cybersecurity challenge, he said.
Mr Bhume added that banks also need to ensure they have proper auditing and protection systems, along with the ability to detect vulnerabilities and shore them up in real time.
Predee Daochai, chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association, said the association is monitoring the situation.
Related search: bank, quot, customers, banks
Authors: Nuntawun Polkuamdee, Somruedi Banchongduang & Suchit Leesa-nguansuk
Two suspects in Pattani ATM bomb blast arrested
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 3/08/2018 at 12:02 PM
PATTANI: Two men suspected of involvement in a bomb blast at an ATM in Yarang district on May 20 were detained on Friday.
A combined team of police, soldiers and forensic officials searched two locations in tambon Khlong Mai of Yarang district and managed to arrest the two suspects.
In the first raid, Malawi Maming, 28, was apprehended at his house at Ban Chalong village. The officials later raided another house at Khok Yakha village in the same district and arrested Maruding Maming, 24.
The duo were held in military custody for interrogation.
Earlier this month, soldiers detained four men suspected of involvement in the fatal shooting of a highway police officer in Pattani on Jan 11, 2013.
The four suspects -- Romdon Maruesatae, 32; Burahan Bueraheng, 33; Nura-almadfaris Salae, 28; and Arhamadphikhi Jaema, 34 -- were arrested during a military raid on a house in Sai Buri district at around 4.30am on Aug 1.
A source said an intelligence gathering unit found that southern insurgents had planned to carry out bomb blasts in three districts -- Bannang Sata, Krong Pinang and Than Tho -- of Yala and Mayor district of Pattani. This prompted security officers to tighten security in those areas, strictly examining vehicles at road checkpoints and increasing patrols in the risk areas.
Related search: Bomb blast, Pattani, suspects, ATM
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Two volunteers killed in Narathiwat ambush
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 7/08/2018 at 08:57 PM
NARATHIWAT: Two defence volunteers have been killed in an ambush in Sungai Padi district in this southern province.
District police were reported of the attack on Ban Toh Deng Rd in tambon Toh Deng at 4.30pm on Tuesday.
When a joint team of police, soldiers and administrative officials reached the scene, they found two bodies and a fire-damaged motorcycle with no licence plates on the ground.
After a bomb disposal team cleared the scene, they found the bodies next to the motorcycle belonged to Muhammad Hafazi, who was hit in the head, and Jehyunai Jehbueraheng, who sustained multiple wounds to the torso. They were sent to Sungai Padi Hospital for autopsies.
Almost 10 M16 shells found at the scene were taken in evidence.
An initial investigation found the two volunteers left the operation centre of Tambon Toh Deng Protection Unit to provide security services at Ban Phlong School in the same tambon.
When the school closed, they rode back. About 1km to the unit, at least two armed perpetrators who hid in dense forests along the road fired M16 and killed the pair. They then torched the motorcycle and took two AK-47 rifles, a 9mm pistol and two bullet vests from the victims.
Related search: killed, motorcycle, scene, tambon
Author: Waedao Harai
Villagers killed, volunteer injured in Pattani
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 9/08/2018 at 10:55 AM
PATTANI: A villager was shot dead and a defence volunteer was injured by gunmen in Mayo and Kapho districts late Wednesday night.
In Mayo, Doha Jeha was shot in front of a grocery in Ban Balatae village of tambon La Nga.
In Kapho, defence volunteer Lukman Mawaecha was shot in his thigh in front of Ban Plong Hoi School. He was rushed to Kapho Hospital.
Mr Lukman was on leave and was riding his motorcycle back home after sending off a friend. He was shot with a pistol. Local police were investigating the incidents.
On Tuesday, defence volunteers Muhammad Hafisi Muelee and Jehyunai Jehbueheng were shot dead on a road in Ban Toh Deng village of tambon Toh Deng in Sungai Padi district of Narathiwat.
They normally stood guard at Ban Phlong School. About 100 spent shells were found at the scene. Police assumed at least six gunmen killed them.
Local security authorities believe it was an act of insurgents led by Toyeb Maekalong and Yaswan Ayee. They were active in tambon Riko and tambon Toh Deng of Sungai Padi district and hid on a mountain range.
On Thursday local authorities handed financial aid worth 560,000 baht each to the families of the dead volunteers. The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre would also offer vocational training to their widows and pay tuition fees for their children until they graduate.
Related search: south, deep, far, insurgent, insurgency, dead
Author: Abdulloh Benjakat and Waedao Harai
Mother, daughter killed in drive-by shooting
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 11/08/2018 at 12:57 PM
NARATHIWAT: A woman and her teen daughter were shot dead in a drive-by shooting before assailants fled with their motorcycle in Bacho district on Saturday morning.
The fatal attack took place on Palukasamor-Ton Sai route, said Pol Lt Akkharat Nuengmatcha, deputy crime suppression chief at Palukasamor police station, who was reported at around 6.50am.
Police, soldiers and rescue workers rushing to the scene found the bodies of the two victims in a pool of blood on the road. Nittaya Kaenruang, 40, sustained two gunshot wounds to the right ear and chest. Her daughter, Atchariya Kaenruang, 18, was shot near the right ear and the back. Their bodies were sent to Bacho Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
A police investigation found that Ms Nittaya was riding a motorcycle from a local market to her home, with her daughter riding pillion. On the way, two men on a motorcycle followed them. When they reached the scene, the pillion gunman allegedly opened fire at them, causing Ms Nittaya to lose control of her bike, which plunged into a roadside ditch. The gunman then walked towards the two victims and fired more shots at them near the ear. He then fled on the victims’ motorcycle.
Pol Lt Col Supachai Supakitjarak, investigation chief at Palukasamor police station, ordered a manhunt for the assailants. Police manning road checkpoints along the escape routes were also asked to block the stolen motorcycle and the suspects for fear the stolen vehicle would be used in a motorcycle bomb.
Police blamed southern insurgents for the attack.
Related search: Southern unrest, Narathiwat, drive-by shooting
Author: Waedao Harai
Ranger shot dead near military outpost in Pattani
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 11/08/2018 at 07:04 PM
PATTANI: A volunteer ranger was shot dead in an ambush at a roadside pavilion opposite a military outpost in Panare district on Saturday morning.
The attack occurred shortly after Phumsak Yenthua, 21, crossed Highway 42 on the Pattani-Narathiwat route, opposite the ranger outpost where he worked, to the pavilion.
As he was about to turn off the lights in the pavilion, an unknown number of assailants waiting in ambush in a nearby forest fired shots at him, said Pol Lt Tunlakorn Suriywong, a duty officer at Panare police station, who was alerted at around 6.15am.
The sound of gunshots prompted other rangers to rush to the scene, where they found Phumsak seriously wounded. He was rushed to Panare Hospital but died shortly later.
Police found 25 spent M16 cartridges scattered at the scene of the attack and one bullet in the roadside forest, where the assailants had hidden, about 50 metres from the pavilion.
The body of the 21-year-old ranger was taken by helicopter to his home province of Phatthalung on Saturday afternoon.
Authorities were investigating whether the attack was related to the ongoing insurgency in the three southern border provinces.
Around the same time, a suspicious object was found in Thung Yang Daeng district of Pattani. Bomb disposal officers were called in to examine the object, which turned out to be a bomb. It was destroyed.
Related search: Thailand southern unrest, Pattani, ranger
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Attacks on far southern electricity offices
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 30/08/2018 at 06:49 PM
PATTANI/YALA: Offices of the Provincial Electricity Authority were attacked in the two southern provinces early Thursday morning and staff at one of the offices were tied but not injured.
In Yala, the attack happened at 12.30am at the PEA's branch in Kabang district. At least five attackers tied six employees behind the building which was subsequently set ablaze. The assailants also torched a PEA vehicle and another vehicle of an employee there.
Senior Yala police officers inspected the place late Thursday morning and said attackers might have retaliated against authorities' arrests and extrajudicial killings of southern insurgents.
In Pattani, the PEA branch in Khok Pho district was fired and attacked with Molotov cocktails at about 2am.
Officials found 17 spent shells of 7.62mm and 5.56mm calibres and two bottles of Molotov cocktails. A glass door and five glass windows were holed. The office building was slightly burnt.
Local residents said attackers arrived on a few motorcycles and fled after the attack.
Related search: Far South, bombs, explosions, attacks, insurgency, insurgents
Author: Ayub Pathan and Abdulloh Benjakat
Two killed, woman wounded in Pattani market attack
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 31/08/2018 at 12:43 PM
PATTANI: A village defence volunteer and a woman were shot dead, and another woman wounded, by gunmen at a market in Muang district on Thursday night.
The shooting occurred in full view of market-goers and vendors at Ban Krue Sae community market on Pattani-Narathiwat Road in tambon Tanyong Lulor around 7pm, said Pol Col Keerati Yusor, superintendent of Muang police station.
A man identified later as Aryi Mudor, 55, village defence volunteer, was shot dead at a stall where he was helping his wife sell women’s accessories
Two women, bystanders, were also hit by bullets and rushed to Pattana Hospital, where one of them was pronounced dead. She was identified as Armeenor Sama.
Police investigators said some men posing as customers arrived at the stall, joining other people who were selecting items to buy. Without warning, they opened fire at Aryi. The village defence volunteer was hit in the head twice, while stray bullets also hit the two women.
One of the killers took the victim’s pistol before fleeing.
Police were investigating whether the attack was related to the insurgency or not.
Aryi had served as a village defence volunteer for many years and spent his free time helping his wife sell goods at the market. He had no conflict with anyone.
Related search: Southern unrest, insurgency, Pattani, defence volunteer, market
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Couple shot dead in Songkhla furniture shop
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 2/09/2018 at 06:13 PM
SONGKHLA: The owner of a furniture shop in Thepha district and his wife were shot to death in a daylight attack on Sunday by a group of men believed to be separatist militants, according to media reports.
Police went to the shop at Village Group 3 in tambon Tha Muang after being informed of the attack. Uthis Chanrat, 65, the shop owner, was shot dead at his desk while his wife, Mrs Boonthim, was also shot and found lying dead on the floor nearby.
Police were gathering evidence and investigating the motive for the killings.
It was believed the attack was the work of separatist militants. The shop was previously set on fire on Aug 2, 2013, the day ten different locations in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces came under arson and bomb attacks.
Related search: shop, furniture shop, separatist militants, bomb attacks
About the author
columnist Writer: Online Reporters
2 killed, 2 wounded in Narathiwat gun attack
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 9/09/2018 at 09:41 AM
NARATHIWAT: Two village defence volunteers were killed and two others wounded in a gun attack by a group of gunmen in tambon Chang Phuak of Chanae district on Saturday afternoon.
Pol Lt Adipong Promnu, a Chanae police investigator, said that according to eyewitnesses, at about 5.20pm approximately five armed men emerged from roadside bushes and opened fire at house No 281 and a sentry box near a building used as the village's learning centre.
Four village defence volunteers, two men and two women, were hit by gunshots. One of them, Mrs Uab Uthai, the house owner, was killed instantly in front of the house. The three others -- Siboonruang Uthai, Wanpen Uthai and Boonlert Chotchoi -- were injured.
Siboonruang died shortly afterwards. The two others were admitted to Sungai Kolok Hospital.
The gunshots also damaged a Toyota Yaris car parked in front of the learning centre.
The gunmen then set fire to a pick-up truck before fleeing the scene.
Police were investigating. It was initially believed the attack was the work of separatists.
Related search: attack, defence volunteers, gun attack, house
Author: Waedao Harai
Motorcycle repair shop damaged by bomb in Songkhla
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 9/09/2018 at 01:22 PM
SONGKHLA: A fire broke out in front of a motorcycle repair shop in Chana district of this southern province early on Sunday following a bomb explosion, damaging six motorcycles and the shop front.
Police believed the fire was started by an incendiary bomb that went off in front of the motorcycle repair shop in tambon Ban Na at about 5am.
A team of administrative officials and defence volunteers, led by assistant district chief Chalermchai Wisuthichanon, rushed to the scene on being informed of the incident.
While the team was about 500 metres from the shop, a roadside bomb exploded, but nobody was hurt. An armoured vehicle they were travelling in was slightly damaged.
Explosive ordnance disposal police arrived shortly afterwards, along with from officials from the 9th Forensic Centre.
The Songkhla provincial police headquarters subsequently alerted security units in Chana, Sabayoi, Thepha and Nathawi districts to be on the lookout for possible violence.
Related search: motorcycle repair, motorcycle repair shop, repair shop, shop
Author: Assawin Pakkawan
Security beefed up in Songkhla
ReplyDeleteRecent spate of attacks prompts alerts
Bangkok Post Published: 10/09/2018 at 01:13 AM
A war room has been set up as authorities tighten up security in Songkhla after recent attacks in the province.
The Songkhla provincial police have also alerted security units in Chana, Sabayoi, Thepha and Nathawi districts to be on the lookout for possible violence.
About 4am on Sunday, a bomb exploded in Chana district, damaging six motorcycles and the shopfront of a motorcycle repair shop.
Police believed an incendiary bomb went off in front of the motorcycle repair shop in tambon Ban Na.
Administrative officials and defence volunteers, led by assistant district chief Chalermchai Wisuthichanon, rushed to the scene upon being informed of the incident.
While the team was about 500 metres from the shop, a roadside bomb exploded, slightly damaging the armoured vehicle they were travelling in. No one was hurt by the explosion.
Explosive ordnance disposal police arrived shortly afterwards, along with from officers from the 9th Forensic Centre.
A 5-kg improvised explosive device was found about 1 metre under the road, a source said.
A team of investigators led by Pol Col Anurut Im-arb, deputy Songkhla police chief, has been assembled to look into the case and track the suspects.
Initially, officers believed the explosions were set up to lure officers, who were the real target of the attack, a source said.
Another source said there were likely to be two teams of suspects who worked in pairs -- one team was responsible for attacking the motorcycle shop, while the other team attacked the officers.
Investigators believed the insurgents were the same group who shot a couple, owners of a furniture shop in Thepa district on Sept 2, the source said.
The group was led by Mayakoh Lateh, he added.
Meanwhile in Narathiwat, two village defence volunteers were killed and two others wounded in a gun attack by a group of gunmen in tambon Chang Phuak of Chanae district on Saturday afternoon.
Pol Lt Adipong Promnu, a Chanae police investigator, said that according to witnesses, about 5.20pm approximately five armed men emerged from roadside bushes and opened fire at house No 281 and a sentry box near a building used as the village's learning centre.
It was initially believed that separatists were behind the attack.
Four village defence volunteers, two men and two women, were hit by gunshots. One of them, Mrs Uab Uthai, the house owner, was killed instantly in front of the house. Three others -- Siboonruang Uthai, Wanpen Uthai and Boonlert Chotchoi -- were injured.
Siboonruang died shortly afterwards. Two others were admitted to Sungai Kolok Hospital.
Related search: defence volunteers, police, shop, motorcycle repair shop
Author: Asawin Pakkawan & Waedao Harai
Two rangers killed, 4 wounded in Pattani ambush
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 12/09/2018 at 10:15 AM
PATTANI: Two patrolling paramilitary rangers were killed and four others wounded when they were ambushed in Nong Chik district on Tuesday night.
The two fallen servicemen were identified as Suchart Kongsuk and Thanadet Chaimusik, attached to Ranger Forces Company 4303.
The injured are Private 1st Class Uthai Prathumwan, Issarapong Kaewraksa, Anirut Wang-eaid and Warakon Nimmak, all from the same company.
Police were alerted to the attack in Ban Donna of Tambon Bang Khao about 9.45pm on Tuesday.
The six men were on patrol on three motorcycles when gunmen hiding in roadside bushes opened fire at them, killing two servicemen instantly, officials said. The other four were wounded and rushed to Nong Chik hospital.
Nong Chik district chief Ake Yang-apai Na Songkhla led a team of army and local officers to inspect the scene about 10pm. They also discussed plans to track down the perpetrators.
It remained unclear how many attackers were involved and what types of firearms they used. The investigation is continuing.
A local source said one of the slain rangers, Suchart, had been wounded before, in a bombing in the far South on Jan 10. He was hit in the head by shrapnel, but he later fully recovered.
"Two rangers were killed at the scene of the attack and four others were wounded," Captain Sarawut Nuchwang, deputy chief police investigator, told AFP.
The number of attackers and their identities remain unknown.
"We suspect it was the work of the same local group who are active in this district," southern army spokesman Colonel Pramote Prom-in said, in an apparent reference to a band of local militants.
"They want to create a situation to incite unrest."
The three southernmost provinces have been part of Thailand for over a century.
But some of the majority Malay Muslim population have resisted Bangkok's rule, calling for greater autonomy or independence.
They accuse the state of railroading their distinct culture as well as carrying out routine abuses which go unpunished.
The latest round of insurgency broke out in 2004, marked by near-daily shootings or bomb attacks which have left civilians -- both Muslim and Buddhist -- bearing the brunt of the violence.
The shadowy rebels shun publicity, operating in small cells in remote forested border areas.
The main militant group the Barisan Revolusi Nasional are reluctant to commit to peace talks in public.
Since the ruling junta seized power in 2014, big attacks have become less frequent due to a combination of heightened security, arrests and intelligence work.
Last year a record low of 235 people were killed in clashes between insurgents and the military.
But in recent weeks violence has spiked with a series of shootings and small bombings, including targeted attacks on rubber farmers.
Related search: insurgency, pattani, paramilitary, rangers, ambush
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Big C bombers given life sentences by Pattani court
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 20/09/2018 at 05:14 PM
PATTANI: Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the double-bombing of a Big C Supercenter in Pattani in May last year that left 56 people injured.
The Pattani provincial court on Thursday initially passed the death sentence on Suhaiming Sama-ae and Sama-ae Mama, and then commuted it to life because they confessed to the charges, according to Abdulkohar Arawaeputae, chairman of the Pattani Muslim Lawyers Foundation.
Suhaiming and Sama-ae were convicted of involvement in the two bomb blasts at Big C Supercenter in Muang district, Pattani, on May 9, 2017. Fortunately there were no fatalities, but 56 people were injured.
Relatives of the two men have asked lawyers from the foundation to appeal the judgement.
Maj Gen Jatuporn Klamprasut, commander of the Pattani task force, said on Thursday the two men had given useful information to police during interrogation, Thai media reported.
This led investigators to issue more arrest warrants, raising the number of suspects wanted for the bombing to nine.
On May 9 last year, the first bomb went off about 2.10pm near the food centre inside the Big C building. The second followed shortly after outside the building, after shoppers and staff had left the premises in panic. The second bomb was in a bag left in a pickup truck parked near the main entrance.
The pickup used for the bomb outside the hypermarket had been stolen in Yala province.
Related search: insurgency, Pattani, Big C, supercenter, bombs, life, sentence, imprisonment
Author: Abdulloh Benjakat and Online Reporters
Pattani residents say military presence makes their lives difficult
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 23/09/2018 at 03:02 PM
PATTANI: Residents of Nong Chik district of this strife-torn southern province have called for the military to withdraw troops deployed in two tambons for over 10 days, saying their presence has made it difficult for them to make their living.
As many as 1,000 soldiers have been deployed in tambons Bang Khao and Tha Kam Sam in Nong Chik district since a group of insurgents ambushed a six-man patrol of the Ranger Company 4303 at Ban Bang Than village in tambon Bang Khao on Sept 11, killing two rangers and injuring the other four.
