No End In Sight As South Thai Rebellion Enters Fifth Year

[sabaijai]

South Siam Muslim leaders move for self-rule

To appease Muslim feeling in the Southern provinces and to counter disturbances there, Siamese Muslim leaders believed that the government should appoint a new expert in Islamic affairs to the Court, and should place administration of the four provinces under a High Commissioner, said Banchong Sricharoon, chairman of the Muslim League, at a press conference yesterday.

Banchong said that the appointment of an expert Islamic adviser would replace Nai Chaem Promyong, who left Siam after the November 7 coup. He claimed that the appointment of a High Commissioner to the provinces would restore a position that Narathiwat, Satul, Yala and Pattani enjoyed before World War I.

The Muslim leader urged the immediate removal of one government official in Naradhivas, a senior police officer whom the population alleged had adopted a "shoot to kill" policy.

Banchong, who is a member of the Upper House of Parliament, also recommended the payment of 20 percent salary increases to Siamese officials in the southern provinces who attained proficiency in the Malay language.

He believed that lack of understanding of Malay sometimes caused officials to misunderstand the feeling of the people in the predominately Islamic districts.

He added that rashness of some Islamic leaders in the South also contributed to the widening of the gap between officials and the population there.

Source: Bangkok Post, December 18, 1948

[NanaFoods]

South Siam Muslim leaders move for self-rule

To appease Muslim feeling in the Southern provinces and to counter disturbances there, Siamese Muslim leaders believed that the government should appoint a new expert in Islamic affairs to the Court, and should place administration of the four provinces under a High Commissioner, said Banchong Sricharoon, chairman of the Muslim League, at a press conference yesterday.

hmmm... a move towards a Shari'a court, perhaps?

Banchong said that the appointment of an expert Islamic adviser would replace Nai Chaem Promyong, who left Siam after the November 7 coup. He claimed that the appointment of a High Commissioner to the provinces would restore a position that Narathiwat, Satul, Yala and Pattani enjoyed before World War I.

...as they enjoyed pre-1902, perhaps.... (independent from Siam)?

He believed that lack of understanding of Malay sometimes caused officials to misunderstand the feeling of the people in the predominately Islamic districts.

Funny, how "feelings" regarding Muslims are always "misunderstood"... as are the tenets of Islam.

He added that rashness of some Islamic leaders in the South also contributed to the widening of the gap between officials and the population there.

You mean, some Islamic leaders actually might be to blame?

Say it isn't so !!

[sriracha john]

yet another school bombing this morning...

3 soldiers, 1 student injured in Narathiwat bombing

Narathiwat - Three soldiers and a student were injured when insurgents detonated a bomb hidden in front of a school in this southern border province Thursday morning.

The explosion occurred at 8:30 am in front of the Bango Puloh School in Tambon Riang of Rusoh district.

Police said the three soldiers were resting in front of the school when the student dropped by to talk to them and the insurgents detonated the bomb, using a mobile phone.

- The Nation / 2008-09-25

[Scott]

Resting?

I wonder what exactly that means--sleeping, not paying attention???

Someone might want to remind them (or their commanding officers) that it is a dangerous place and schools are targetted--probably not the best place to be 'resting'.

I hope they all make a speedy recovery.

[sriracha john]

to go with today's bombing is today's shooting...

Southern violence continues taking toll of locals

YALA, Sep 25 (TNA) - The insurgency in Thailand's Southern provinces continues to take a toll of local residents and community life in Yala, with a rubber tapper the latest casualty on Thursday and four others wounded in Narathiwat Wednesday night.

Yala villager Asaman Sara, 22, was seriously wounded in the morning in Bannang Sata district on the Yala-Betong Road on his way to tap rubber. The incident occurred on the Yala-Betong road, and was believed to be the work of an insurgent group.

Meanwhile, local officials and a bomb disposal squad inspected the site of a Wednesday night bombing at a school in Narathiwat's Ruso district. One male student and three soldiers from the teacher protection unit were wounded and are now in hospital.