Following the incident, military authorities launched a crackdown called the Bang Than Operation to facilitate a massive manhunt for perpetrators believed to be in hiding in the two tambons intertwined by canals along the coastline.
Under the crackdown, local people are required to surrender their guns, ammunition, fishing boats and other vehicles to the authorities for examination.
Local people told reporters that they have cooperated with the soldiers, bringing their fishing boats for an examination by fishery, marine and administrative officials. The examination, at Ban Tanyong Pao in tambon Tha Kham Sam, was set to end on Sunday.
Aside from the boats, the villagers said, they have brought their registered firearms for the authorities to examine at the Nong Chik district office.The examination of cars, trucks and motorcycles have also been underway.
Local residents said that although the authorities have returned their boats following the examination, they dare not go out fishing in the canals as usual, especially at night, because they run the risk of arrest by suspicious soldiers, who are authorised to do so under martial law.
There is no guarantee that such a misunderstanding will not happen, they said. The soldiers who have been deployed are from elsewhere and are not familiar with the local people. The military presence has deprived them of income to feed their families, they said.
Tea shops which are usually open from 5am to midnight have been forced to close at 6pm.
Some villagers also complained that their mobile phones have been taken by the authorities, also for examination, but have not been returned to them, depriving them of the means to communicate.
Related search: local people, local, people, fishing boats, southern insurgency
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Martial law stirs up division in Pattani
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 25/09/2018 at 04:00 AM
PATTANI: More than 50 local people staged a protest Monday against Prince of Songkla University's Pattani campus after a youth group, consisting of its students, issued a statement decrying last week's invocation of martial law in two tambons of Pattani's Nong Chik district.
The 4th Army Region on Sept 17 invoked martial law to declare tambons Bang Khao and Tha Kam Sa as a special control zone, with all firearms and vehicles having to be registered with the military.
The move came after two rangers were killed and four others wounded when they were ambushed in Ban Bang Tan of tambon Bang Khao on Sept 11.
On Sept 19, the youth group, called the Federation of Patani Students and Youth, or Permas, issued a statement opposing the decision, saying it had caused trouble for the locals as they were unable to live a normal life.
The group also stated the announcement ran afoul of the constitution and human rights principles and claimed that some people had been threatened and intimidated by soldiers.
They have sent an open letter complaining about the matter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and 4th Army commander, Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanich.
But on Monday, a group of residents claiming to represent "Local Thai people who love peace" held a demonstration to oppose Permas' actions.
One of the demonstrators, Pongpan Janlek, said his group agreed with the enforcement of martial law until the perpetrators are apprehended.
The university should not have allowed its students to hold an activity that caused social division, he said.
The enforcement of the law had not deprived people of their rights, Mr Pongpan said, adding those who fail to respect the law should be treated as rebels.
He said his group also wants the university to clarify why it let Permas issue such a statement.
Mr Pongpan called on the government to continue enforcing the special law and only ease it when the situation returns to normalcy.
The group submitted their petition to the university's rector via Montira Leelakriangsak, the deputy rector.
Ms Montira said university executives would discuss the issue.
Related search: Pattani, martial law, Prince of Songkla, Nong Chik
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Father killed, daughter wounded in Pattani gun attack
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 30/09/2018 at 09:17 AM
PATTANI: A man was killed and his 15-year-old daughter injured in a gun attack in Kapho district of this southern border province on Saturday evening, police said.
Pol Lt Supawat Rinsan, an investigator from Kapho police station, said the incident occurred at about 7.15pm at a house at Utae Bura-ngae village in tambon Talo Duraman.
It was still not clear how many people were involved in the attack in which Masakri Samae, 45, and his daughter Nadia Kolo, 15, were wounded.
Both of them were admitted to Kapho Hospital, where Masakri was later pronounced dead.
Police were investigating.
Related search: gun attack, attack, daughter, police
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Army to 'hold ground' in tactics shift
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 3/10/2018 at 04:00 AM
YALA: Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat, the new commander of the 4th Army Region, has pledged to ramp up efforts to ensure safety for people in the violence-plagued deep South.
Lt Gen Pornsak yesterday travelled to the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattanai to listen to local people's opinions about how to solve the southern unrest.
He said his new security policy is for law enforcement officers to "hold their ground" to step up protection for local residents.
Under the new measure, security officers including soldiers and police will be deployed to high-risk areas. They will camp out in the forests near villages, conduct patrols and meet with locals in the morning, Lt Gen Pornsak said.
The new 4th Army chief also visited Thai Buddhists at Wat Muang Yala in Yala's Muang district to hear their suggestions on how to end the southern insurgency.
More than 300 Thai Buddhists, security officers and local officials participated in the discussion.
Their proposals included boosting morale for Thai Buddhists, who are seen as a minority in the Muslim-predominantly deep South, and ensuring the fair and equal allocation of development budgets.
They also called on the government to be more rigorous in screening former insurgents who surrender and join a government rehabilitation scheme called "Bring People Home".
It is aimed at rehabilitating former militants by giving them a chance to join support personnel in the deep South. They stand to have their criminal charges wiped before they re-enter society.
Under Section 21 of the Maintenance of National Security in the Kingdom Act, the Criminal Court can approve the entry of insurgents to the rehabilitation and training programme.
Related search: security, security officers, deep, local
Author: Maluding Deeto
Woman, son slain in Pattani
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 4/10/2018 at 02:11 PM
PATTANI: The wife of a local contractor and her son were shot dead in full view of customers at a teahouse in Thung Yang Daeng district on Thursday morning.
They were slain by gunmen who arrived on motorcycles at the roadside shop in Ban Phithaen around 8.30am, said Pol Lt Col Naris Kajae, deputy chief at Thung Yang Daeng police station.
Arom Chomphet, 46, of Yala, and her son Kawin Chawitsakun, 27, were shot by two of four men who arrived on two motorcycles. The pillion riders opened fire in front of local residents who were drinking tea and eating there.
Arom died on the spot. Her son was badly wounded and later pronounced dead by a hospital.
Police found spent 9mm bullet cartridges scattered on the road. They were examining recordings from surveillance cameras in the area and along the escape route.
It was not known if the murders were motivated by a personal conflict or the on-going unrest.
The slain woman and her husband Prasong Chomphet, a contractor, sell marble from their business in Yala province.
The shooting occurred shortly after the woman and her son sent workers to do a job at a nearby mosque.
Related search: Shooting, teashop, Pattani, wife, son, contractor
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Health service volunteer slain in Pattani
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 7/10/2018 at 09:48 AM
PATTANI: A janitor and volunteer at a tambon health centre was killed in a gun attack in Thung Yang Daeng district of this southern border province on Saturday night, police said.
The incident occurred at about 8.35pm on the road near the market in Lae Wae village in tambon Talo Maena.
Eyewitnesses told police that the driver of a Toyota Vios pulled over to speak to a man, who then shot him with a pistol three times in the head, killing him instantly, and fled.
Abdulloh Baho, 52, was his driving his wife from their home in Charo Bongo village to her food stall at Lae Wae market when the incident occurred.
Abdulloh was a health service volunteer and a janitor of the Khao Tum health centre, and a member of a village defence team in tambon Khao Tum.
Police were investigating. It was not known whether the gun attack was related to the insurgency in the three southern border provinces.
Related search: health, gun attack, health centre, Pattani
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Yala tyre shop bombed
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 23/10/2018 at 10:39 PM
YALA: A tyre shop in Muang district was bombed Tuesday evening but no casualties were reported.
Police said two men on a motorcyle apparently planted the explosive at Seesan Max Tyre Centre on Siroros 2 Road near the Sateng intersection, and set it off electronically after they left.
The explosion damaged the front part of the shop and its merchandise, mainly tyres and alloy wheels.
Security authorities said batteries and electronic devices were destroyed as well.
Uzman Harong, a 69-year-old security guard at the shop, said the owner, Aseesan Musor, 36, was away on business.
Police quoted witnesses as saying that two men arrived at the shop on a motorcycle. The pillion rider placed a metal box believed to contain the bomb in front of the shop. It detonated after they had left the scene.
Police said the bomb was detonated by radio. They said the motive was unknown, likely insurgents or a business conflict.
Related search: south, bomb, explosion, bombing
Author: Maluding Deeto
Violence falls 70% in deep South
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 24/10/2018 at 04:00 AM
The security situation in the deep South has improved over the last eight years, according to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC).
Chanathan Saengphum, assistant to the SBPAC's secretary-general, said the overall situation is better with the number of violent incidents in the region decreasing by 70% since 2011.
Citing figures compiled by the Forward Command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), this year has witnessed 140 violent incidents, compared with 619 in 2011.
The remark came as the slogan "Patani Merdeka" was found painted on roads in tambon Ban Rae in Yala's Than To district yesterday morning. The word merdeka means independence.
Mr Chanathan said several factors have contributed to the improvement in the region including greater transparency in the administration of justice and wider public engagement in the government's roadmap for restoring peace and order in the region.
Local people see that violence is obstructing development and their livelihoods and they have publicly denounced the use of violence and demanded development and a peaceful approach in resolving the conflict, he said.
Many have taken an active role in security operations to defend their communities from insurgent attacks, he said, adding this can be seen in the form of village protection units and civilian defence volunteers.
Despite a decrease in violence, he said, militants still recruit youngsters and use other motives than political ideology to incite violence including business conflicts among interest groups.
Mr Chanathan said economic development and education remain key challenges in the deep South, which covers Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
"These issues are intense because violence over the years has eroded investors' confidence," he said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will visit Thailand today.
Related search: violence, security operations, violent incidents, business conflicts
Author: Post Reporters
Couple wounded in Songkhla gun attack
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 28/10/2018 at 02:29 PM
SONGKHLA: A man and his wife were injured when a pick-up they were travelling in was fired upon by two men in Thepha district of this southern border province early Sunday.
Pol Col Panyawat Phetchum, a police investigator, said the incident occurred at about 2am at a rubber plantation near Thung Ri village in tambon Wang Yai.
Prapas Salao, 49, and his wife Mrs Aree, 43, were driving to the plantation to tap latex when they found the road blocked with a tree trunk. Two men hiding in the bushes opened fire at the pick-up with an M16 rifle and a .38 pistol.
Mr Prapas was hit once in the right arm with an M16 bullet while his wife was hit in the right leg with a .38 slug.
Two spent M16 shells were found at the scene. The gunshots left bullet holes on the pick-up.
Police were investigating to establish the motive for the attack.
Related search: gun attack, attack, pick-up, wife
Author: Assawin Pakkawan
Ranger base in Pattani harassed
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 18/11/2018 at 09:26 AM
PATTANI: Gunfire hit an operation base of Ranger Company 4316 at Ban Bango Sako in tambon Kholo Tanyong of Nong Chik district on Saturday night. No casualties were reported, police said.
Rangers on guard duty said that at about 7.15pm a number of unidentified men on a pick-up truck and a motorcycle launched an M79 round and fired about 10 rifle shots from a bridge on Highway 418 overlooking the base.
The attackers then fled in the direction of Ban Bo Oan.
Related search: Pattani, insurgents, gun attack, rangers, base
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Man slain in Yala tea shop gun attack
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 18/11/2018 at 04:45 PM
YALA: A man was killed in a gun attack at a tea shop in Bannang Sata district of this southern province on Sunday morning, police said.
Witnesses told police the incident took place at about 7.40am when the man, identified later as Manakuti Chema, 42, of Thanto district, arrived at the shop in Ban Kalabo village on a motorcycle.
Shortly afterward, two men arrived on another motorcycle.
The pillion rider walked into the tea shop and opened fire at Manakuti with a handgun, killing him instantly, before fleeing on the waiting motorcycle.
Police were investigating to establish whether the incident was related to the southern insurgency or a personal conflict.
Related search: tea shop, shop, man, motorcycle
Author: Muhammad Ayup Pathan
Four killed in series of attacks in far South
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 26/11/2018 at 02:24 PM
Two paramilitary rangers, a deputy village head and an elderly villager were killed and another ranger injured during a spate of attacks in southern border provinces beginning Sunday evening.
About 5.30pm on Sunday, gunmen fired at officials guarding Tha Yee market in Ban Huay Pling village of Thepha district in Songkhla province. Paramilitary rangers Krisada Ti-iadyor and Jaran Chanthamunee and Abdulloh Yeeman, deputy head of Ban Huay Pling, were killed.
About 8.10pm on Sunday, Muhama Ma, 60, was shot dead at his wife's house in Moo 5 village of Sai Buri district in Pattani province.
Also on Sunday night, gunmen shot at a pavillion being used by paramilitary rangers near Ban Aipasay School in tambon Tanyong Limor in Rangae district of Narathiwat. No one was injured. About 30 spent pistol and assault rifle cartridges were found nearby.
About 7.30am on Monday a paramilitary ranger was injured when a bomb hidden in a traffic cone was detonated as a 12-strong security foot patrol was passing, in Moo 6 village in Yaha district of Narathiwat.
Related search: southern, bomb, explosion, security, killed, injured, rangers
Author: Waedao Harai, Maluding Deeto and Abdulloh Benjakat
Anwar visits Prawit, backs peace bid
ReplyDeleteBlast hurts ranger as 'festive' unrest erupts
Bangkok Post Published: 27/11/2018 at 07:00 AM
Malaysian prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim is confident he will be able to help Thailand to solve the problems in the restive South, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon quoted him as saying.
"Mr Anwar Ibrahim came to Bangkok (last week) and asked to meet me. We discussed the problems of the restive South and he said he was confident that he can help create peace, so that both of our countries can grow together," the deputy prime minister, who is also the defence minister, said.
"After the meeting, I feel hopeful. His way is the same as [Malaysian PM] Mahathir Mohamad's," the defence minister said.
However, the comments came as more violence rattled the South Monday.
A bomb blast that injured a paramilitary ranger in Yala added to the spate of violent incidents erupting ahead of the festive season next month.
The explosion followed separate attacks in Narathiwat and Songkhla, which killed a total of three people earlier on Sunday.
Insurgent suspects were believed to be "sparking violence near the end of the year as it is the season for tourism", Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4's deputy chief Maj Gen Chatuphon Kalamphasut said after deadly shooting in Songkhla's Thepha district where two paramilitary rangers and an assistant village head were gunned down.
Though the attack in Yala did not claim any lives, it apparently targeted a squad of 12 rangers during their patrol, police said.
The bomb, identified as a three-kilogramme homemade device, exploded as the group was walking near a crossroads in Ban Asen in the morning under a directive to tighten security for teachers, police said.
The bomb had been hidden in a traffic cone.
The blast injured ranger Arong Yuso whose right hand was hurt. However, the other 11 rangers, all attached to the 47th Ranger Regiment, were unharmed.
Police believe Monday's violence was instigated by militants determined to escalate their campaign after the violence had died down in recent months.
The unrest broke out in 2004 when insurgent suspects stole guns and killed four soldiers at the 4th Development Battalion in Narathiwat.
Since then, the insurgency has expanded to cover the Muslim-dominated provinces of Yala and Pattani as well as parts of Songkhla. Several thousand people and officers have been killed in the troubles.
A source close to security missions warned that insurgent groups have taken to hiding small explosive devices in traffic cones, as well as paper and plastic boxes, in crowded areas.
Also, he added, teenagers have been recruited and will be ordered to carry out attacks because they are not listed on existing arrest warrants and can more easily avoid police inspection.
In Songkhla's Thepha district, police officers are tracking down suspects who were behind an attack near a local market, after three people were killed when attackers sprayed bullets.
Investigators suspect an insurgent group led by Bukhori Lamso were responsible for the violence, Maj Gen Chatuphon said. His group is active in parts of Songkhla, Yala and Pattani.
Another similar shooting also occurred in Narathiwat's Rangae district on Sunday night. Six unidentified men fired several types of guns, including M16 assault rifles, at rangers and village defence volunteers at a shelter near Aipase School, police said.
No one was injured.
According to an intelligence source, the attackers were believed to be acting on the orders of two key insurgent suspects identified only by their first names -- Sukilfi and Abdunlo.
Related search: Deep South, Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, Prawit, Malaysia
Author: Post Reporters
BRN guerrillas cause peace brokers to sweat
ReplyDeleteGroup won't join talks on southern unrest
Bangkok Post Published: 28/11/2018 at 03:38 AM
The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) guerrillas, believed to be a core movement behind the unrest in the deep South, are refusing to participating in the latest round of peace talks, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday.
The group have turned down three invitations to join the negotiations between the government and Mara Patani, an umbrella organisation consisting of several separatist groups, said Gen Prawit.
Both the Thai and Malaysian governments have attempted to contact the guerrilla element of the BRN but they were adamant they would not be taking part in the talks, he said.
Mara Patani, known as Party B in the last rounds of talks, consists mainly of the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), the Gerakan Mujahideen IslamPatani (GMIP) and some elements of the BRN who are not guerrillas, said Gen Prawit.
The BRN guerrillas include a group headed by Dulloh Waemanor, Gen Prawit said.
Gen Udomchai Thammasaroraj, the new chief of the Thai negotiation team, said he was not sure if a new round of peace talks being coordinated by former Malaysian police chief Abdul Rahim Noor could take place this year.
The Malaysian facilitator was new to his job and he might need more time to prepare and set up support teams to work to coordinate the new talks, said Gen Udomchai.
"Now we're asking Malaysia to try to involve the BRN guerrillas in new talks, but the group has yet to accept the invitation," he said.
"The reason we want them involved is because this group is very actively involved in the southern violence," he said.
He said the Thai government hopes the Malaysian peace talks facilitator will eventually succeed in encouraging the BRN guerrillas to play ball.
In related news, one out of at least four people suspected to be involved in Sunday's shooting attack that left three people dead at Tha Yi market in Thepha district of Songkhla has been detained for questioning.
The suspect was identified as Dolromae Sani, a resident of tambon Ban Not in Saba Yoi district of Songkhla. He was taken to the 43rd Paramilitary Regiment in Pattani for questioning.
The three people killed in Sunday's attack were two defence volunteers and one village head assistant.
In Rangae district of Narathiwat, one villager was killed and another injured in a drive-by shooting attack carried out in the early hours yesterday.
Pol Capt Chayut Kaeo-nui, a deputy chief investigator at Rangae police station, said he was alerted to the attack about 2am. At the scene, one body was found near a crashed motorcycle, he said.
The dead man was identified as Ma-abidi Kaje, 33, while the injured victim who was rushed to a nearby hospital was named as Marowi Pomaelizo, 26.
A preliminary police probe found the two men were traveling together on the motorcycle when two attackers emerged on another motorcycle and fired at them before fleeing, he said.
Related search: Deep South, peace, BRN
Author: Wassana Nanuam & Waedao Harai
Border chief visits troubled Yala after authorities kill motorcycle gunman
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 2/12/2018 at 08:29 AM
The Border Patrol Police (BPP) commissioner travelled to Yala on Saturday to examine the case in which a gunman, who had earlier shot dead a village chief, was killed by the authorities in an exchange of gunfire at tambon Tanoh Puteh in Bannang Sata district of Yala.
Abdullateh Yaba, 49, was shot dead by a gunman riding pillion on a motorbike outside a mosque after in Ban Kalang Saturday afternoon.
Security officers caught up with the men in a local village. One of them ran behind a house and shot at the officers, who returned fire, killing him instantly. The other man fled. The body of the gunman was identified as Abadi Sa-eh, 30. A 9mm pistol was retrieved near the body.
Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang, the BPP chief, took a flight to the district to check on the probe. He said it was treated as an important security case as the gunman may have been involved in a local drug trafficking network.
A security source said Abadi was a member of the RKK insurgent group based in Krong Pinang district. He was arrested earlier under the emergency decree in Yala but later released.
Related search: gunman, shot dead, border chief visits, drug trafficking network
Author: Wassayos Ngamkham
Armed bandits steal school guards' guns
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 25/12/2018 at 03:29 AM
Pattani: A school in Sai Buri district suspended all classes on Monday after security officers guarding the premises were robbed of their weapons on Sunday night.
Six armed robbers wearing hoods raided Ban Sua School in tambon Troh Pon and detained 10 security guards there.
The thieves tied and gagged them before making off with four rifles and 20 bullets.
The school announced on Monday it had cancelled classes for the day to ensure teachers and students were safe as the authorities scoured the school for evidence of the robbery.
The police collected a black hood and ropes used for tying the security officers' hands.
CCTV footage from in and outside the school were being reviewed.
Pol Col Montree Kongwatmai, chief of Sai Buri police, said the robbers were armed with rifles and a pistol. They appeared to have sneaked into the school and hidden there for several hours before the robbery.
As the officers reported for security surveillance duty at the school, the robbers took them aside, tied them up and ordered them to hand over their weapons. They then fled in three motorcycles heading to neighbouring Thung Yang Daeng district, according to Pol Col Montree.
Police said they may have clues about the identities of some of the suspects, who are believed to be wanted on security-related offences.
The investigators believe some of the robbers are recently-recruited insurgents. They may be planning to use the weapons to stage an attack, police said.
The security officers at the school will be summonsed to give statements to determine if any of them sympathise with the insurgents.
Meanwhile, two people, one of them an assistant village head, were injured in a bomb blast in tambon La-ae of Yaha district of Yala.
Torpa La-teh, 51, the assistant village head, and Manaseh Sunoh, 43, were wounded in the explosion at a vending stall near the ramp of a bridge on Monday morning. Mr Torpa was conducting a security patrol when the explosion occurred.
They were rushed to Yala Hospital.
Related search: guns, theft, school, southern, violence, border, insurgency
Author: Post reporters
Roadside bomb kills policeman, wounds 5 in far South
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 25/12/2018 at 11:31 AM
NARATHIWAT: A policeman was killed and five colleagues injured by a roadside bomb that detonated as their pickup truck passed in Bacho district overnight.
The policemen, from Palu Kasamoh station, were returning from an operation against highway motorcycle racers. The explosive, contained in a cooking gas cylinder, was hidden beside the Phetkasem Highway in Ban Batu village of tambon Palu Kasamoh. It was detonated remotely about 10.30pm on Monday as they went past.
Other police arrived and rushed the victims to Bacho Hospital. They were later referred to Naradhiwasrajanagarindra Hospital in Muang district.
Pol Sgt Yutthapong Nuikaeo, the driver, was later pronounced dead. He had a severe shrapnel wound in his head.
Other five injured policemen were a deputy inspector-general and four non-commissioned officers.
Security authorities waited until Tuesday morning to examine the scene, to avoid being attacked at night. The said the truck had two burst rear tyres, a shattered windscreen, shrapnel holes on its left side and lots of blood stains on the tray bed.
Related search: southern violence, insurgency, Narathiwat, bomb, detonated, killed, injured police
Author: Waedao Harai
Bomber's motive unclear, Samila beach remains closed
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 27/12/2018 at 05:58 PM
SONGKHLA: Samila beach in Muang district remained closed to the public on Thursday after two bombs exploded there on Wednesday night. No casualties were reported.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon was quick to announced the beach bombs were politically motivated and that southern insurgents might have been used to plant them.
Police insisted that was not the case, and it was most likely motivated by business conflict in the trade and tourist sectors.
The explosions were reported about 10.30pm on Wednesday but security authorities did not inspect the beach until Thursday morning, for fear of being attacked.
The explosions caused some damage to two sculptures symbolic of the beach and Songkhla province - the mermaid, and the cat and mouse - which sit on the beach about 200 metres apart. The mermaid lost her tail.
Security authorities found and destroyed three more suspicious objects on the beach on Thursday morning.
They closed the beach and nearby Ratchadamnoen and Chalatat roads to the public.
Authorities believed the bombs were placed on the beach on Wednesday night after all tourists left.
Songkhla governor Weeranant Pengjan saw the bombing as symbolic and aimed at shaking confidence. He ordered maximal security measures throughout Songkhla, especially in Hat Yai district, where New Year countdowns and celebrations are planned.
Security sources blamed the bombings on the Barisan Revolusi Nasional insurgent group. They said its leaders had just met at a school in Songkhla's Chana district and local authorities had been alerted to a possible attack in the area.
Bombings at the mermaid and cat and mouse statues were clearly aimed at the tourism sector economy, the sources said. Tourists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore loved having their photos taken with the sculptures.
The explosions could also be a response to recent operations against smugglers bringing in goods of interest to southern insurgent groups, the sources said.
Pol Lt Gen Ronnasil Phusara, commander of the Provincial Police Region 9, on Thursday insisted the two bomb blasts were not politically motivated.
They were likely linked to business disputes, he said.
Police investigators were looking into conflicts in the trade and tourist sectors as possible motives, Pol Lt Gen Ronnasil said.
He stood firm in his belief the explosions had nothing to do with politics.
After inspecting the scene, there were two bombs, not five as originally thought, found on the beach - one exploded at the mermaid sculpture and another one at the cat and mouse sculpture. The remainder were suspicious objects, components of the two bombs, the police commander said.
Maj Gen Jatuporn Klamphasut, deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, said authorities have not yet drawn a conclusion what was behind the explosions on the beach, or which southern insurgent group was responsible.
Local tour guide Jeerawat Nawang said Malaysian and Singaporean tourists had flocked to Songkhla since the start of the Malaysian school holidays last month, but their numbers were now already falling off.
Related search: south, border, southern, bombs, bombing, explosion, tourism, insurgent, violent
Author: Assawin Pakkawan
More Songkhla bombs target power supply
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 27/12/2018 at 06:52 PM
SONGKHLA: Two bombs damaged two high-voltage power poles in Khuan Niang district and four more explosives, attached to another four power poles in nearby Bang Klam district, were found on Wednesday night following bomb blasts on Samila beach in Muang district.
In the first spot, the two bombs went off in tambon Bang Riang. Two high-voltage power poles were damaged, said a local official.
In the second spot, the four bombs were found in tambon Tha Chang in nearby Bang Klam district. Bomb disposal officers were called to destroy the explosives.
Songkhla governor Weeranant Pengjan on Thursday led soldiers and officials to inspect the blasts targeting power supply in the two districts.
The blasts occurred at almost the same time two bombs exploded on Samila beach in Muang district of this southern province. No casualties were reported.
The explosions on the beach partially damaged two of the well-known sculptures in the province -- the mermaid, and the cat and mouse -- which are 200m. The mermaid lost her tail.
Related search: Songkhla, bomb blasts, power poles
Author: Assawin Pakkawan
Samila bombing not 'politically' motivated
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 28/12/2018 at 02:41 AM
The Provincial Police Region 9 has ruled out the possibility that two coordinated bomb attacks on Samila beach in the southern province of Songkhla's Muang district on Wednesday night were politically motivated.
Pol Lt Gen Ronnasil Phusara, head of Provincial Police Region 9, said the bombings had no political motive and investigators were looking at other possible motives, including a conflict among groups of local tourism operators.
The explosions occurred about 10pm on Wednesday, one at the mermaid sculpture, and the other 300 metres away near the sculpture of a cat and rat, he said.
The tail of the mermaid sculpture broke off while the cat and rat sculpture was left unscathed by the other explosion, he said. No one was hurt in either incident.
Maj Gen Chatuphon Kalamphasut, deputy chief of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, said police were still unsure who was responsible for the attacks.
Although some activities by insurgent groups in Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani and four border districts of Songkhla were previously detected in Songkhla, there was no evidence to suggest they perpetrated the bombings, he said.
Songkhla governor Wiranan Phengchan said security was being tightened to reassure tourists visiting Songkhla during the New Year long weekend.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said earlier in the day that the attacks could be politically motivated but were not linked with the southern insurgency.
However, he said the attackers may be based in the far South.
"These attacks are an attempt to simply stir up unrest, given the fact that not a single person was injured," he said.
Gen Prawit said people should wait for the results of the investigation.
Despite Gen Prawit's comments, a security source said the two attacks might be the work of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) bent on wreaking havoc among Songkhla businesses during the New Year festival.
The BRN tends to choose a business district for its attacks, said the source.
The iconic mermaid sculpture, damaged in one of the explosions, is popular among Thai, Malaysian and Singaporean tourists, said the source.
The attacks could also be in retaliation against tough crackdowns on the trade of smuggled goods in the province's border areas, which is costing the insurgent group funding gleaned from the illegal trade, said the source.
Thursday afternoon, two more explosions occurred in Khuan Niang district of Songkhla.
Police were also looking into these two incidents.
Related search: mermaid sculpture, attacks, sculpture, bomb attacks
Author: Post Reporters
Narathiwat rocked by gun attacks, bombings
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 29/12/2018 at 01:49 PM
NARATHIWAT: Three rangers were seriously injured after assailants hiding in a roadside rubber plantation opened fire in Sri Sakhon district on Saturday afternoon.
The ambush occurred on Aiyaeng-Panae Road in tambon Sri Sakhon when the pickup truck carrying the three rangers arrived at the spot. An unknown number of gunmen opened fire from M16 rifles at the vehicle.
Some bullets hit two cooking gas cylinders in the rear of the pickup truck, causing a fire that engulfed the vehicle. The three rangers immediately got out of the vehicle and returned fire.
After the gunfire, the attackers fled and the three rangers sustained serious gunshot wounds, said Pol Lt Singha Wasanhirankit, deputy investigation chief at Sri Sakhon police, who was reported at around 1.20pm.
Pol Col Suthawet Thareethai, chief of Sri Sakhon district police, immediately led police and soldiers to inspect the scene.
The officers found the pickup truck, loaded with food supplies and two cooking gas cylinders, engulfed in flames. Fire trucks and firemen were called in to put out the fire
More than 10 spent M16 cartridges were found scattered in the area.
The three injured rangers — Sgt Sompong Asi-ukho and two volunteer rangers Watcharakorn Kwanyaem and Sakkarin Prommas — were earlier rushed to Sri Sakhon Hospital before being sent to Naradhiwasrajanagarindra Hospital.
A police investigation found that Sgt Sompong and his subordinates went to buy food supplies at a market before going to their outpost in Chanae district. On the way to their outpost, they were attacked.
Authorities blamed southern insurgents for the attack.
The attack followed bombings and shooting on Friday night.
Four people were injured and two power poles damaged in a string of bomb blasts and a shooting attack at eight locations, including a security outpost, in four districts of this strife-torn southern province on Friday night.
In the first location, an unknown number of armed men opened fire on a security outpost in tambon Kalisa of Rangae district at around 6.30pm on Friday. This prompted defence volunteers to return fire, said police.
As both sides were exchanging fire, another group of assailants cut a roadside tree on a way to the outpost with metal spikes scattered over the road to prevent police and soldiers from entering the area to help those inside, police said.
After firing into the outpost for more than 30 minutes, the attackers decided to flee to a nearby forest.
Shortly later, bombs targeting power poles went off at seven locations in Chanae, Sri Sakhon and Tak Bai districts.
In Chanae, four bombs went off at four locations, damaging one electricity pole. Most of the explosives were planted near roadside power poles and a bridge. No one was injured.
In Sri Sakhon district, two bombs went off at different locations, injuring four villagers.
The villagers travelling on motorcycles were hurt shortly after passing a bridge at Sakor village in tambon Sri Sakhon when a bomb, planted under the bridge, exploded. The other attack damaged a power pole at La-or village in tambon Sri Banphot of the same district.
In Tak Bai, a roadside power pole at Khok Yamu village was damaged in a bomb attack.
Pol Maj Gen Dutsadee Chusangkit, chief of Narathiwat police, ordered tight security in all 13 districts of this southern province following the string of attacks. Officers manning road checkpoints were asked to strictly check vehicles.
Related search: Southern unrest, bomb blasts, shooting, Narathiwat
Author: Waedao Harai and Online Reporters
Bombings continue in Narathiwat
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 30/12/2018 at 09:53 AM
NARATHIWAT: Four home-made bombs went off at about the same time at four different spots in four districts of this strife-torn southern province on Saturday night following a series of terrorist incidents on Friday. There were no reports of deaths or injuries in Saturday's attacks.
In Rangae district, a home-made bomb tied to two roadside power posts opposite Ratchapracha Nukroh School at Ban Bo Thong in tambon Tanyongmat was detonated by militants at about 9.45pm, causing a loud explosion. The two power posts were damaged, but did not fall down.
At about the same time in Si Sakhon district, a bomb went off at a mobile phone signal transmission tower at Ban Buenae Nakon in tambon Tamayung. The foot of the signal tower was slightly damaged.
In Rueso district, a home-made bomb exploded under a concrete sleeper of a rail track at kilometre marker 1073 near Ban Yaba, about two kilometres from the Rueso railway station. The sleeper was broken in the explosion and one of the rails was bent.
Railway officials examined the spot after the blast and started to repair the sleeper and the track. They estimated the repair work would finish on Sunday morning and the rail track would be passable to all 14 trains from Sungai Kolok to Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Hat Yai and Bangkok and in the opposite direction on Sunday afternoon.
In Cho Airong district, a loud explosion was heard from at a mobile phone signal post at Ban Bango Dudung in tambon Chuap. No damage was made to the post. Fragments of a large firecracker were found at the spot.
In the latest incident, at about 9.30am on Sunday, an explosion occurred at a railway bridge between Todeng and Bukit railway stations in tambon Bukit of Cho Airong district. A train sleeper was slightly damaged.
On Friday night, four people were injured and two power poles damaged in a string of bomb blasts and a shooting attack at eight locations, including a security outpost, in Rangae, Chanae, Si Sakhon and Tak Bai district of this province plagued with terrorism.
On Saturday afternoon, three rangers were seriously injured after assailants hiding in a roadside rubber plantation opened fire in Sri Sakhon district .
Related search: explosion, Narathiwat, southern, insurgent, home-made bomb, bomb, mobile phone signal
Author: Waedao Harai
Local official slain in Pattani
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 30/12/2018 at 10:27 AM
PATTANI: An assistant to the kamnan of tambon Pado in Mayo district of this troubled southern border province died of severe injuries after being shot in a gun attack on Saturday night, police said.
Police said the incident occurred at about 8.50pm while Mahama Roning Nawae, 40, the assistant to the chief of tambon Pado, was about to ride his motorcycle from his house to a village tea shop. A gunman hiding in the dark in front of his house opened fire at him with a shotgun, hitting him once in the body.
Seriously injured, Mahama was rushed to Mayo Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police were investigating to establish whether the attack was related to the southern insurgency as the kamnan's assistant was known to be active in drug suppression.
Related search: assistant, kamnam assistant, police, assistant slain
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Poll rivals 'stir up' South strife
ReplyDeleteRecent attacks likely not to be insurgent-related
Bangkok Post Published: 31/12/2018 at 06:10 AM
The recent spate of violence in the far South may have been perpetrated by a third party with the military currently in talks with political rivals in the region to reconcile their differences ahead of the Feb 24 election, according to Fourth Army commander Pornsak Poonsawat.
Lt Gen Pornsak said the security authorities have set up roadside checkpoints to search for weapons.
The military is concerned that political enemies may try to settle scores with each other and make it look like insurgent violence, according to the commander.
"I've asked many rivals to talk with each other. I told them: 'Do not [resort to violence]'," he said.
The rivals in question may be from different families. It would be misleading if they shot one another and blamed the unrest, he added.
The roadside checkpoints will be operational until the election under a directive given by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
"We need to deal with the weapons first. No one [who is unauthorised] can carry firearms. There's no compromise here. The law will be enforced strictly," Lt Gen Pornsak said.
Earlier, Gen Prawit said the attacks on Samila beach in Songkhla's Muang district on Wednesday night could be politically motivated and were not linked with the southern insurgency.
The explosions occurred about 10pm on Wednesday; one at the mermaid sculpture, and the other 300 metres away near the sculpture of a cat and rat.
The tail of the mermaid broke off while the cat and rat sculpture was left unscathed by the other explosion. No one was hurt in either incident.
There was also a bomb left in a rubbish bin near the beach which failed to go off. It was reportedly wrapped in Malay newspaper. However, a source said this might have been a ruse to mislead authorities that the bomb was planted by insurgents.
On Friday, Gen Prawit said the perpetrators of the mermaid attacks were from Thepha district of Songkhla. The attacks, he added, were meant to jeopardise public confidence in the economy during the New Year.
Maj Gen Chatuphon Kalamphasut, deputy chief of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, said police were still unsure who was responsible for the attacks.
Although some activities by insurgent groups in Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani and four border districts of Songkhla were previously detected in Songkhla, there was no evidence to suggest they perpetrated the bombings, he said.
In Narathiwat, four bombs went off at about the same time in four different spots in four districts of this strife-torn southern province on Saturday night following a series of violent incidents. There were no reports of deaths or injuries in these attacks.
In Rangae district, a bomb tied to two roadside power posts opposite Ratchapracha Nukroh School at Ban Bo Thong in tambon Tanyongmat was detonated by militants about 9.45pm, causing a loud explosion. The two power posts were damaged but did not fall down.
About the same time in Sri Sakhon district, a bomb went off at a mobile phone signal transmission tower in Ban Buenae Nakon of tambon Tamayung.
In Rueso district, a homemade bomb exploded under a concrete railway sleeper near Ban Yaba, about two kilometres from the railway station.
In the latest incident, about 9.30am Sunday morning, an explosion occurred at a railway bridge between Todeng and Bukit railway stations in tambon Bukit of Cho Airong district. A train sleeper was slightly damaged.
On Saturday afternoon, three rangers were seriously injured after assailants hiding in a roadside rubber plantation opened fire in Sri Sakhon district .
Related search: south, bomb, explosion, bombing
Author: Post Reporters
Power pole bombings continue in Narathiwat
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 31/12/2018 at 11:53 AM
Two power poles were bombed and damaged in tambon Bor Ngor of Rangae district at 8.15pm on Sunday. Nobody was hurt.
Security authorities did not inspect the blast site on a road in Ban Bae Rae village until Monday morning to prevent an attack on personnel.
They found two damaged roadside power poles standing five metres apart. One was severed and the other was slightly damaged. Scraps of motorcycle tubes were scattered around the area, along with fragments of pipe bombs estimated to weigh about five kilogrammes before exploding. Officials found that the bombs were detonated with integrated circuit timers.
Local residents said they saw two young men arrive at the scene on two motorcycles at about 8pm on Sunday. They did not believe the men were acting suspiciously -- but five minutes after they left, a deafening explosion ripped through the area.
Officials also said that components of the bombs were similar to those detonated at other power poles and on railway tracks in Narathiwat on Friday and Saturday.
A security source said the spate of bombings was a message from young insurgents who did not want their senior representatives to enter into negotiation with government officials through the facilitation of Malaysia.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuqon said the attacks on Samila beach in Songkhla's Muang district last Wednesday could be politically motivated and were not linked with the southern insurgency.