The initial investigation said the insurgents placed a remote-controlled bomb in an iron box and detonated it with a mobile phone. The school was closed temporarily due to uncertain security.

[papajohn]

South Siam Muslim leaders move for self-rule

To appease Muslim feeling in the Southern provinces and to counter disturbances there, Siamese Muslim leaders believed that the government should appoint a new expert in Islamic affairs to the Court, and should place administration of the four provinces under a High Commissioner, said Banchong Sricharoon, chairman of the Muslim League, at a press conference yesterday.

Banchong said that the appointment of an expert Islamic adviser would replace Nai Chaem Promyong, who left Siam after the November 7 coup. He claimed that the appointment of a High Commissioner to the provinces would restore a position that Narathiwat, Satul, Yala and Pattani enjoyed before World War I.

The Muslim leader urged the immediate removal of one government official in Naradhivas, a senior police officer whom the population alleged had adopted a "shoot to kill" policy.

Banchong, who is a member of the Upper House of Parliament, also recommended the payment of 20 percent salary increases to Siamese officials in the southern provinces who attained proficiency in the Malay language.

He believed that lack of understanding of Malay sometimes caused officials to misunderstand the feeling of the people in the predominately Islamic districts.

He added that rashness of some Islamic leaders in the South also contributed to the widening of the gap between officials and the population there.

Source: Bangkok Post, December 18, 1948

The word APPEASE the Muslim feeling recalls the

words before WW2. These people want everyone

in the world to honor their religion of subjigation.

Sure sounds like Nazi doctorin to me. They have no respect for culture, religion or lifestye of anyone not Muslim !!!! The world community had better wake up to this threat to world peace before it is to late. The leader of Iran, sent the message yesterday at the United Nations. Did anyone hear his message!!

His hate of infidels was so prevelant it reminded me of Hitler and his hatred of the Jews. Those who do not pay heed to the past are doomed to repeat it.

You anti-American fools will wake up someday to

find the Taliban at your doorstep. If those brave troops from the USA loose this one GOD help your country and your children. As an American I want all our troops back to the USA. I feel we can protect our

country very well. In the last 40 years of trying to negotiate with these people, who lie and decieve on any negotiated settlement that they smile and sign.

They keep subjicating and killing people around the world to their religion. They kill and kill and kill innocent people for no other reason but for Allah.

Who is this asshol_e that preaches the killing of innocents, teachers, students, community leaders

workers. people shopping at markets, children on school buses. Allah and Hitler must have met in hel_l.

There is Good and Evil in this world and it looks to me that Evil is winning. Chok Dee.

[NanaFoods]

PapaJohn,

You're not so far off with your comparisons.

I probably won't be allowed to cut & paste here, but please visit this link:

http://www.faithfreedom.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42180

It is a comparison of the doctrines of Mein Kampf and Islam.

Read beyond the OP, some other posters add to the original set.

Very interesting.... and hair raising.

Cheers

[sriracha john]