Related search: south, bombing, bomb, explosion, insurgent, insurgency, Narathiwat, Malaysia
Author: Waedao Harai
Southern peace talks rev up
ReplyDeletePower decentralisation option to be explored as full separation is ruled out, writes Wassana Nanuam
Published: 4/01/2019 at 04:00 AM
Fifteen years ago today, sounds of gunfire rang out at the 4th Development Battalion in Narathiwat's Cho Airong district when insurgents overran the military outpost marking the re-emergence of the separatist movement in the far South.
During the 15 years of separatist attacks, one of the army's chief tasks has been protecting schools, teacher and students from terrorist attacks. (File photo)
However, today, the events can serve as a catalyst for a new era for southern peace talks when the new chief of the Thai negotiation team, Gen Udomchai Thammasaroraj, begins the official dialogue in relation to the peace process.
The former 4th army commander will sit down and talk with former Malaysian police chief Abdul Rahim Noor today, who serves as the coordinator of the talks, to sound out plans for dialogue. The event will be held at the Pullman Hotel in Bangkok.
Gen Udomchai was appointed to the post in October last year and has replaced Gen Aksara Kerdphol who led the peace negotiation team for more than four years.
His team will undoubtedly face the tough task of negotiating with the Mara Patani, an umbrella organisation of the insurgent groups in the deep South.
Mara Patani consists of the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), the Gerakan Mujahideen Islam Patani (GMIP) and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).
According to Gen Udomchai, the policy outlined by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is clear in that the southern unrest is a domestic issue and Malaysia would merely serve as the facilitator for talks.
"There will be no signing (of any agreements) during the discussion," said Gen Udomchai, referring to today's event.
Speaking to the Bangkok Post yesterday, he said he met Mr Noor in late October when he accompanied Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on a visit to Thailand.
Referring to today's meeting, Gen Udomchai said he would ask to hold talks with the BRN separately first to gauge the group's attitude. After that, the Thai negotiation team will hold talks with Mara Patani.
He said he was still uncertain who the Malaysian facilitator would contact to talk with the Thai team, adding he was informed that Dulloh Waemanor may no longer be the BRN's head.
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ReplyDelete"We must consult with Malaysia first on what to do. We may have to ask for their suggestion about the dialogue plan," said Gen Udomchai.
Referring to Dr Mahathir's suggestion of the possibility of granting more autonomy to the far South, the Thai chief negotiator stressed that the Malaysian premier could mean some forms of "power decentralisation" or "special administrative zone".
"It is certain that the separation is out of the equation," said Gen Udomchai.
"I believe the violence instigators are well aware that the separation is impossible," said Gen Udomchai. "Ways can be found in the talks, such as how power decentralisation could happen."
According to him, the situation in the far South has improved as the insurgency has weakened. "Their forces have been dealt with in terms of military operations and legal actions and their aggression has been eased," said Gen Udomchai. "When they are unable to achieve independence, they have to seek other options."
"I cannot say how much time the dialogue would require. But we will put our full effort into it," said Gen Udomchai.
On Jan 8, Gen Udomchai's peace talks team will hold a meeting with 4th army commander Pornsak Poonsawat, responsible for coordinating with people on the ground regarding the peace talks.
The following day, a press conference will be held to announce the framework on how to deal with the violence at Prince of Songkla University's Pattani campus, where representatives from public organisations and local leaders will also attend.
Meanwhile, on Jan 11, the team will hold press briefings with both foreign and Thai media.
On Jan 24, the team will hold talks with representatives from five embassies in Thailand to exchange ideas on peace negotiation.
Related search: south, terrorism, 15 years, anniversary, separatists
Author: Wassana Nanuam
Prawit blames BRN for Songkhla bomb blast
ReplyDeleteCops nab 3 suspects as probe intensifies
Bangkok Post Published: 10/01/2019 at 04:00 AM
The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) guerrillas were responsible for Tuesday's car bomb in Songkhla's Thepa district, according to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, as three suspects were detained yesterday.
The authorities were closely monitoring BRN activities and working to prevent further attempts to stir up unrest, said Gen Prawit who is also in charge of national security.
He said 4th army commander Pornsak Poonsawat has sent teams to tighten security in areas in the far South prone to attacks.
Gen Prawit noted the BRN has not joined the Malaysia-brokered peace talks with the Thai government. In the meantime, the deputy premier said the government will continue talks with Mara Patani, an umbrella group comprising representatives of five liberation groups, including the National Revolutionary Front, Patani Islamic Liberation Front, Patani Islamic Mujahideen Movement and two Patani United Liberation Organisation factions -- Pulo-DSPP and Pulo-MKP.
On Wednesday, the National Human Rights Commission issued a statement condemning the car bomb and urged the authorities to bring the attackers to justice as soon as possible.
On Tuesday, authorities said the insurgents responsible for the bombing were led by Bukori Lamsoh and Seri Waemanu.
The explosion occurred at dawn on Tuesday along a local road in tambon Tha Muang, destroying a power transformer and injuring two policemen. The blast was heard 10km away and scattered shrapnel across a 300-metre radius.
The bomb was packed in two 15kg gas cylinders in the back of a pickup truck stolen from a retired teacher, Amata Samothanthawee, 62. Amata was hanged by the insurgents at his home in Saba Yoi district hours before the truck was used to launch the car bomb. The scene was still cordoned off yesterday as forensic police collected more evidence.
A security source said three people from Saba Yoi district were detained on Tuesday night in connection with the bomb attack.
The three denied any role in the attack, but police believe they acted as lookouts and warned the bombers when police were approaching.
They also believe there were two other teams involved; one which killed the retired teacher and took his vehicle; and another which assembled the 50-kg bomb and placed it in the vehicle.
Police also think the attackers took side roads to avoid being spotted on CCTV.
Related search: Thepa, bomb, stolen, Barisan Revolusi Nasional, BRN
Author: Wassana Nanuam and Assawin Pakkawan
More car bomb suspects arrested
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 10/01/2019 at 02:05 PM
SONGKHLA: Security officials detained five more suspects in Tuesday's car bomb attack in the southern province, bringing the total number of suspects to eight.
The five suspects were arrested when police searched Ban Khuan Ran in tambon Pian of Saba Yoi district on Wednesday night, said Pol Maj Gen Pairote Thantham, commander of the Songkhla ad-hoc unit.
There, officials found mobile phone circuits, electronic components and steel rods that could be used as shrapnel. Security officials were checking the objects seized from a shelter.
The five suspects were interrogated at a paramilitary ranger unit. Officials on Wednesday arrested three suspects in the car bomb attack.
Two cooking gas cylinders holding explosives believed to weigh about 50kg were placed on a pickup truck stolen from a retired teacher who was hanged at home in Saba Yoi Monday night. The truck was parked near the Songkhla ad-hoc unit in Thepha district Tuesday morning. The explosion injured two policemen.
Related search: south, bomb, bombing, explosion, attack, insurgent, Songkhla, violence
Author: Assawin Pakkawan
Security detail slain inside Pattani school during classes
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 10/01/2019 at 05:01 PM
PATTANI: Four defence volunteers were shot dead inside a school in Yarang district shortly before noon on Thursday, as the violence shows no sign of easing in the far South.
They were slain at Bukoh school in tambon Prachan about 11.45 am, said Pol Lt Wicha Noopaennoi, deputy investigation chief at Yarang police station.
The four defence volunteers were assigned to provide protection for teachers and students.
They were sitting under a raised school building. Armed men dressed like soldiers arrived on motorcycles. They pretended to inspect the school, greeted the security detail, and then opened fire on them.
The gunmen then fled with the slain men's four AK rifles, Pol Lt Wicha said. They scattered metal spikes over the road behind them as they left.
The four dead volunteers were Sulaiman Wae-useng, 36, Muhammad Taeteng, 33, Abdulloh Salae, 35, and Bueraheng Ji, 32.
Explosive ordnance disposal officers were dispatched to scour the school grounds and surrounding areas for bombs.
Police investigators reported there were at least eight attackers. There was evidence the two sides had exchanged fire. Some of the gunmen might have been hit.
A massive hunt was launched for the assailants.
A teacher said students were studying in class on the floor above. Kindergarten pupils were having lunch in rooms on the first floor near the scene of the attack.
The shooting frightened both the students and teachers, whose morale was severely shaken, the teacher said. All students were quickly picked up by their parents after the attack.
Col Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4's Forward Command said the gunmen were dressed like paramilitary rangers.
He expressed his condolences to the families of the slain volunteers, who had performed their duty well, protect people until their lives were ended. Their families would receive welfare benefits.
The attack showed the assailants were willing to violently attack people without choosing specific targets, he said.
Earlier, a string of bomb blasts wreaked havoc in Songkhla province.
Two bombs damaged two high-voltage power poles in Khuan Niang district and four more explosives, attached to another four power poles in nearby Bang Klam district, were found on Dec 26, following the bomb blasts on Samila beach in Muang district of Songkhla.
On Jan 8, a car bomb went off in Thepa district of this southern province, destroying a power transformer and injuring two policemen. The explosive was packed in two 15kg gas cylinders in the back of a pickup truck stolen from a retired teacher, Amata Samonthanthawee, 62. Amata was hanged by insurgents at his home in Saba Yoi district before the truck was used for the car bomb.
Related search: insurgency, Pattani, shooting, defence volunteers, school, unrest
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Two suspects in Pattani school slayings killed
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 12/01/2019 at 03:09 PM
PATTANI: Two insurgents believed to be tied to Thursday’s fatal shooting at a school in Pattani were shot dead on Saturday, police said, as Unicef warned of trauma for children near the scene of the lunchtime violence.
A volunteer ranger and an eight-year-old girl were also slightly wounded on Saturday in the exchange of gunfire during a raid on a suspected insurgent hideout in Yaring district.
Security forces surrounded a house in tambon Talorkapor at 5am, after receiving information that some insurgents involved in Thursday’s deadly shooting at Bukoh School in Yaring were hiding there.
During the raid, both sides clashed for more than five hours. Two suspected insurgents were later found shot dead inside the house. Two AK-47 assault rifles and a 9mm pistol were seized.
The dead men were identified as Abdulloh Samae, 30, wanted on eight arrest warrants; and Abdulloh Jaelong, 38, wanted on one warrant.
Abdulloh was said to have sustained injuries in an earlier clash with officers and was hiding inside the house before security forces surrounded it.
During the operation, Islamic leaders and prominent local figures were called in to persuade the two suspects to surrender. However, the two men refused and opened fire, authorities said.
The injured ranger, Tida Bua-ngam, 40, was sent to Pattani Hospital, while the girl was sent to Yaring Hospital. A military source said she had been grazed by a bullet but not seriously injured.
Authorities believed one of the dead men was involved in the school shootout on Thursday in which four defence volunteers were shot dead.
The four men killed on Thursday were all Muslims and were guarding the school when attackers riding motorcycles opened fire just before lunchtime with students mere metres away.
Pattani provincial police commander Piyawat Chalermsri told AFP on Saturday that he was “confident that [the two slain men] are the same group who carried out the attack on Thursday”.
Authorities have also detained one suspect and are questioning five others.
Unicef Thailand representative Thomas Davin said on Friday that one child in the Bukoh school attack was reportedly injured by debris and some who may have witnessed the attack could face long term psychological trauma.
“This attack has undoubtedly put the school children, the teachers and school personnel in harm’s way. It has put children at grave risk of injury or death,” he said.
“Such violence could also affect parents’ willingness to send their children to school — potentially to the detriment of many children’s learning and future development.”
More than 100 teachers have been killed during the 15-year-old southern insurgency that has taken an estimated 6,700 lives in total. Many teachers have been slain for their perceived collaboration with the central government, which has led to the use of armed guards at schools.
The death toll in the conflict dropped to a record low last year as the military government tightened security operations. But there has been an uptick in violence in recent weeks, as rebels show they remain able to carry out more targeted operations.
In a rare statement dated Jan 4 the main rebel group — Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) — swore to “keep fighting” while warning people not to help or support the state.
But Thai authorities, as well as the Malaysian facilitator of peace talks, have recently expressed confidence they will make progress soon.
Former 4th Army commander Udomchai Thammasarorat said at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Thailand on Friday that he “wants to find a solution to exit from the violence” and he has urged the southern army commander to try and ensure public safety.
Related search: southern violence, insurgents, school shooting
Author: Abdullah Benjakat and AFP
Two killed in Pattani stand-off
ReplyDeleteSuspected Yaring school bombers shot dead, 8-year-old-girl injured as cops raid hideout
Bangkok Post Published: 13/01/2019 at 05:00 AM
Pattani: An eight-year-old girl and a volunteer ranger were wounded while two insurgent suspects were killed in a clash between security forces and militants near a suspected hideout in Yaring district yesterday morning.
More than 100 security officers surrounded a house in tambon Talorkapor at 5am following a tip-off that militants involved in Thursday's deadly shooting at Ban Pukoh School in Yaring were hiding there.
The two sides exchanged gunfire for more than five hours before the situation was brought under control. Two suspected insurgents were found dead inside the house and two guns seized from the scene.
The dead men were identified as Abdulloh Samae, who was wanted on six arrest warrants, and Abdulloh Jehlong who is believed to have been wounded in an earlier clash with authorities on Thursday in which four defence volunteers were killed.
The injured ranger was identified as Tida Bua-ngam who sustained minor injuries to his fingers and knee. As for the eight-year-old girl, her back was reportedly grazed by a bullet.
Col Pramote Promin, spokesman for Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, said the clash took place as authorities were looking into a tip-off related to the school shooting.
He said during the siege the suspects opened fire on authorities and injured Mr Tida. Islamic leaders and local figures were called in to persuade the two to surrender but they refused.
In the earlier school attack on Thursday, the four men killed were guarding the building when the attackers opened fire just before lunchtime.
Unicef Thailand representative Thomas Davin said on Friday that one child at the school was injured by debris and some who may have witnessed the attack could face long-term psychological trauma.
"This attack has undoubtedly put the schoolchildren, the teachers and school personnel in harm's way. It has put children at grave risk of injury or death," he said.
"Such violence could also affect parents' willingness to send their children to school -- potentially to the detriment of many children's learning and future development."
Meanwhile, army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong said yesterday insurgent militants seem to choose vulnerable targets in a recent wave of attacks.
He pointed out that the military presence is a key element in the peace talks, saying if the security force is weakened, negotiations are unlikely to succeed.
Related search: school, eight-year-old girl, opened fire, killed
Author: Post Reporters
Officer killed in gun attack on Pattani police station
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 13/01/2019 at 04:10 PM
PATTANI: A police sergeant was killed in a daylight gun attack on the Napradu police station in tambon Thung Phala of Khok Pho district on Sunday afternoon.
Pol Capt Somchai Duangtud, a duty officer, said the attack occurred at 12.35pm when at least six men on three motorcycles drove by the police station and opened fire with military-grade weapons.
Pol Sgt Chalermpol Khomkham was killed in the attack.
A number of bullet shells were recovered from the road in front of the police station.
Police teams were deployed to hunt down the attackers.
Related search: police station, police, attack, station
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Police hunt 'political hitmen'
ReplyDeleteGunmen slay new party's candidate
Bangkok Post Published: 15/01/2019 at 04:00 AM
Yala: Police are stepping up efforts to arrest a group of gunmen who allegedly shot dead an election candidate and his wife in a raid they suspect was politically motivated.
The couple's two children narrowly escaped being hurt.
Warin Saengchan was preparing to run for the newly established Thai Nation Power Party in this year's poll.
According to police, at least two black-clad men raided Warin's house in Moo 7 in Kabang district at about 9pm on Sunday night. His wife, who was working in front of the house, was not aware of their arrival because they entered the building from its backyard.
Warin and his five-year-old son were watching television when the attackers broke into his home.
The intruders "talked about something" with Warin but their dialogue soon descended into a quarrel, which prompted his wife to enter the living room, officers said.
Her husband was tied up and shot. The gunman also killed his wife, Rokiyo Sapaeing, police said. Their son managed to flee with his 16-year-old sister.
A police inspection of their home found 11mm shell casings from a pistol.
Officers from Kabang police station and a special unit tasked with handling the southern insurgency are jointly looking into the murder, said Kabang police chief Pol Col Prayong Khotsakha.
Investigators believe Warin's death stemmed from a conflict he had become embroiled in while preparing for the poll.
Because the incident erupted in the insurgency-torn province of Yala, the investigators were searching for any possible links, the source said.
Warin was a native of Pattani's Panare district but he moved to Kabang after he married.
In a related story, the chief of Na Pradu police in Pattani's Khok Pho district has been transferred to an inactive post following a brazen attack on his police station in broad daylight. One of his subordinates was killed.
The station's sentry post was stormed by a group of unidentified men on Sunday afternoon who shot Pol Sgt Chaloemphon Khomkham, 33.
The incident was considered a case of "negligent" security measures, and Na Pradu police chief Amphai Chumchuai must take a responsibility, police spokesman Pol Lt Piya Uthayo said, referring to an order given by the Provincial Police Region 9 chief.
The mastermind behind the attack is believed to be the leader of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) guerrilla group. Police have so far made seven arrests.
Related search: Yala, assassination, police, police chief, police station, election candidate
Author: Muhammad Ayub Pathan and Abdullah Benjakat
BRN appoints 'anti-peace' chief
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 16/01/2019 at 10:00 AM
The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) has appointed a new leader in a move believed to reflect the group's unwillingness to be part of peace talks with the Thai government, according to a source with the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4.
The change came after Dulloh Waemanor, the previous leader, was encouraged by Malaysian authorities to attend new rounds of peace talks facilitated by the Malaysian government, said the source.
Mr Dulloh has been replaced by Kho Zari, 60, the secretary-general of the BRN, said the source.
The current flare-up in violence in the deep South happened under the leadership of the BRN's new president, a former Islamic teacher from Pattani's Sai Buri district who has moved to live in the northern part of Kelantan.
These fresh attacks were intended to demonstrate the BRN's leading role in the southern insurgency, added the source.
In related news, the chief of Na Pradu police station in Pattani's Khok Pho district and some other senior police officers at the station have been abruptly transferred following Sunday's major daytime attack.
In an order signed by the chief of the Provincial Police Region 9, Pol Col Amphai Chumchuay, the chief of the attacked station, was transferred on Monday to Yala's police operation centre, said Pol Maj Gen Piyawat Chalermsri, chief of Pattani's police.
The investigation launched into Sunday's attack, which left a police sergeant dead, found there were six attackers on three motorcycles, all using AK-47 rifles and concealing their faces.
Gunmen on the first motorcycle attacked the police station's front security booth, killing Pol Sgt Chaloemphonl Khomkham, while those on the second and third motorcycles sprayed the police station building with bullets.
The attackers on the first motorcycle also snatched an M4 rifle, a pistol and a bulletproof vest from the murdered officer.
Following this incident, local police have been told maintain a constant state of readiness around the clock as this case shows that fresh attacks may happen at any time, not only at night as in the past.
Related search: police, police station, peace talks, police officers
Author: Wassana Nanuam & Abdulloh Benjakat
Bomb blast injures police on teacher-protection duty
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 18/01/2019 at 10:08 AM
PATTANI: A bomb blast seriously injured two policemen on teacher-protection duty in Nong Chik district on Friday morning.
The bomb was detonated on the side of a road teachers use regularly to travel to school in Ban Tha Yalo of tambon Tuyong about 7.55am.
Pol Sen Sgt Maj Prasert Phewla-or and Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kittipan Aksornkaeo were part of the detail patrolling the route. They were taken to Pattani Hospital.
Security authorities blamed the attack on insurgents.
Related search: South, insurgency, far South, Pattani, bomb, explosion, blast
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Five soldiers injured by bombs, insurgent killed in far South
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 18/01/2019 at 05:12 PM
NARATHIWAT: Frightened children huddled on the classroom floor amid the sound of gunfire and a hovering helicoper as security forces and militants clashed in a rubber plantation near their school in Chanae district on Friday morning.
One militant was killed. Four others escaped but left trails of blood behind them.
In Sungai Padi district, five members of a security team patrolling a road along a railway track were wounded by the second of two bombs detonated by ambushers.
The first bomb was detonated about 7.30am when a soldier and five paramilitary rangers based at Toh Deng train station were patrolling a road parallel to the track in tambon Toh Deng of Sungai Padi district.
A steel box stuffed with explosives believed to weigh about 10 kilogrammes had been hidden in a pipe running beneath the road and was detonated remotely.
The patrol members were uninjured and opened fire into roadside bushes they believed were concealing the attackers.
As they tried to move away from the scene of the attack, a second bomb exploded about 15 metres from the first, wounding five of them. Three suffered serious injuries. The second bomb was inside a cooking gas cylinder and believed to weigh about 20kg.
Shortly before, about 7.15am, police and paramilitary rangers raided a rubber plantation in Ban Tue Kor in tambon Chanae of Chanae district.
They converged on a shelter where there were five armed men. The two sides exchanged gunfire for about half an hour. As the militants began retreating a helicopter was called in to help track them.
One militant was found dead at the scene. He was later identified as Abdulloh Masae. An AK-47 rifle and several empty magazines were beside his body.
There were blood trails leaving the area and it was believed other suspects were wounded.
The clash occurred about two kilometres from Ban Tue Kor School, where pupils had already arrived for classes and could clearly hear the gunfire.
Teachers had them huddle down on the floor for their safety and tried to calm the frightened children.
Related search: insurgency, far south, fight, gun battle, killed, injured, violence, bomb, explosion
Author: Waedao Harai
Two monks killed at Narathiwat temple
ReplyDeletePublished: 19/01/2019 at 01:17 PM
NARATHIWAT: Two monks, including an abbot, have been killed and two others injured after a group of 10 men sprayed bullets into their cubicles at a Buddhist temple in Sungai Padi district.
A joint team of police, soldiers and the district chief arrived at the scene at Wat Rattananuparb in Ban Poh Deng after being alerted at around 8.30pm on Friday.
Phra Kru Prachote Rattananurak, the district chief monk and abbot of the temple, was found dead along with one other monk. Two other monks were also injured and taken to Sungai Padi Hospital. Phra Prawate Sookkaew and Phra Tanachote Chumlert are now out of danger, a hospital spokesman said.
Nearby residents told investigators they saw a group of men in black dressed like soldiers riding motorcycles in the direction of the temple. Upon entering the gate, they shot several rounds into the cubicles and escaped.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha condemned the temple shootings.
“The prime minister denounced such a brazen attack and instructed officials to investigate and find the assailants to punish them,” said government spokesman Buddhipongse Punnakanta
The atrocity capped a day of violence in Ban Poh Deng. A bomb was detonated at 7.30am in Ban Poh Deng when a soldier and five paramilitary rangers were patrolling a road. No one was injured.
The second bomb was detonated by ambushers in the afternoon, wounding five members of a security team patrolling a road along a railway track.
Violence has been escalating almost daily in the three southernmost provinces, particularly Narathiwat, since late last year, even as authorities say they hope to pursue peace talks with insurgents.
The death toll in the South dropped to a record low last year as the government tightened its security web, but violence has boiled over in recent days, raising concerns about soft targets at schools and religious institutions.
In the past, Buddhist monks have been targeted only infrequently.
But they have been told to suspend morning alms collection starting from Saturday in the three southern provinces, and security officials have been asked to step up protection of Islamic leaders who could also be at risk.
Human Rights Watch, noting that at least 23 monks had been killed since the insurgency resumed in 2004, called the assault “ghastly” and a war crime because gunmen went after civilians and a place of worship.
Last week, an imam in Narathiwat was shot dead but it was unclear if the temple attack was related.
In a rare public statement dated Jan 4 the main Malay-Muslim rebel group — the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) — which has command and control over most of the insurgent foot soldiers, swore to “keep fighting”.
“Siam can’t hold out,” the BRN wrote, signing off with a warning: “Do not help and support Siam.”
Security analyst Don Pathan said the uptick in violence was connected to efforts from Thai negotiators and Malaysian facilitators across the border to “pressure the BRN ruling council to come to the table without offering possible concessions”.
Related search: southern violence
Author: Wadaeo Harai and AFP
Recent deep South attacks believed to be result of BRN appointing new leader
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 20/01/2019 at 04:00 AM
The recent spike in violence in the far South was driven by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)'s determination to demonstrate its capacity under its new leadership, according to a source from the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4.
Unrest in the deep South flared late last year and shows no signs of abating after Friday's attack on a temple in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district killed two monks and wounded two others.
The BRN is reported to have appointed secretary-general Sama-ae Kho Zari, 60, as its new leader late last year.
The former Islamic teacher from Pattani's Sai Buri district replaced Dulloh Waemanor, a source said.
Mr Sama-ae is believed to be living in the northern part of Kelantan, Malaysia.
"This seems like a customary practice when a new leader assumes the post. A demonstration of what they are capable of was carried out to gain trust from members," the source said.
According to the source, there are no outstanding arrest warrants against Mr Sama-ae.
The recent violence, the source said, underlines that he has no intention of holding talks with a new Thai negotiation team, led by Gen Udomchai Thammasaroraj, the former 4th army commander.
The team has been assigned to negotiate with the Mara Patani, an umbrella organisation of the insurgent groups in the deep South, which includes the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), the Gerakan Mujahedin Islam Patani (GMIP) and the BRN.
The BRN currently has a 6,000-strong membership, most of whom are unwilling to negotiate and want to fight, the source insisted.
The group also recruits child soldiers, aged 12-15, the source said, adding that they are indoctrinated with a sense of separatism and hatred towards the Thai authorities.
The source said that army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong had instructed officers to collect intelligence in relation to the BRN and find ways to hold informal talks with the group.
According to the source, the BRN is appointing leaders in all districts, tambons and villages in the deep South so that they can help recruit more members to carry out operations in the region.
The source spoke to the Bangkok Post on Saturday, after the deadly attack at Wat Rattananuparb in Sungai Padi district at 8.30pm on Friday.
Phra Kru Prachote Rattananurak, the district's chief monk and abbot of the temple, and his assistant, Phra Samu Attapon Khun-ampai, were shot dead. Another two monks were wounded.
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ReplyDeleteAccording to local officers, five or six assailants came to the temple on motorcycles.
Phra Kru Prachote was said to have asked the group why they had come to the temple at night without an appointment, but they drew firearms and shot at the monks.
The assailants also opened fire at the living quarters of Phra Prawet Suk-kaew, wounding the monk inside, according to local officers.
Shortly after the shooting, the attackers fled but encountered local defence volunteers who had heard the gunfire. A gunfight ensued but the assailants managed to escape the scene.
After an inspection at the temple on Saturday morning, officers said they believed at least 10 people were involved in the attack.
Pol Lt Gen Ronnasilp Phusara, the commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9 which oversees the southernmost border provinces, said the assailants were likely to be from the group that recently carried out bomb attacks in Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat.
The group was also behind the murder of two village defence volunteers, who were shot dead on a road in tambon To Deng of Sungai Padi district on Aug 7 last year, according to the commissioner.
Pol Lt Gen Ronnasilp said the perpetrators had returned from a neighbouring country to launch the attack at the temple and aimed to fuel division between Buddhists and Muslims.
Narathiwat governor Ekkarat Leesen said representatives of the Sheikhul Islam Office of Thailand and leaders of the Islamic committees in the three southernmost provinces will visit the two injured monks -- Phra Prawet and Phra Thanachot Choomlert.
Talks will be held among the religious leaders about the violence, he said.
The governor also presented flowers and hampers bestowed by the King to the wounded monks at a hospital on Saturday.
Fourth army region commander Pornsak Poonsawat, who also visited the injured monks, insisted there is no order preventing monks in the far South from going out to collect morning alms from people.
"All the monks can still conduct monkhood practices as usual. But more officers will be deployed to provide security for monks collecting alms," said Lt Gen Pornsak.
Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, said executives from the National Office of Buddhism will hold a meeting today to follow up the situation and iron out measures to protect monks in the far South.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha condemned the attack and urged officers to expedite efforts to track down the perpetrators.
Government spokesman Buddhipongse Punnakanta said the premier had extended moral support to civilians and officers in the far South and people should "have confidence in the government and join hands to create peace".
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday condemned the temple attack as well as the killing of Dolo Sarai, an imam of Ban Pu Po mosque in Rueso district of Narathiwat on Jan 11.
"The attacks were committed inhumanly, illegally and without concerns about human right principles.
"The government must expedite efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice quickly," the commission said. The Sheikhul Islam Office also condemned both attacks, saying that they were detrimental to the peace process.
Related search: monks, source, attack, temple
Author: Wassana Nanuam, Waedao Harai and Abdullah Benjakat
Udomchai aims for southern comfort
ReplyDeletePeaceful, coherent talks will be the key to solving insurgency problems
Bangkok Post Published: 21/01/2019 at 06:13 AM
The flare-up of violent attacks in the deep South over past weeks has not shaken the confidence of Gen Udomchai Thammasaroraj as he attempts to end the insurgency at the negotiating table.
The former 4th army chief, who was appointed last October to lead the Thai negotiating team in a peace dialogue with Mara Patani, an umbrella body of militant groups, said he is "ready to talk with anybody" who plays a key role in the separatist movement.
His comment came as Barisan Revolusi Nasional, one of the major insurgent groups in Mara Patani, appointed a new leader and is believed to be behind a spate of attacks as a result of the change.
Sama-ae Kho Zari, a 60-year-old secretary-general of the BRN, succeeded the previous leader Dulloh Waemanor.
His rise to power late last year has been linked with a new round of unrest, largely subdued during earlier peace talks, initiated nearly six years ago.
The recent incidents cast doubts over whether Mr Sama-ae wants to continue the negotiations, which are facilitated by Malaysian authorities.
"There are many factors" to think about to assess the BRN under the new leadership, Gen Udomchai said, but it is too soon to say if the group will walk off the peaceful track.
He said it seems that Mr Dulloh -- whom Gen Udomchai has spoken with before -- is "willing" to go ahead with the peace dialogue. According to an intelligence report, there was earlier a sign that the BRN, believed to be highly active in attacks in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, wanted to soften its hardcore stance.
However, when Kuala Lumpur approached Mr Dulloh, inviting him to sit at the negotiating table, some changes occurred in the BRN.
Mr Dulloh twice missed appointments to talk to Thai authorities and the BRN selected its new leader.
"I think the BRN made some adjustments to make sure it would deal with the situation correctly," Gen Udomchai said.
However, with his experience in solving the southern unrest, Gen Udomchai said he still believes negotiations are still a way out of conflict in the Muslim-dominated southernmost provinces.
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ReplyDeleteIt is not really possible to believe the BRN could separate that part of the region as long as a majority of people want to be part of Thailand, Gen Udomchai said.
The 66-year-old veteran soldier has been familiar with separatist issues since the beginning of his military career. "I've been working in the South for all my life," he said.
Gen Udomchai was attached with the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 15th Infantry Regiment since his graduation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy some 40 years ago.
Its headquarters is based in Nakhon Si Thammarat, but "we, as troops, had outposts in the southern borders," an area which took him close to the conflict between the government and the separatist movement.
It came as no surprise last year to see him gain the trust of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who appointed him to resume peace negotiation efforts pushed by his predecessor Gen Aksara Kerdpol four years ago.
"Gen Prayut directly asked me to do the job," Gen Udomchai said.
He is willing to take a new challenge. In fact, it is not much different from his earlier role as a member of the government special delegation to cope with the southern unrest.
Among the first things he will introduce to the peace dialogue is his unique style of negotiations which he described as a "quiet talk". "I like an informal talk rather than sitting at negotiating table under the media spotlight," Gen Udomchai said.
Gen Udomchai believes an informal but friendly atmosphere will be conducive to a successful outcome. A key strategy behind the negotiations, in his view, is listening. Thai authorities must first pay heed to what Mara Patani representatives want and take part in joint activities to show sincerity.
"Then, we don't need to talk further at the negotiating table but only say 'I agree' to culminate it."
Gen Udomchai has no idea who he will be talking to the next round of talks -- Mr Dulloh, the former BRN leader, or Mr Sama-ae, the current BRN leader.
"But I believe Mr Dulloh still plays an important role in the BRN," he said.
Related search: insurgent, Barisan Revolusi Nasional, BRN, Udomchai, peace
Author: Wassana Nanuam
PM: Violence in South aimed at bringing foreign intervention
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 21/01/2019 at 02:53 PM
Insurgents opposed to peace in the far South are behind the continuing violence and hope to provoke a harsh response that would attract widespread attention and international intervention, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared on Monday.
In a statement issued in response to recent lethal violence in the southernmost provinces, Gen Prayut, also chief of the National Council for Peace and Order, said those behind the attacks wanted international publicity through reports in news media.
This included the attack on a temple, in which two monks were slain and two others wounded, in Sungai Padi district of Narathiwat on Friday last week.
"Those behind these attacks want to use the violent incident in Sungai Padi district of Narathiwat province on Jan 18, 2019, to destroy the morale and patience of Thai officials and provoke full-scale suppression by officials, to meet international criteria and justify engagement by international organisations, as is happening in areas of many other countries," Gen Prayut said.
"Society, mass media, social media and other media should understand this point and help build confidence, increase surveillance and communicate information, and not support their attempts to do this," the prime minister said.
Teachers, students, Buddhist monks, religious leaders and the general public were soft targets. Authorities were trying to protect the people but could not do so completely due to the large number of them and extent of the area, he said.
"Peace talks will continue, to tell the international community that we are trying all means, not limiting our actions only to law enforcement. Some groups are opposed to this, and so they turn to violent means," the prime minister said.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation supported the Thai government's stance in this matter, he said.
Related search: south, deep, far, border, provinces, attack, violence, patience, monks, government, insurgent, intervention
Author: Wassana Nanuam
Six hurt by Yala bomb blast
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 25/01/2019 at 11:28 AM
YALA: Three police officers providing protection for teachers and three local residents were wounded when a bomb detonated in Krong Pinang district on Friday morning.
The bomb blast at Ban Basaweng village in tambon Krong Pinang was reported about 82.5am, said Pol Capt Pongsak Khaonuan, deputy investigation chief at Krong Pinang police station.
The explosion injured three policemen, and three civilians - a man, a woman and a young girl.
Pol Cpl Apinan Talee, Pol Cpl Natthakorn Nontanok and Pol L/C Sharif Nuanduam and the civilians were rushed to hospital.
Police and army rangers were dispatched to secure the scene.
Authorities blamed insurgents.
Related search: Bomb blast, Yala, police, injured, unrest
Author: Online Reporters
Two bombs hit Narathiwat
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 27/01/2019 at 01:53 PM
NARATHIWAT: Two home-made bombs went off in this southern province on Saturday - one in Cho Airong and the other in Tak Bai district - but caused no casualties, police said.
The first bomb, made from a fire extinguisher cylinder and weighing about 25 kilogrammes, was buried in a drain under the Cho Airong-Narathiwat road near Ban Khokin tambon Chuap. It was activated as a pick-up truck carrying a team of rangers drove past on Saturday afternoon.
The explosion left a hole about 1.5 metres in diametre and 1m deep, but caused no damage to the vehicle, which was travelling on the other side of the road.
The road was closed from 5pm for repairs and re-opened at 1pm on Sunday.
On Saturday night, a small bomb made of a plastic water bottle weighing about 2kgs went off by a rental house at Ban Rai village in tambon Che Hae in Tak Bai district.
The bomb was detonated as two motorcycles carrying four soldiers from Narathiwat Task Force 30 were passing by, but caused no casualties.
It was believed the bomb was merely intended to cause disturbance, not serious damage or injuries.
Related search: bomb, Narathiwat
Author: Waedao Harai
Peace talks chief counters southern rebels' condemnation
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 4/02/2019 at 11:44 AM
The head of the government's southern peace talks team said on Monday he had no appointment to meet the rebel Mara Patani delegation for talks in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday and therefore no obligation to attend, despite the rebel group's demand that he do so.
The group's dialogue head, Shukri Hari, condemned Gen Udomchai for his refusal to meet them, accusing him of having a hidden agenda, and put off further talks on the violence-plagued far South until after the general election.
Gen Udomchai Thammasaroraj said he was in the Malaysian capital, but only to meet Malaysian peace talks facilitator Abdul Rahim Noor.
He had sent committee secretary Maj Gen Kriangkrai Srirak to attend the informal meeting with Mara Patani representatives on the agenda for the next round of peace talks, which includes the issue of decentralisation of power.
"Mara Patani started the meeting with negative references to history, which we would like to let go. Then Mara Patani refused to talk to Maj Gen Kriangkrai and wanted to talk to me, because they knew I was there," Gen Udomchai said.
He did not meet the delegation because the meeting was not on his schedule and had not been officially set in advance. He was there only to meet the Malaysian chief facilitator.
"I represent the Thai government. Whatever I do must follow the principles and procedures of discussion. I had no appointment to meet Mara Patani," Gen Udomchai said.
As the insurgency umbrella group had nonetheless insisted on meeting him, he offered to meet only the dialogue head, Shukri Hari, to explain why he could not meet the delegation. Mara Patani rejected the proposed private meeting, Gen Udomchai said.
"I assume that Mara Patani issued the statement because it has an internal problem and these are political tactics," Gen Udomchai said.
Related search: insurgency, deep, far, South, peace, talk, negotiation, facilitator, Mara Patani
Author: Wassana Nanuam
Civilian killed, policeman wounded in Narathiwat ambush
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 5/02/2019 at 01:54 PM
NARATHIWAT: A police officer was severely wounded and a passing civilian killed in an ambush in Sungai Kolok district, Narathiwat province, late on Monday night.
Concealed gunmen opened fire from the roadside as the officer rode passed on his motorcycle in tambon Pasemat around 9.55pm. A man passing through the area on a motorcycle at the same time was also shot.
The ambush was set near the entrance to a police outpost at Ban Kawa Lorseera.
Pol Sgt Muhammad Faisal Mayakor, 29, was shot in the left leg and fell from his bike. He also suffered broken bones and abrasions.
Muhadma Fa-is Jaekor, 23, was hit in the stomach and died shortly afterwards in hospital, Thai media reported.
Police, soldiers and a bomb disposal team inspected the scene on Tuesday. They found nine spent M16 cartridges.
Pol Col Supakorn Puengrot, chief of Sungai Kolok police, blamed the attack on insurgents and sid it was well-planned. There were two teams - one fired the shots and the other scattered nail spikes on the road to deter pursuit.
Pol Sgt Muhummad Faisal drove out of the outpost and was heading to downtown Sungai Kolok when he was attacked.
Mr Muhadma Fa-is, a cook, was returning home in the opposite direction and was caught in the gunfire, Pol Col Supakorn said.
Related search: insurgency, ambush, shot dead, Narathiwat, unrest
Author: Waedao Harai and Online Reporters
Two villagers slain in Pattani
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 10/02/2019 at 01:36 PM
PATTANI: Two villagers were killed in two separate gun attacks in Nong Chik and Sai Buri districts on Sunday morning, police said.