Stressed-out officer shot dead after gun rampage

Officer kills colleague, wounds two others

YALA : A policeman shot his neighbour, a fellow policeman, and then shot dead the officer who interrogated him during a rampage in Muang district yesterday. At the centre of the tragedy was Pol Lt Boonchuan Jantarawat, of Bannang Sata police station. He was granted leave on Friday after showing signs of severe stress and paranoia. Around 7.30am yesterday, police were called to the scene of a shooting. They found Boonchuan in a state of panic with a pistol in his hand. He had just shot his neighbour, Pol Senior Sgt-Maj Decha Chuay-iam, four times - in the hand, leg and torso. He was in intensive care at the provincial hospital last night. Decha's wife said her husband had gone out to open the gate when he saw Boonchuan standing outside his home, which is opposite theirs. The lieutenant suddenly walked towards her husband, pulled out a gun and started shooting at him. Her husband ran back to the house for cover while the lieutenant kept firing until he had emptied his magazine. She said that her husband and Boonchuan had never been involved in a conflict. Boonchuan was taken to the district police station. While in the interrogation room, he seized an 11mm pistol from Pol Lt-Col Danai Ratajai. A witness said Boonchuan was not handcuffed during the questioning. Boonchuan shot Danai four times at close range, killing him, before fleeing from the room. When he saw deputy provincial Police Chief Pol Col Chaitat Intanujit, he fired at him too. The senior officer ducked for cover and then jumped through a window. Boonchuan ran downstairs towards the detention cells and opened fire at duty officer Pol Senior Sgt-Maj Biding Jogo, but missed. Biding returned fire and killed him on the stairway. The duty officer said he heard several gunshots and then the Deputy Police Chief jumped out of the building from the second-floor window. Boonchuan then went down the stairs from the second floor and fired at him, forcing him to shoot back. Chaitat suffered a dislocated shoulder in the fall and was grazed in the back by a bullet. He remained in hospital yesterday. Deputy provincial police chief Pol Col Phumpetch Pipatpetchpum said the stress of working in the restive South might have driven Boonchuan over the edge. Boonchuan had been transferred from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Yala in 2006. He was seriously wounded in an encounter with militants in tambon Bajoh in the district and had not recovered fully from his injuries.

He had not been

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/290908_News/29Sep2008_news05.php

Edited September 29, 2008 by sriracha john

[Scott]

Very sad. My condolences to all who were involved in this tragic situation.

One thing that I don't understand is why greater precautions aren't taken with people who are in a fragile state and have already acted in a violent manner. One of the first things that the police should know is that they must be either restrained physically, such as handcuffed, or in a secure place. When the police have custody of someone there is a real possibility that the person will be deprived of their freedom of movement and this can cause a severe reaction with even the most benign person.

[sriracha john]

Village headman shot dead by militants

PATTANI : A village headman from Ban Klong Chang was shot dead from behind by suspected militants in Mayo district yesterday. Mayuso Samaedasae was walking home when gunmen shot him in the chest, stomach, hip, knee and legs.

The attack took place after midnight when Mayuso returned from a talk with a peace-keeping unit at the 44th Ranger Forces Regiment. He was only 400m from home. His son heard the shootings and took him to hospital. He succumbed to his

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/290908_News/29Sep2008_news13.php

Edited September 29, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Village chiefs shot dead in restive South

A gunmen using M-16 rifle shot dead a village chief in Tambon Kota Baru of Raman district Monday morning, one day after a similar incident took place in Narathiwat's Rangae district.

Rosah Isormusorm, 47, was found lying dead on the side of a backroad in Tambon Ngern-ngam of Raman district. He was heading to a local fresh market on his motorbike at the time of the incident.

The same district on Sunday also witnessed the shooting death of Ahama Lakuning, 33, a former ranger from the area.

- The Nation / 2008-09-29

Edited September 29, 2008 by sabaijai

[Scott]

So much sad news and so little good news in the South--or from politicians and their military cohorts.

Things I wouldn't want to be in the South:

A Buddhist.

A Muslim.

A Village Chief.

A Teacher.

A Policeman.

A Soldier

A Student.

A Rubber Tapper.

Pretty much takes care of most folks down there.

[sriracha john]

more casualties for your list of targets, Scott...

The violence in Yala province continued when a village headman was killed in a shooting while on his way to a market in Raman district late yesterday, local police said. The victim was identified as Roza Ezomuzo, 47, the village headman in tambon Noen-ngam. Police said unidentified gunmen opened fire on him while he was riding a motorcycle. A local insurgent group might be behind the fatal attack, police added. Two soldiers were slightly wounded in three separate ambushes in close succession yesterday in the same district. They were wounded in the second ambush, while no casualties were reported in the first and third attacks. In Narathiwat, authorities disabled explosive devices in Muang district. Two suspect gas cylinders, weighing 5kg each, were discovered by the roadside. Police said the gas cylinders were the same type of devices used in a blast at a police station on Aug 21, killing two people and injuring 30 others.