The first incident happened at about 4.30am at Village Group 7 of tambon Pulo Puyo in Nong Chik district when Arong Wamata-u, 30, was riding home on a motorcycle with a nephew riding pillion.
They were followed by two men on another motorcycle and at one point the pillion-riding gunman opened fire, hitting Arong twice in the body, seriously wounding him. Arong was rushed to Nong Chik Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
In Sai Buri district, a villager was found lying dead on a rural road near Village Group 5 in tambon Lahan at about 7.30am. He was identified as Paosee Lateh, 40, a construction worker.
A police investigation revealed that Paosee was leaving his home on a motorcycle, heading for the village, when he was fired at by two men on another motorcycle. He was hit twice -- once in the head and the other time in the body.
Pol Maj Gen Piyawat Chalermsri, the Pattani police chief, said an investigation is underway to establish whether the two incidents were related to the southern insurgency or due to personal conflicts.
Related search: Pattani, Nong Chik, shot dead, motorcycle
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
2 rebels shot dead in gunfight, others flee
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 12/02/2019 at 11:28 AM
Narathiwat: Security forces killed two suspected insurgents and wounded several more in a gun battle with a rebel group believed to have been behind the murder of two monks in this southern province last month.
The clash erupted Monday afternoon near Ailakho, a village in tambon Chang Phueak in Chanae district, as troops were searching in forested areas for the group's hideouts.
At least two suspected insurgents were shot dead and blood trails at the scene suggested "several more were probably injured", Col Pramote Prom-in, spokesman of Internal Security Operations Command Forward Command for Region 4, said.
Four or five wounded suspects are believed to have escaped.
The soldiers seized two guns from the group, according to a source close to the operation.
It prompted 4th Army chief Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat to order troops to intensify their search for the remaining insurgents, Col Pramote said.
He said the insurgents were located on Monday thanks to a tip-off by villagers.
People, including those from Muslim communities, have cooperated with the authorities, forcing the insurgents to flee into the forest and mountainous areas, Col Pramote said.
Investigators believe they are the same people involved in the murder of two monks at Wat Rattananuparb in Sungai Padi district on Jan 18.
Phra Kru Prachote Rattananurak, the district's chief monk and abbot of the temple, and his assistant, Phra Samu Attapon Khun-ampai, were shot dead.
Related search: shot dead, insurgents, blood trails, gun battle
Author: Waedaoh Harai
Civilian shot dead in Yala drive-by shooting
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 19/02/2019 at 12:44 PM
YALA: A local resident was killed in a drive-by shooting while driving with his wife in Raman district of this strife-torn Yala province in the early hours of Tuesday. His wife, a passenger in the car, escaped unhurt.
The attack took place on a road between tambon Koror and tambon Karubee of Raman district. Police were alerted by a local leader at around 2am.
Anan Teeyor, 26, and his wife were driving along the road when two men on a motorcycle approached their car and the pillion rider opened fire. The assailants fled.
Mr Anan was seriously wounded. He was rushed to Kapho Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Police were investigating.
Related search: Yala, drive-by shooting
Author: Abdullah Benjakat
Ranger killed, another wounded by bomb blast in Yala
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 26/02/2019 at 05:29 PM
YALA: A ranger was killed and another ranger and a civilian injured when a roadside bomb exploded in Banang Sata district on Tuesday morning.
Police said two homemade bombs were hidden on the roadside at Ban Ubae in tambon Ban Bacho. One was detonated as a six-member ranger patrol on teacher protection duty passed the spot about 9.25am.
Two rangers were hit by shrapnel. One was killed and the other wounded. A woman riding a motorcycle along the road was also knocked to the ground and broke her wrist.
The dead ranger was Angkharn Ruenkham, 33.
Ranger Theerawat Kanthanit, 28, sustained shrapnel wounds to his leg. The injured civilian was identified as Mayuree Jaedeurae, 38. Both were taken to Bannang Sata Hospital.
Bomb disposal officers sent to the scene found the second bomb hidden nearby in roadside grass. They safely destroyed it.
Police blamed insurgents.
Related search: insurgency, bomb, blast, Yala, ranger, killed
Author: Maluding Deeto
Two policemen abducted, then shot dead in Narathiwat
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 27/02/2019 at 12:38 PM
NARATHIWAT: Two policemen were abducted from a local tea shop by armed men, then shot dead and dumped in a ditch, in Cho Airong district on Tuesday night.
The killers used a victim's pickup truck for the abduction. The stolen vehicle was later found burned out in nearby Tak Bai district.
The attack occurred in tambon Bukit while Pol Cpl Naret Iedthong, 31, and Pol Cpl Ruswaidee Samae, 30, of Cho Airong police station, were having tea inside the shop about 7.30pm, according to Pol Lt Sarawut Khotchawong, deputy investigation chief at Cho Airong.
Two local residents told police they saw eight armed men wearing military-type uniforms arrive at the shop.
Four of the men, who covered their faces, walked over to the two policemen and talked to them in Thai. The other armed men stood in front of the shop. The two witnesses said they heard the men speak in the Yawi Malay dialect.
The two policemen were then forcibly taken from the shop at gunpoint. Before leaving, the armed men ordered the two witnesses to sit still, otherwise they would be killed, they said.
The two captives were forced into Pol Cpl Naret’s pickup truck, which was parked in front of shop, and the eight abductors then drove it away. Feeling safe at last, the two witnesses called police.(continues below)
Cho Airong police chief Lukman Bokor radioed police in all 13 districts to set up roadblocks on possible escape routes, in a bid to help the two captured men.
Around 12.30am, a local resident alerted Pol Col Lukman that two policemen had been found shot dead, their bodies dumped in a ditch in tambon Bukit, only about 200 metres from the tea shop.
Police cordoned off the area but, fearing a trap, no further action was taken until a bomb disposal team and forensic officers were sent to the scene after sunrise on Wednesday.
Pol Col Kong-at Suwankham, deputy Narathiwat police chief and acting Tak Bai chief, said about 4.30am a local villager informed police that a pickup truck had been set on fire on a local road in tambon Kosit of Tak Bai district.
On inspection, the burned vehicle was found to be Pol Cpl Naret's pickup truck, stolen from the tea shop in nearby Cho Airong district.
Pol Col Kong-at said the killers were obviously familiar with the area as they had driven the stolen vehicle from Cho Airong through Sungai Padi and Sungai Kolok districts and then to Tak Bai, avoiding the road blocks.
Some of the attackers may have fled south across the border, he said. The assailants had also taken possession of an M16 rifle and two 9mm pistols from the slain policemen.
Related search: South, insurgency, police, abducted, shot dead, Narathiwat
Author: Waedao Hara
Soldier shot dead in South after football game
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 1/03/2019 at 09:58 AM
NARATHIWAT: Two men on a motorcycle shot and killed a soldier as he returned to his base after playing football in Bacho district on Thursday evening.
Pol said Cpl Ekamarin Sriraksa, 24, was hit by six bullets when attacked along the Bacho-Ban Thon Road in Ban Dookoo Surao village in tambon Bareh Nuea about 6.30pm.
Police said Cpl Ekamarin had ridden his motorcycle alone from his base at Wat Urai Ratanaram to play football at the field of the Bacho tambon administration organisation.
On his way back to the base two men on another motorcycle approached him from behind. Witnesses said the pillion rider fired gunshots at him.
Officials who inspected the scene said the trail of blood showed the stricken soldier tried to run for life into a roadside forest but the gunman followed him and fired more shots, killing him. Cpl Akamarin was a native of Phitsanulok province in the North.
Police blamed separatist rebels.
Related search: insurgency, far South, security, shot, dead, soldier
Author: Waedao Harai
NARATHIWAT: A suspected insurgent was killed and several others believed to be injured in a clash with paramilitary rangers Rueso district on Saturday morning.
ReplyDeleteA team of rangers were deployed to the foothill of a mountain in tambon Lalor at around 7am on Saturday and found some 4-5 suspected insurgents gathering there.
Upon seeing the rangers, the men opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire for about 30 minutes before the armed men fled.
One man, who has yet to be identified, was shot dead and an M16 rifle seized from him. Utensils and food supplies were found at the scene.
There were traces of blood in the area, suggesting several of the insurgents might have been injured during the gunfire.
More officers were called in to round up the mountainous area and checkpoints were set up along possible escape routes.
The clash came after the 46th ranger taskforce received information from local residents that southern insurgents had been hiding there.
Related search: Insurgent, shot, clash, Narathiwat, rangers
Author: Waedao Harai
Policing Islamic schools to secure the state
ReplyDeleteInsurgent groups are using 'ponoh' institutions in the South as training camps
Bangkok Post Published: 25/02/2019 at 04:30 AM
Immigration Bureau (IB) is planning to meet representatives from more than 600 privately-run Islamic schools -- ponoh -- in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla, after reports emerged that hundreds of Cambodian students have been studying illegally in the schools.
The meeting -- which is expected to happen in a fortnight -- is intended as a forum for the IB to listen to the school operators' opinions and improve their understanding of the importance of adhering to immigration laws, said IB chief Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn.
"We are glad that students from neighbouring countries are coming here for their religious education, because we know that Cambodia does not yet have a proper Islamic school," he said.
Pol Lt Gen Surachate stressed that every student must be admitted through legal channels. "We are not saying Cambodians are coming to cause problems in our country, but if they overstay, immigration police have to arrest them and follow the laws," he added.
Islamic schools are called ponoh in Thai and pondok in Malay. In the west, the schools are generally called madrassa.
Late last month, 11 male Cambodian Muslims aged between 16 and 29 were detained after a raid at Mudrolatulfalah school. They were later deported back to their country for overstaying their visas. Most of them came through the checkpoint in Sa Kaeo, while a few of them came via the checkpoint in Songkhla. One did not have any travel or identification documents.
The raid was carried out after security authorities were alerted to concerns about the school's physical training programme, which was carried out at night.
A security source, who asked not to be named, said the school had a history of providing accommodation to southern insurgents and the training programme it offered to the students was actually unarmed combat training. It is not clear what was offered in this case to the students who were deported.
The handling of the schools by Bangkok-base authorities will be closely watched by residents of the southernmost provinces. A wrong step risks a new round of ill will and a popular propaganda talking point against the central government.
The 2006 closure, followed by the 2016 seizure of Jihad Witaya pondok in Pattani's Yaring district triggered mass resentment of Bangkok authorities throughout the deep South.
The storied Islamic boarding school was accused by the military regime of hosting terrorist training by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) before the outbreak of separatist violence in 2004.
Thousands of people held a defiant fair to raise money
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ReplyDeleteGenerally, insurgents lure their targets with promises of physical training and education.
The targets are assigned simple tasks, such as spraying messages in public places, scattering spikes on roads or cutting down trees to be used as roadblocks, the source said.
More complicated tasks -- for example, arson attacks -- are assigned later, as a test of mental fortitude. Only upon passing will the youths be sent to learn about firearms and explosives, said the source.
In the wake of the deportation of the Cambodian Muslim students, Pol Lt Gen Surachate said all immigration units across the country have been ordered to step up measures to screen suspicious travellers.
The Education Ministry has also launched a survey to record the number of Cambodian Muslims studying in Islamic schools across the South.
While official numbers are not yet available, some estimates put the number at around several hundred, the source said.
The schools are now required to submit detailed reports of every enrolled Cambodian student to the ministry, which includes emergency contact details, next-of-kin information and immigration documents.
While the Cambodians detained in the raid were only charged with illegal entry and overstaying their visas, the army is aware that a certain insurgent group is trying to court young Cambodian Muslims into its ranks, said the source.
Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) have been recruiting children as young as 12 years old in an attempt to build up a new guerilla force, the source claimed.
Codenamed Permuda, BRN claims the force already has more than 60,000 supporters, the source added.
The BRN is also asking its supporters in the deep South to abstain by voting "No" in the election, so that it can use the "No" tally to estimate its support in future peace talks with the government, the source added.
Related search: deep south, schools, terrorists, ponoh, pondok, jihad witaya
Author: Wassana Nanuam & Wassayos Ngamkham
Satun rocked by 4 bombs, no-one hurt
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 10/03/2019 at 11:23 AM
SATUN: Four bombs exploded in this southern town late on Saturday night and early Sunday, the first two at the provincial police office and the other two in front of a grocery shop. Nobody was hurt, according to media reports.
One bomb exploded in a trash bin near a power post in front of the provincial police office on Yatra Sawasdee road at about 10.16pm on Saturday, said Pol Col Krisna Pattanacharoen, the Royal Thai Police spokesman, citing a report from the Provincial Police Region 9 headquarters.
While explosive ordnance disposal police were examining the spot, another bomb went off at 22.44pm about 20 metres away in an area holding impounded vehicles.
Two other bombs exploded in front of a grocery shop at Moo 6 village in tambon Khlong Khut of Muang district, one at 4.20am and the other at 5.10am on Sunday.
Nobody was hurt in any of the four explosions.
Kongsakul Chantharat, the Muang district chief, said an investigation was underway to establish the motives for the bombings.
Pol Col Krissana said Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, the police chief, had ordered units concerned to step up security, particularly at government offices, tourist attractions and in business areas, by setting up more security checkpoints and deploying more patrol units.
Related search: police, provincial police, grocery shop, police office, Satun
Author: Online Reporters
Six home-made bombs hit Phatthalung
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 10/03/2019 at 01:30 PM
PHATTHALUNG: Six home-made bombs exploded at six different spots in Pak Phayun district of this southern province on Sunday morning, but caused no casualties, according to media reports.
The first and second bombs went off in grocery shops - one in Moo 3 and the other in Moo 11 village - and the third at a different location in Moo 11, all in tambon Don Pradu. The shops were slightly damaged.
The fourth bomb reportedly went off at a bicycle shop in tambon Pak Phayun.
The fifth exploded in a trash bin behind the Pak Phayun Kindergarten, media reports said, while the sixth went off in front of a petrol station in Pak Phayun district, damaging a car.
The six explosions reportedly occurred between 4am-4.30am.
Early reports said there no casualties from the six bombs,
Related search: bombs, reportedly, bicycle shop, grocery shops
Author: Online Reporters
South blasts 'bid to tarnish govt'
ReplyDeletePrawit says politics to blame for violence
Bangkok Post Published: 11/03/2019 at 04:30 AM
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered authorities to ramp up efforts to prevent violence in the wake of multiple bomb attacks in Satun and Phatthalung provinces, which he said were intended to discredit the government.
"The act was likely to be done by those who lost benefits and wanted to shake the confidence in the government," Defence spokesman Khongcheep Tantravanich quoted Gen Prawit as saying.
Lt Gen Khongcheep said Gen Prawit has called for tightened security and urged intelligence officials to put heavy emphasis on coordinated intelligence gathering after the explosions.
In Satun, four bombs went off late on Saturday night and early Sunday, the first two at the provincial police office and the other two in front of a grocery shop in Muang district.
In Phatthalung, it was reported that 10 bombs were found in Phatthalung's Muang and Pak Phayun districts. Some bombs exploded and the others were detonated by bomb specialists.
The explosions in both provinces all took place on Saturday night and Sunday morning but caused no deaths or injuries.
As the cases of violence took place in two provinces, administrative and security officials in the South, including in Songkhla, Trang, Phangnga and Yala, have also beefed up security.
Col Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the southern region office of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), said investigators did not rule out any possibilities as to who was behind the blasts.
He said the explosions could be related to the insurgency in the deep South, political conflicts, or human and drug traffickers taking revenge after recent crackdowns.
However, he admitted that a motorcycle used to deliver a bomb that exploded in Satun was stolen from Songkhla.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed concerns over public safety and advised members of the public not to panic as the situation remains under control, said deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak.
He said the prime minister has instructed security units to be on alert for possible violence, monitor activities of suspected groups and track down the perpetrators.
According to Lt Gen Werachon, local officials are gathering evidence and trying to establish the motives for the bombings.
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ReplyDelete"There is a possibility that the attackers wanted to cause unrest before the general election," he said.
National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda has ordered security stepped up particularly at government offices, tourist attractions and business centres in the wake of the attacks.
Army and police officers question a shop operator about the bomb that went off close to her store.
Pol Col Kritsana Pattanacharoen, the Royal Thai Police spokesman, said more security checkpoints and patrols are being deployed as part of tightened security.
In Phatthalung, six explosions were reported in Pak Phayun district and three others in Muang district.
A 10th bomb was found near rail tracks in Muang district and detonated by bomb specialists.
In Satun, one bomb exploded in a garbage bin near a power post in front of the provincial police office on Yatra Sawasdee Road about 10.16pm on Saturday. While explosive ordnance disposal police were examining the spot, another bomb went off at 10.44pm about 20 metres away in an area holding impounded vehicles.
Two other bombs exploded in front of a grocery shop at Moo 6 village in tambon Khlong Khut of Muang district: one at 4.20am and the other at 5.10am Sunday. There were no reports of any casualties.
Kongsakul Chantharat, chief of Satun's Muang district office, said an investigation is under way to establish a motive for the bombings.
The tourism business community on the resort island of Lipe in Satun Sunday ruled out the insurgency as a motive in the wake of four explosions in Muang district, saying the violence is likely to be politically motivated and the impact will be short-lived.
According to tourism operators, Satun has witnessed no insurgency-related violence or experienced any tension for years and the bombings might have been triggered by fierce election competition.
Author: Wassana Nanuam & Phusadee Arunmas
Ranger hurt in Narathiwat bombing
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 11/03/2019 at 04:29 PM
NARATHIWAT: A patrol ranger was injured by a hidden roadside bomb in Cho Airong district on Monday morning.
District police were informed about 9am the bomb has been remotely detonated near Ban Sala Road in Chuab subdistrict, 2 metres from a campaign poster of an MP candidate of the Phue Khon Thai Party.
When a team of soldiers and police arrived at the scene, they found a 6-by-12-inch hole in the ground, scattered shrapnel and remnants of improvised explosive detonated by radio signal in a 5kg iron box.
The rangers from the 48th Ranger Regiment who were waiting told them Cpl Mahammed Yuso, 37, was hurt by shrapnel in the upper right thigh and right shoulder and they had sent him to Joh Ai Rong hospital.
Authorities were told Cpl Mohammed had led the team of six rangers on foot patrol from their base, 400m from the scene.
Related search: southern unrest
Author: Waedao Harai
Man arrested over string of bomb blasts
ReplyDeleteAttacks go northward as far South 'secured'
Bangkok Post Published: 12/03/2019 at 04:00 AM
Security personnel have arrested a man believed to be associated with a group responsible for a string of bombings in Satun and Phatthalung over the weekend, a police source said Monday.
Eleven bomb attacks took place in Phatthalung's Muang and Pak Phayun districts and another six happened in Satun's Muang district. No one was hurt in the blasts.
Officers have reviewed footage from CCTV cameras along the road where the attacks in Phatthalung took place, which indicated that at least five people were involved, the source said.
The same source said the suspects were likely between 18-30 years old, and authorities were almost ready to reveal the identities of the perpetrators.
A man seen entering a public park in Muang district before one of the bombs went off was detained for questioning, but he denied any involvement, said the source.
After the bombings, schools in Pak Phayun district decided to suspend classes until tomorrow over concerns about their students' safety.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who went to visit the provinces to follow up on the investigation, said that the attacks were carried out by insurgents from Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.
Gen Prawit said the perpetrators carried out the attacks in Phattalung and Satun because they were unable to do so in the far South. "I don't think these attacks were politically motivated," he said in reference to the election.
Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul concurred with Gen Prawit and stressed the bomb attacks had nothing to do with the election or human trafficking gangs.
He said the Election Commission (EC) had asked the police to deploy more officers to secure the far South ahead of the poll.
Following the blasts, the Royal Thai Police transferred Muang Satun police chief Pacharapol Na Nakon to Pattani. He was replaced by Pol Col Sonthaya Thooptong, the superintendent of Mae Laen police station in Pattani.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, adviser to Gen Prawit, said Monday that intelligence obtained before the blasts took place suggest that insurgents would carry out attacks further north.
The intelligence memo warned authorities about possible attacks until the end of March, he said.
As such, Mr Panitan said, strict security must be put in place throughout the election.
National Security Council secretary-general Wallop Raksanoh said that 5,000 police officers would be deployed to the restive far South to help boost security across the border provinces, and ensure that the upcoming election runs smoothly.
Separately, a military ranger was injured by a roadside bomb blast in tambon Juab of Cho Airong district in Narathiwat Monday morning.
Cpl Mahamad Yuso, 37, was among a group of six soldiers sent to patrol the area.
He sustained shrapnel wounds to his right leg.
Related search: south, bomb, Satun, Phattalung
Author: Post Reporters
Men in women's clothes bomb police unit in Narathiwat
ReplyDeleteBangkok Post Published: 13/03/2019 at 03:44 PM
NARATHIWAT: Two insurgents dressed like women hurled a pipe bomb at the living quarters of a police protection unit at a village in Yi-ngo district late on Wednesday morning.
The attack at Subotasae village was reported around 10.30am. The attack caused no injuries, but two NCOs had a close call.
Police, soldiers and bomb disposal officers rushed to the scene found debris from the pipe bomb, estimated to weigh about 1kg, scattered around the entrance of the living quarters. The wall was riddled with shrapnel holes.
Pol Sgt Kritsadakorn Kanchak, of Yi-ngo police station, said he and Pol Cpl Maruwan Jaenu were just leaving to set up a temporary checkpoint at a nearby market. Two people wearing Muslim women’s clothing arrived on a motorcycle and the pillion rider threw an object towards the living quarters, he said.
The object landed near a concrete post, and he saw it was a pipe with smoke coming out of it. He and his colleague were on foot and only about 3 metres away. They fled out onto the road. Less than 10 seconds later, the pipe exploded.
They fired four shots at the two attackers, but they still got away. He reported the attack over police radio, asking other units to stop the fleeing motorcycle.
Pol Col Dulyaman Yaena, chief of Yi-ngo police, said recordings from security cameras along the escape route were being examined for clues to the bombers' whereabouts and identity, particularly the licence plates on the bike.
Bomb disposal officers inspect the scene of the pipe bomb explosion at the entry to the living quarters of a police protection unit at Subotasae village in Yi-ngo district, Narathiwat. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
Related search: insurgency, unrest, dressed like women, bomb, police, living quarters
Author: Waedao Harai
Thai cops on the hunt for 129 suspected criminals hiding in M'sia
ReplyDeleteN Faizal Ghazali | Published: 1 Dec 2018, 11:31 am | Modified: 1 Dec 2018, 11:31 am
Police in Narathiwat, Thailand are on the hunt for 129 suspected criminals believed to be hiding in Malaysia.
According to Narathiwat police chief Dusedee Susangkit, the group, who are suspected to be involved in various crimes in the province, fled to Malaysia once getting wind they were being pursued.
They are also said to be still actively carrying out smuggling activities across the border of the two countries, Dusedee said.
"They are suspected of various offences, such as drug distribution and murder.
"We have been cooperating with Malaysian authorities to trace their whereabouts," he told Malaysiakini after a Royal Thai volunteer programme at the Thaksin Ratchaniwet Palace in Narathiwat last Tuesday.
Dusedee noted that arrest warrants have been issued for all suspects to facilitate their arrest with the help of Malaysian police.
"We are confident efforts in tracing the criminals will bear fruit from time to time. Most of them use rat lines (jalan tikus) to enter and exit the country (Thailand).
"They are also still actively carrying out their activities, especially smuggling across the border."
Drugs smuggled into M'sia
When asked to respond to discussions between Malaysia and Thailand to open up the border and allow 24-hour trading, Dusedee assured that Thai police would commit to increasing security and control.
"Those things are up to the government to decide, while we are ready to carry out our duties, especially in increasing security control with the cooperation between the two governments."
Elaborating on drug smuggling in Thailand, Dusedee admitted combatting it was a challenge.
He explained that the problem was exacerbated by the fact the country had both land and sea borders, making it a main transit destination for narcotics.
He added these drugs stocked are temporarily stocked in Thailand before being smuggled into Malaysia.
"They (smugglers) have many slick tricks to smuggle the drugs in, which are hard to trace, aided by the monitoring of touts.
"In this matter, we always work closely with authorities from neighbouring countries, especially Malaysia.
"We view the matter seriously, and heavy punishment awaits any officer or member (of the police force) found to be involved in drug smuggling activities," he stressed.
-M'kini
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/454228
Tontos placing GPS devices on Aksem vehicles
ReplyDeleteBernama | Published: 12 May 2019, 9:17 pm
Tonto syndicates are getting more brazen now and are fixing Global Positioning System (GPS) devices on vehicles belonging to the Malaysian Border Security Agency (Aksem), to track the movements of enforcement personnel stationed at the nation’s borders.
(Tonto syndicates comprise individuals or tontos who trail enforcement officers to tip off wrongdoers)
Aksem director-general Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said that three vehicles were detected with GPS devices placed on their rear bumpers earlier this year.
"When our personnel carried out a vehicle inspection, we found a suspicious gadget which turned out to be a functioning GPS device.
"The tontos now use technology like GPS aid which we believe are placed on our vehicles to track the movement of Aksem personnel patrolling the country's borders," he told Bernama.
As such, Shaharuddin said all Aksem vehicles had been ordered to undergo a thorough inspection to ensure that no devices such as GPS, were found.
"Indeed, the tonto syndicates will monitor enforcement personnel and we are investigating as to how the devices could be placed on the vehicles.
"There is a possibility that the devices were installed when MBSA sent its vehicles for servicing and maintenance at the (work)shop... however, investigations are still in progress," Shaharuddin said.
He reminded the agency’s personnel to be alert to the threats of the tonto groups as they could act aggressively.
"Aksem personnel have also been supplied with firearms should they face certain threats," he said.
The tontos’ threat to border enforcement personnel was apparent when a female customs officer Anisah Ali, died in an alleged mishap in 2016.
Anisah, 54, and her two colleagues were trailing a vehicle which was suspected to be carrying smuggled cigarettes when the incident took place.
Their vehicle was hit by a four-wheel-drive vehicle, believed to belong to tontos, at Banggol Chicha, Pasir Mas, Kelantan.
- Bernama
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/475889
Policeman killed, four injured in Songkhla bombing
ReplyDeleteBernama | Published: 27 May 2019, 10:33 am | Modified: 27 May 2019, 10:33 am
A policeman was killed while four others were injured when a bomb, believed to have been buried underground, exploded when police were carrying out checks behind a railway station in Chana, Songkhla in southern Thailand.
Ninth division police chief lieutenant-general Ronnasin Phusara said the homemade bomb exploded, killing one policeman and injuring three of his colleagues who were on duty during the 6pm incident.
"A woman who was at the scene was also injured. The victims are undergoing treatment at the Chana Hospital,” he said.
He said all the routes to the site of the incident have been closed for further investigation.
"The police are tracking down the group that masterminded the blast,” he said.
In April 2017, a policeman and a four-year-old boy were killed, while 15 others were injured in a bomb explosion at the same railway station.
Meanwhile, in Pattani, president of the Teluk Kapur Administration Council was shot dead on his way home at 11.30pm (local time) yesterday.
Amad Promkeaw, 57, died on the spot. He was the second president of an administrative council to be shot dead within three days.
Last Thursday, the president of the Tha Thong administration council in the Raman District in Yala was shot dead on his way home, after breaking fast with family members elsewhere.
- Bernama
- Mkini
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/477514
Two dead, 14 injured in Pattani Ramadan market bomb blast
ReplyDeleteBernama | Published: 27 May 2019, 11:58 pm
Two people were killed and 14 others, including four rangers, were injured in a motorcycle bomb attack at a Ramadan market in Nong Chik, Southern Thailand today.
In the 4.15pm (local time) incident, the market in Bo Thong town was crowded with people looking for food to break fast when the 15kg homemade bomb, attached to a parked motorcycle and activated via walkie talkie, exploded.
Pattani police chief Piyawat Chalermsi said a 14-year-old teenager died at the scene while a 35-year-old woman died at the Pattani hospital, where the injured are being treated.
“Five vehicles and several business premises were also damaged in the incident,” he told reporters at the scene.
Police are hunting down the perpetrators, he added.
Meanwhile, in Yala, a member of an armed gang was killed by security forces during a shootout that also injured three rangers.
Military 4th Division spokesperson Pramote Prom-in said in the 12.30pm (local time) incident, the security forces comprising the police, military and administrative officers had surrounded a house used as the armed gang members’ hideout.
“A shootout between the two parties ensued which went on for three hours,” he said.
All of the injured are being treated at the Yala Hospital, he said.
- Bernama
- Mkini
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/477618
Bomb blast, shootings rock Southern Thailand
ReplyDeleteBernama | Published: 6 May 2019, 10:47 pm | Modified: 6 May 2019, 10:47 pm
Incidents of a bomb explosion and shootings greeted residents in restive southern Thailand when Muslims observe the first day of fasting during the month of Ramadan today.
As Muslims prepare for the first day of fasting, a bomb went off in Songkhla injuring five policemen on duty while in another incident there was an exchange of fire between security forces and an armed group in Pattani.
In the first incident, five policemen were injured in a bomb explosion in Kg Khuan Ran in the district of Tepa, Songkhla.
In the incident at about 12 midnight, five police personnel who were returning after inspecting the house of an assistant village head, were ambushed by a group of unidentified individuals.
Songkhla police deputy chief Serksan Churansrit said the homemade bombs weighing 15 kilogrammes were set in two cooking drums and were activated using a walkie-talkie.
“Three of the five policemen were seriously injured and were being treated at Songkhla Hospital,” he told reporters today.
Meanwhile, in Pattani, an exchange of fire between security forces and an armed group took place in Kg Mananjung, Tung Yang Daeng, at about 10am (local time) today.
There were however no casualties reported.
Fourth Division Army chief Pornsak Poonsawat ordered all troops to be prepared for battle and to track down the armed group.
He said the shooting incident is believed to be over the death of an armed group member in Nong Chik, Pattani on May 3.
"We believe members of the armed group were injured in the exchange of fire today as blood stains were found.
"We will be stepping up efforts to track down the group,” he said.
- Bernama
- Mkini
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/475130
Bombs rock army base at Thailand-Malaysia border
ReplyDeleteBernama | Published: 4 Jun 2019, 8:58 am | Modified: 4 Jun 2019, 8:58 am
Three bomb explosions rocked an army base at the Thailand-Malaysia border in Waeng District, Narathiwat in southern Thailand yesterday morning, injuring one civilian.
Bukit Tar Police Chief Warid Chedo said in the 7 am (local time) incident, a home-made bomb exploded near the army base at the Bukit Tar-Bukit Bunga border, Waeng District.
He said the bomb, weighing five kilogrammes was planted by the roadside, nearly 300 metres from the army base.
“The bomb was activated with a timer. The 48-year-old victim, who was at the location, was injured due to shrapnel,” he said.
He said when a police team checked the scene, they found that two more bombs that had exploded, but no further injuries were reported.
- Bernama
- Mkini
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/478514
Sungai Phasuk, a Senior Researcher @ HRW recently publishes a report on
ReplyDelete"A Bloody Ramadan in Thailand’s Deep South Insurgents Bomb Crowded Market."
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/06/10/bloody-ramadan-thailands-deep-south
Toddler and children among 20 Malaysia-bound Myanmar human trafficking victims rescued in southern Thailand
ReplyDeletePublished on 01 July 2019
SONGKHLA, July 1 — Thailand police rescued 20 Myanmar nationals, including a toddler and five children, believed to be human trafficking victims in a shophouse at Padang Besar, Sadao, Songkhla on Saturday.
Police general Suchart Theerasawat of the National Police Office said the sound of crying baby as well as kids screaming and yelling for days at the abandoned shop house prompted the public to lodge a police report.
Suchart, who is also in-charge of an anti-trafficking unit, led the rescue operation and was shocked to find a group of migrants who were weak and hungry, and locked in the unit.
“Upon arrival, we heard women and children who were crying inside.
“When we entered the warehouse, we found 20 people — nine men, five women and children aged between six to 14 and a one-year-three-month old toddler who were struggling in the packed shop house.
“The victims said they were locked up for at least five days in the warehouse without food and drinks,” he said when contacted today.
Police believed the victims were locked in the warehouse while waiting to enter the Malaysian border.
“Police are tracking down the mastermind of the human trafficking syndicate,” he said.
— Bernama
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/07/01/toddler-and-children-among-20-malaysia-bound-myanmar-human-trafficking-vict/1767197
Cops: 15 people believed to be involved in immigrant smuggling arrested
Delete17 June 2019
JOHOR BARU, June 17 — Johor police arrested 15 individuals believed to be involved in smuggling illegal immigrants into the country through ‘Ops Pintas Selatan’ in various places, including coastal areas, from May 13 to today.
State Police Chief, Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said operations covering 24 roadblocks across the district inspected 700 vehicles and 1,074 individuals of various ages.
Additionally, it also includes patrol forces in coastal areas and Johor waters.
“Those arrested were locals and Indonesians between the ages of 23 and 65.
“They each play different roles, tekong darat (four people), taking care of ground-related operations (four people), transporters (three people), and water-related operations (four people), “ he told a media conference here today.
He said, from the initial observation, all suspects were seen as “knowing each other” but they did not necessarily work for the same syndicate.
“We will continue to curb this activity in different methods in the future because if we look at our 516-kilometer coastal line from Mersing to Muar, their landing can be anywhere,” he said.
All suspects will be remanded today to be investigated under Sections 12 and 26C of the Anti-Trafficking In Persons and Migrants Anti-Smuggling Act (ATIPSOM) 2007.
Meanwhile, Mohd Khalil explained that the number of under-18 children still missing in Johor remain at 56 people and not 143 as reported by a local newspaper earlier.
“Investigations found that out of a total of 143 Reported Missing (children), 87 have returned safely to their family.
“Problems for the police occurred when the families did not inform the police their children were back home,” he said.
However, he said that the reason for the child missing was to follow friends, follow a lover, feeling depressed or having family problems.
Statistics also show that the northern part of Johor Baru records the highest number of children missing with a total of 15 people; Kulai (10); Iskandar Puteri (eight); southern Johor Baru (seven); Seri Alam (five) as well as Batu Pahat and Kluang (two each).
Last month, a local newspaper reported that Johor recorded the highest number of missing children with 143 followed by Selangor (140), Kuala Lumpur (115) and Sabah (99 persons).
According to the checks on the Royal Malaysia Police Missing Children website, a total of 831 children were missing throughout the country for the period 2010 until last month.
— Bernama
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/06/17/cops-15-people-believed-to-be-involved-in-immigrant-smuggling-arrested/1763058
Four killed in attacks in Thailand as anger burns
ReplyDeleteSurapan Boonthanom, Panu Wongcha-um
YALA/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Insurgents have killed four security personnel in Thailand’s Muslim-majority south, the regional security force said on Wednesday, amid anger over allegations that a rebel suspect was tortured into a coma.
Two soldiers and two armed civilian volunteers were killed in the bombing and shooting attack at a checkpoint in Pattani province late on Tuesday, security force spokesman Pramote Prom-in told Reuters.
He rejected any link between the attack and the questioning of Abdullah Isamusa, 32, who was taken to an army camp from his home on Saturday and found unconscious with fluid on the brain a day later. Isamusa remains in hospital.
“We have exerted more pressure on insurgent groups, blocking their access to villages to recruit more people. Without that access they’re resorting to the same barbaric ways,” Pramote said.
It was the deadliest attack in the largely ethnic Malay region since January. As with most such attacks, there was no claim of responsibility.
Anger in the south has surged over allegations that Isamusa was abused and left with brain injuries. An umbrella rebel group and civil society groups condemned the interrogation while many in the region voiced fury on social media.
“We strongly condemn this inhumane act of cowardice, the severe violation of human rights and gross negligence during the interrogation process,” said Abu Hafez Al-Hakim of the MARA Patani umbrella body of insurgent groups, which has been in peace talks.
Security force spokesman Pramote rejected accusations of abuse and said an independent investigation was taking place into the interrogation.
The insurgency in predominantly Buddhist Thailand’s provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat has claimed the lives of nearly 7,000 people since 2004, according to monitoring group Deep South Watch group. Peace talks have largely stalled.
Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat were part of an independent Malay Muslim sultanate before Thailand annexed them in 1909. Some rebel groups want an independent state.
Additional reporting Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Nick Macfie
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-insurgent-idUSKCN1UJ0Y3
10,000 Thai security forces to hunt down Pattani attack suspects
ReplyDeleteBernama | Published: 26 Jul 2019
Thai authorities deployed nearly 10,000 security personnel to track down 20 suspects identified to be involved in an attack on a security control post in Muang District, Pattani on Tuesday.
Fourth Division Army chief, Lt.Gen Pornsak Poonsawat said that the security personnel in about 735 teams would be sent to 118 villages which were identified as still having the strong influence of the Pattani Liberation Movement.
"We want the suspects to retreat from the villages. Our investigation found that there were houses which were modified to be used as hiding places for members of armed groups after an attack," Pronsak told reporters in Pattani yesterday.
On Tuesday, four were killed and two were seriously injured in an attack on a security control post in Muang District, Pattani.
In the 8pm (local time) incident, a group of individuals, equipped with firearms shot up and also threw a pipe bomb toward the post killing two volunteer members and two village security members while seriously injuring two other volunteers.
Pornsak also did not rule out the possibility that a suspect involved in the attack was also injured.
- Bernama
- Mkini
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/485477
Peace talks in Southern Thailand stalled, says Pattani group
ReplyDeleteBernama | Published: 24 Jul 2019
The peace process to end the conflict in southern Thailand is stalled due to the lack of commitment, sincerity and strong political will from the Thai government, said the Patani Consultative Council (Mara Patani).
Its spokesperson, Abu Hafez Al-Hakim has thus called on international leaders and community to help find a political solution to end violence in southern Thailand.
He said the military approach adopted by the government thus far had failed to curb violent incidents and confrontations; in fact, the animosity and retaliation from the liberation movements escalated.
“The ongoing peace process that promises hope for the people has often stalled due to the lack of commitment, sincerity and strong political will.
“It is only through international involvement and support, a true political outcome can be achieved for a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Pattani,” he said in an open letter.
The open letter is to eminent world leaders and organisations, including the prime ministers of Thailand and Malaysia, and secretaries-general of the United Nations, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Asean, Human Rights Commission, Geneva Call and Amnesty International.
Abu Hafez said the conflict in Patani was no longer a domestic issue of Thailand, but a regional one that needed international intervention.
“It is political in nature with historical root causes to be addressed. Hence, the approach for conflict resolution should be political, not by the use of force nor suppression.
“All draconian and unjust laws that affect the day-to-day lives of the people must be revoked immediately and unconditionally since now the elected government is in place. The people of Patani must be given the right to self-determination as guaranteed by the UN Charter,” he said.