It was possible that they were abandoned on Sunday night by bombers who feared interception at a road checkpoint ahead, they

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/300908_News/30Sep2008_news12.php

-----

the above details were from the article that was made into a separate thread.... today, the police big wig doesn't want to blame the South... but the officer's wife it seems. which is way over-the-top IMO... reminded me of Thaksin blaming the disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai for the same thing...

Stress not behind shooting, claim police

YALA : Assistant national police chief Pol Lt-Gen Adul Saengsingkaew yesterday denied that work-related stress was behind the actions of an officer who shot dead one policeman and injured two others.

Edited September 30, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

With the newest bombing this morning and the third one this year in this same location, is Somchai's new government going to do anything???

Three police injured in Pattani bombing

Three local police officers were injured early this morning (September 30) when insurgents set off an explosive device hidden in a motorcycle parked in the temporary parking lot of a local department store in southern Pattani province.

The explosion, which injured three local police officers, took place slightly before 3 a.m. Tuesday morning at the temporary parking lot of Coliseum Department Store located about 50 meters from the Pattani's provincial hall.

The explosive device was reportedly concealed within a Honda motorcycle and caused shrapnel to be projected as far as 50 meters from the blast site. Three police officers who were stationed in the parking lots security booth were slightly injured, mostly from being hit by shrapnel.

Based on an initial probe, police found that the device weighed about 5 kilograms and was remotely detonated. The explosive was most probably concealed within the motorcycle as all parked vehicles were required to open any storage compartments for safety purposes.

This incident was the third of its kind at the very same location with two previous explosions early this year, believed to be done by the same group of insurgents. Authorities believed the acts were a sign of defiance against local local authorities by the group.

- ThaiNews / 2008-09-30

Edited September 30, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Six cameras couldn't deter bomb attacks

Pattani - Police found a piece of clock at the scene where a powerful bomb rocked the parking lot next to the Pattani police station, prompting them to suspect that a clock bomb set off the explosive.

About twenty police officers combed through the area to look for clues leading to the Monday night bombing of this particular parking lot. There was no evidence to support the initial suggestion that the bomb was set off remotely by mobile phone or other remote sensing device.

Monday marked the third such attack of this year at this particular location. Six closed circuit cameras have been put in places at this particular location, but this has failed to deter the bomb attack that police blamed on Malay Muslim separatists.

Police also admitted that not all of the six cameras, which were put up a year ago, were functioning properly.

The bomb, estimated to be about five kilogrammes, was tied to a motorbike at the parking lot. The motorbike was believed to have been stolen, police said.

Pol Lt Col Wasant Rakchartpanich suffered injuries to his right arm, while Pol Lt Sathit Khunthong suffered flesh and head wounds from metal pieces.

Police said insurgents took advantage of the rain in Pattani to carry out this attack that proved to be another set back for the authorities who have been boasting about progress in containing the violence.

- The Nation / 2008-09-30

[Scott]

Well, the police admitted that some of the cameras weren't working. So how many were working? Maybe none. This is typical in the country--a shopping center near where I live have put up cameras, but there are no wires and no recording! What a waste of money. I work there on weekends and talked to the head guard. He said the owners thing people will be 'good' as long as they think they work!

The difference is, where I work, there isn't much more excitement than an occasional fender-bender. No bombs, no deaths.

[sriracha john]

Juling Pongkanmul

Thai Film Delves Into Murky Muslim Insurgency

BANGKOK (Reuters / 2008-09-30) - Five years on, the insurgency in Thailand's mainly Muslim south continues to defy attempts to placate it and a new Thai documentary uses the brutal death of a young Buddhist art teacher to examine why.

"Citizen Juling," shown at the Toronto Film Festival this month, bills itself as "a road movie through Thailand's soul" but centers around the story of teacher Juling Pongkanmul, who was kidnapped and beaten by a group of Muslim women in 2006. She died, aged 24, after spending eight months in a coma.

Filmed during the last four months of the administration of now deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the film follows former opposition Senator Kraisak Choonhavan as he travels into Thailand's three southernmost provinces -- Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala -- to uncover the truth behind the teacher's death.