To date, about 7,000 people had been killed in the conflict in four regions in southern Thailand - Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla - since it broke out in 2004.
On Feb 3, Mara Patani suspended the peace talks until the completion of the Thai general election on March 24, over the refusal of the Thai government negotiation panel chief, General Udomchai Thammasarorat to meet the negotiation panel of Mara Patani in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia had picked former Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Rahim Noor as its new facilitator to the peace process.
Meanwhile, in the open letter, Mara Patani also urged intervention from world leaders after a detainee, who is under the authority’s custody, suffered injuries during interrogation.
He said the 32-year-old man, who was nabbed by security personnel and taken to the Inkhayut Borihan Army Camp last Saturday for interrogation, was found unconscious in the bathroom of the interrogation centre, hours later on Sunday.
The man was rushed to Pattani Hospital and later found suffering acute cerebral oedema due to hypoxia, and his condition is critical.
“We are shocked and saddened by the latest incident in the deep south… We strongly condemn this inhumane act of cowardice, severe violation of human rights and gross negligence during the interrogation process.
“The world leaders must no longer stand passively watching these atrocities by the Thai military go unchecked and the perpetrators unpunished. This is to ensure similar unwanted tragedies could be avoided in future,” he said.
- Bernama
- Mkini
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/485238
Alarmed by growing trafficking, US wants to do more in Mekong region
ReplyDeleteNirmal Ghosh, US Bureau Chief, PUBLISHED: JUL 25, 2019
WASHINGTON - The United States is set to beef up its approach to Mekong countries, pledging more financial assistance with an eye on combating transnational organised crime.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to attend Asean-related meetings in Thailand in the first week of next month. Sources say he will pledge more financial assistance to countries in the Lower Mekong Initiative - Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam - to beef up training and assistance to governments and law enforcement.
The objective is to better tackle growing trafficking in methamphetamine and wildlife and natural resources, which rides on endemic corruption and weak law enforcement.
This will also put more muscle into the LMI, which grew out of former president Barack Obama's "pivot to Asia" but thus far has been perceived by many as strong on messaging but thin on content.
The seizure in Singapore on July 21 of 11.9 tonnes of pangolin scales and 8.8 tonnes of elephant ivory - a record for Singapore - being shipped from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Vietnam, coming just four days after an extensive UN report warned of the expanding reach of transnational criminal organisations, was a reminder that more robust action is needed, analysts say.
The meth trade emanating principally out of de facto autonomous zones of northern Myanmar has also exploded. Meth from Myanmar has been found across the wider region. In March 2019, 2.1 tonnes were found in Johor, Malaysia. In December 2017, 1.2 tonnes were found in Perth, Australia.
According to investigations, the meth found in Johor was trafficked from Myanmar through Laos and Thailand. The shipment found in Perth came from Myanmar via Indonesia.
Mr John Whalen, a retired US Drug Enforcement Agency official based in Yangon, told The Straits Times: "The problem in Myanmar particularly is you have weak law enforcement, so it's a breeding ground in some respects for organised crime. The police in particular are very low-paid so they are easily corruptible; the military particularly in outlying areas is easily corruptible. All along the process people are paid off, and not just in Myanmar but on porous borders of the region."
"I think the US should be doing more," he added.
With Myanmar's transition to an elected government in 2011, the US was able to open up the relationship with Myanmar, lifting sanctions and providing training, but not to the level necessary, he said.
Cont. Below...
In an e-mail, Mr Jeremy Douglas, Bangkok-based regional representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said: "Massive syndicates concentrating industrial levels of synthetic drug production in ungoverned parts of Myanmar are shipping great distances using the great infrastructure of the region, laundering huge profits across the Mekong."
Delete"Unless the conditions that have allowed organised crime to innovate and expand the drug business here are addressed, it will continue to grow," he warned.
"Asean is simply not capable of addressing organised crime and synthetic drugs alone, and needs to work at the highest levels with key dialogue partners like the US, China, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea and the UN. The business does not stop at the borders of the region. It is not possible to get around the fact that countries of Asia Pacific, or at least the western part of the Pacific and North America, need to come together at leadership level to prioritise taking on organised crime."
The US sees drug and wildlife trafficking - and related money laundering - as a global problem.
"Over time, international criminal networks are meeting up with each other, there is interaction between criminal elements in one region connected to another," Ms Kirsten Madison, US Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), said in an interview.
"Criminal organisations are becoming much more evolved criminal multinational businesses in some respect," she said. To work on how the money is moving, and to work regionally, is a growing imperative.
The INL works with foreign governments to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, migrant smuggling, corruption, and cyber, intellectual property and environmental crime, and wildlife and drug trafficking among others.
"We often talk about counter-narcotics issues, but the reality is that transnational organised crime is operating across a lot of spheres," Ms Madison said. "And when you look at wildlife trafficking, not only is it disturbing from the perspective of loss of species and environmental impact, but it is an enormous source of funding for criminal actors. And to be successful, criminal actors need to corrupt and poison institutions."
Interceptions of contraband show that seizures alone are failing to deter traffickers, Mr Justin Gosling, an independent consultant on transnational wildlife trafficking, told The Straits Times.
"What's missing is basic detective work - exploring every reasonable line of inquiry to exhaustion. In most cases, that starts with the country detecting the crime communicating with every other country involved so that they can initiate their own investigations," he said.
"That's what we mean by international cooperation. Agencies like Interpol must be more engaged in their core function - to help national enforcement agencies coordinate inquiries, and collate evidence and intelligence."
- The Straits Times
- https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/alarmed-by-growing-trafficking-us-wants-to-do-more-in-mekong-region
Several small blasts heard in Thai capital, two hurt
ReplyDeleteReuters | Published: 2 Aug 2019
Several small explosions were heard in Bangkok in at least three locations on Friday and police said that two street cleaners had been hurt by what appeared to be a homemade bomb.
There were no other immediate reports of injuries.
Thai police said they were investigating the cause of the explosions. Some explosions were heard at a government office and others near at least two other sites near central Bangkok.
Bangkok is currently hosting a regional security meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and their counterparts from world powers including the United States, China and Russia.
A senior police officer said two street cleaners were injured by what appeared to have been a homemade bomb in the Suan Luang district.
On Thursday, Thai police said they had found two fake bombs on Thursday near the venue of the regional security meeting. The packages prompted a brief security scare but were quickly deemed harmless. It was unclear whether the meeting was the target.
Police said two men had been arrested in connection with the fake bombs.
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are attending the forum along with other regional and global officials.
- Reuters
- Mkini
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/486369
As long as the Southern insurgency talks are suspended, you will see these separatists wanting more trouble and it's not going to be Southern Thailand. This will soon spread where tourists and major events are going on.
DeleteUnexploded firebomb discovered in Bangkok
ReplyDeleteReuters - August 7, 2019
BANGKOK: Thai authorities recovered an unexploded firebomb at a market in central Bangkok on Wednesday in what they said was a device left over from coordinated attacks last week that wounded four people.
Six small bombs and six firebombs went off in the Thai capital last Friday as the city hosted a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers that was also attended by top diplomats from the United States, China, and other world powers.
Thai police said the newly discovered firebomb at the Pratunam market in central Bangkok was similar to those set off on Friday.
“The device functioned, but the fire did not catch because it was hidden underneath a pile of clothes so there was not enough oxygen for the fire,” a police officer told Reuters on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
“The device is timer-triggered and is attached to a power bank, the same sort that was used in last week’s attacks, and it was likely placed … around the same time as other devices,” he said.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said authorities have detained nine suspects, including two men who were arrested on Friday, accused of planting two bombs in front of the police headquarters in central Bangkok a day earlier.
The two suspects are from Narathiwat province, one of the larger Malay-Muslim provinces in Thailand‘s deep south where more than a decade-long insurgency has left nearly 7,000 people dead since 2014.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters that Friday’s coordinated attacks were “linked to a southern group” but did not elaborate on the details, saying that more investigation is needed to determine who ordered the attack.
- Reuters
- FMT
- https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2019/08/07/unexploded-firebomb-discovered-in-thai-capital/
Thai authorities believe southern groups behind Bangkok blasts
DeleteLinda Khoo, Bernama | Published: 6 Aug 2019
Southern groups are believed responsible for the series of bombings in Bangkok last Friday, Thai authorities said.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said police believed a mastermind was behind the explosions but have yet to establish if they were politically motivated.
“The incidents were planned. We are tracing how they (suspects) travelled and where they got the bombs from,” he told the media after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Government House in Bangkok today.
He said police have not ruled out any motive for the blasts which involved “many” people.
Prawit, who oversees security matters, briefed the cabinet on the explosions, which rocked the capital at a time when it was hosting the Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Last Friday, police found nine bombs, including several unexploded devices, at five locations in the capital city after several small explosions left four people injured.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha said police had arrested seven suspects in connection with the explosions.
However, he did not disclose when and where they were arrested. He said police were intensifying their hunt for more suspects.
So far nine suspects have been arrested to facilitate investigations. The other two men from Narathiwat were arrested for allegedly planting explosive devices at the sidewalk near the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Rama I Road on Thursday evening.
Prayuth said he would be travelling to Yala in southern Thailand tomorrow to hold discussions with the relevant authorities to find solutions for the decades-long conflict in the region.
- Bernama
- Mkini
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/486943
Yala bombs injure 7 people
ReplyDeletePublished: 21 AUG 2019
A series of bomb blasts in four districts of Yala province overnight caused minor damage and injured seven people.
Authorities were quick to reject any link with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) movement's demand for the release of suspects in security cases in the three southernmost provinces as a condition for peace talks.
Deputy army chief Nattapol Nakpanich, also assistant director of the Internal Security Operations Command, said on Wednesday the attacks had no special significance or important implications.
In response to media questions about the frequency of insurgency bombings in the region, he gave an assurance that Isoc's Region 4 Forward Command, which is in charge of security across the deep South, was working at full capacity to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the people.
In Bangkok, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon also insisted the attacks had nothing to do with the BRN's demands.
The Yala attacks were also not linked to the bombings in Bangkok, according to Gen Prawit.
Bombs were detonated in four districts of Yala - Muang, Yaha, Bannang Sata and Than To - on Tuesday night. Car tyres were also set alight. Seven people were confirmed injured, including children.
The first attack was around 7.10pm. a bomb exploded at a roadside power pole in Yaha district, injuring two villagers and causing a power blackout.
About 10 minutes later another bomb explosion damaged a telephone signal tower in Bannang Sata district, causing no injuries. Car tyres were also set on fire on Road 410 in the district.
About the same time, a third bomb damaged a power pole in Muang district, causing no injuries.
In Than To district, a bomb exploded at an ATM of Krungthai Bank in tambon Mae Wad around 8.15pm. Five people, including three girls and two adults, were hurt. Another bomb exploded outside a grocery shop nearby. There were no injuries reported.
- Bangkok Post
- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1734211/yala-bombs-injure-7-people
Suspected Muslim militants kill 15 in Thailand’s south
ReplyDeleteAFP on November 6, 2019
BANGKOK: At least fifteen people were killed and another four injured in attacks by suspected Muslim rebels in Thailand’s violence-wracked south, an army spokesman said today, the largest death toll in years.
The Malay-Muslim south has been in the grip of a bloody insurgency that has killed more than 7,000 people over the last 15 years.
Late yesterday militants struck two checkpoints in Yala province manned by civil defence volunteers, opening fire on them as a group of villagers stopped to talk, southern army spokesman Pramote Prom-in told AFP.
“Twelve were killed at the scene, two more (died) at the hospital, and one died this morning,” said Pramote, adding that the rebels took M-16 rifles and shotguns from the checkpoints.
The areas surrounding the checkpoints have been closed off and are currently under forensic investigation, he said.
Rebels seeking autonomy for the culturally distinct region bordering Malaysia have been fighting the Buddhist-majority Thai state, which colonised the area over a century ago.
The grinding conflict is characterised by tit-for-tat attacks that usually target symbols of the Thai state and its security forces but civilians from both Muslim and Buddhist communities often get caught in the crossfire.
Yesterday’s attack marked the largest coordinated effort “in a very long time”, said Don Pathan, an expert on the so-called “deep south”.
The incidents have been fewer in recent years, but the hits have been “more intense”.
“It is a reminder that they are still here,” Pathan said.
The rebels accuse the state of railroading their distinct culture as well as carrying out routine abuses which go unpunished.
Yesterday’s violence comes months after the death of a Muslim man, Abdulloh Esormusor, who was left in a coma after being interrogated at a notorious Thai detention centre.
Suspects are routinely taken for interrogation and held under emergency laws in detention centres where rights groups have documented torture.
Days after Abdulloh’s detention, four people were killed in a late-night attack on a military outpost, fuelling speculation of a retaliatory operation.
A week later several small bombs exploded in Bangkok, injuring four people as the city hosted a major summit attended by top diplomats, including US secretary of state Mike Pompeo.
Thailand has linked the bombs to southern insurgents and said the devices used were like those found in the south – though no group ever claimed responsibility in the attacks.
- FMT
- https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2019/11/06/suspected-muslim-militants-kill-15-in-thailands-south/
Avoid southern Thai for time being - Kelantan gov't
DeleteBernama on 6 Nov 2019, 6:37 pm
The Kelantan state government today called on residents in the state to avoid visiting southern Thailand for time being following attacks by an armed group that killed 15 people in the region last night.
The state Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said, however, for those who had no choice but to enter the region, they must exercise caution.
“But if you could, avoid it altogether for at least a day or two for your own safety,” he said when met by reporters after attending the exco meeting in Kota Bharu.
Asked if there were Kelantanese people involved in the incident, he said the state government had not yet received any information on it.
Yala provincial police chief Pol Prabpal was reported as saying that 15 volunteers, including two women, were killed and four others injured in attacks by armed men at two security checkpoints at Mukim Lampaya and Kampung Thung Sadao, around 10.15pm last night.
Commenting separate issue, Amar said the state government was ready to face the floods with all preparations were in place.
- Bernama
- Mkini
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/498876
M’sia remains source and transit point for IS, Abu Sayyaf militants - US gov’t report
ReplyDeletePublished on Nov 2nd, 2019
The US government’s report on terrorism in 2018 has noted Malaysia’s continued role as a “source and transit point” for terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS).
It also noted Malaysia’s efforts in combating terrorism through legal prosecution, border patrol, and social media monitoring.
The report, published by the US State Department yesterday, listed four terrorism-related incidents but noted that there were no IS-affiliated attacks on Malaysian soil last year.
“Although there were no IS-affiliated attacks in Malaysia in 2018, the country remained a source, transit point, and, to a significantly lesser extent, destination country for terrorist groups including IS, Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), al-Qa’ida (al-Qaeda), and Jemaah Islamiyah.
“Suspected IS supporters deported from Turkey and individuals planning to travel to the southern Philippines to support IS-affiliated groups used Malaysia as a transit point,” the report read.
“Malaysia monitored, arrested, deported, and tried suspected supporters of terrorist groups.
“Malaysia also co-operated with the US and others to increase border security capacity at airports and in the Sulu Sea, to counter terrorist messaging on social media, and to improve terrorist prosecutions,” it added.
The four terrorism-related incidents in 2018 mentioned in the report were:
1) An unsuccessful kidnapping attempt in an unspecified part of Malaysia’s territorial waters (August);
2) Two Indonesian fisher-folk kidnapped for US$1 million ransom by ASG militants off the coast of Semporna, Sabah (Sept 11);
3) Two kidnapping-for-ransom group members killed by Malaysian security forces on an island near Kunak, Sabah (Sept 20); and
4) Three Malaysian crew members kidnapped from a tugboat near Pegasus Reef, Sabah and taken to the Philippines. Tugboat captain was shot in the leg during the kidnapping. (Dec 5)
The report further noted how police had, during the year, arrested about 20 suspects in Sabah for being involved in terrorism-related activities “including smuggling militants into the southern Philippines, enabling kidnapping-for-ransom operations, recruiting children as militants and human shields, and participation in ASG-led beheadings”.
Among the Malaysian anti-terrorism measures mentioned was Bank Negara’s “Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Policy Digital Currencies” directive.
It also noted the country’s ongoing efforts to work together with bodies like the UN and Asean to fight terrorism, including hosting a workshop on combating online extreme messaging.
The report recorded how the Pakatan Harapan government had pledged to review terrorism-related laws including the Prevention of Crime Act 2012 (Poca), Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and the Sedition Act 1948.
In its notes on the Philippines, the report wrote that Malaysian terrorist fighters continued to use the country as a destination.
“IS affiliates active in the Philippines in 2018 included parts of the ASG, the Maute Group, Ansar al-Khalifa Philippines (AKP), and elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
“The Philippines remained a destination for foreign terrorist fighters from Indonesia and Malaysia, and a potential destination for those fleeing Syria and Iraq,” it read.
The report looked at terrorism in many countries around the world.
It noted how the US and its partners had in 2018 managed to drive IS from nearly all its occupied territories, releasing about 7.7 million people from its rule.
“Even as IS lost almost all its physical territory, the group proved its ability to adapt, especially through its efforts to inspire or direct followers online [...]
“Additionally, battle-hardened terrorists headed home from the war zone in Syria and Iraq or travelled to third countries, posing new dangers,” the report cautioned.
- Mkini
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/498317
Malaysian man shot dead in Tak Bai
ReplyDeleteBernama
Published 19 Aug 2020
A Malaysian man found dead with gunshot wounds to his head at Tak Bai along the Malaysian-Thai border yesterday.
Tak Bai district police chief Pol Colonel Suthawet Thareethai said the body of Mohd Ridzuan Abdul Llah, 31 from Pasir Mas, Kelantan was found in Kg Tasik at Tak Bai, Narathiwat, southern Thailand at about 8.40 pm yesterday.
“The victim was believed to have been shot in his head. A preliminary investigation showed that the man has no record of entering Thailand,” he said when contacted in Narathiwat today.
He said the police are also investigating the motive behind the incident.
The victim's body was taken to the Tok Baik Hospital for a post-mortem and the police have also notified his next-of-kin.
Kelantan police also confirmed that a Malaysian citizen had died in a shooting incident in a neighbouring country last night.
Kelantan police chief, DCP Shafien Mamat said the victim, Mohd Ridzuan Abdul Liah was from Kampung Kalor near Gelang Mas, Pasir Mas. - Bernama
- via Mkini
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/539316
No proof ambush attack at Narathiwat originated from M’sia - Kelantan police
ReplyDeleteBernama
Published 4 Aug 2021, 4:49 pm
Kelantan Police today denied allegations that the attack on the Ranger Company Combat Operations Post in Tak Bai, Narathiwat, Thailand, early Tuesday morning, was carried out from the Sungai Golok river bank on the Malaysian side.
State police chief Shafien Mamat said the allegations had no solid basis as there was no such evidence submitted by the Thai military.
He said based on the Thai army’s claims, the attack on the post was carried by Thai insurgents and that it was launched from the riverbank on the Malaysian side of the border.
“Kelantan police have investigated the location, that is Pengkalan Haram Ikan Kering, Kubang Pak Ikan, Pasir Mas which was allegedly used by the separatists to carry out the attack.
“However, no evidence of bullet casings or traces of gunfire were found at the location," he said in a statement today.
Shafien said following the incident, the police had tightened border security there.
Yesterday, one ranger was killed and four soldiers were injured in an ambush from an armed group of men at the makeshift army camp at about 2.20am (local time).
The Sungai Golok borders the Malaysian state of Kelantan and the Thai province of Narathiwat.
- Bernama
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/585846