His trip, which also takes him to the northernmost reaches where Juling was born, sheds light on the violence and poverty fueling the unrest in a region wracked by a government campaign to stamp out a separatist insurgency that has resulted in more than 3,500 deaths since 2003.

A longtime critic of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, Kraisak says government attempts to root out the insurgency have only prolonged and strengthened it.

"We can blame the state for creating a horrific situation for the people there and opening the door for Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists to spread," he told Reuters said after a screening of the film in Bangkok last week.

"We have to first realize that these are people. You just can't go on killing them. You can't wipe out millions of people."

The crackdowns in the south under Thaksin have been condemned by international human rights groups, while the former prime minister has denied policies of extra-judicial killings.

Thailand has long grappled with the southern unrest, ranging from attempts to win "hearts and minds" through promises of development aid to crackdowns on suspected separatists.

"Citizen Juling" -- which runs for almost four hours -- details abuses against Muslim Thais, from the killing of a youth soccer team to a massacre at a mosque, and the futile attempts of survivors to win justice.

"You see how people are suffering and how their suffering has never been heard in conventional media and mass media," said photographer Manit Sriwanichpoom, who joined forces with his wife, artist Ing K, and Kraisak to make the film. "There is no feeling. But these are real people," he said.

Born in the northern province of Chiang Rai, idealistic teacher Juling went to Thailand's southernmost tip to teach children art. In May 2006, a group of Muslim women kidnapped and then brutally beat her. She sustained massive damage to her brain stem, her spine fractured in several places, during an attack Kraisak characterized as "a venting vendetta against the Thai state."

Unlike most documentaries, the film has no explicit narrative, a deliberate technique adopted by the film-makers who wanted the story to tell itself.

"A conventional journalistic approach to the editing would've resulted in a much shorter film by telling more and showing less," Ing, a former journalist, wrote in the film's synopsis.

"We wanted to allow people to be themselves instead of reducing them by soundbites, into mere representations of specific points of view."

==============================================================

Additional threads and posts on Ms. Juling

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Acharn-Jooli...101.html&p=

Acharn Jooling, A Young Teacher From Chiang Rai,, Victim of Southern violence (Rajabhat)

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Art-Exhibiti...500.html&p=

An Art Exhibition To Raise Funds For Juling Pongkanmoon To Be Held

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...st&p=754192

Medical condition of beaten teacher worsens

[sriracha john]

shootings and killings and school burnings in Yala, Army fire-fights in Narathiwat, and Somchai is on the way.... at some time...

Violence in the south continues as PM Somchai announces his visit

Narathiwat - Three Special Forces soldiers were severely wounded in a fierce gunfight by suspected militants who ambushed their vehicle from both sides of the road in Bacho district.

In Bangkok, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat announced a plan to visit the restive south where more than 3,400 people have been killed since January 2004.

Somchai did not give exact date, but added that the visit will be made in the coming days.

The attack came as the army pickup transporting six Special Forces soldiers entered Ban Champakor in Narathiwt's Bacho district. Attackers used M-16 and AK-47 from both sides of the road, leaving the vehicle riddled with bullets. They retreated back into the jungle area after exchanging fire for about five minutes, authorities said.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Somchai said he was concerned with the situation in the deep South and added that he would personally oversee handling of the unrest. "I have to take responsibility of this southern issue by myself as the officials in the area are already working to full capacity," he said.

Meanwhile, in Yala's Yaha district, gunmen shot dead two young men Tuesday evening, The two were identified as Bukari Daeboh, 25, and Sudeng Sungaibadu, 23. Police found shotgun shells and a metal casing of an AK-47 round near the two victims.

Separately, in the same district, Darululome Nibongbaru private Islamic school came under arson attack Tuesday evening. Firemen rushed to the site and succeeded in containing the fire from spreading to the rest of the building.

- The Nation / 2008-10-01

=============================================

An additional article on Somchai "solving the problem"... at some point....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2248143

PM to solve the South problem after policy declaration

[sriracha john]

Perhaps there are just too many generals with too little to do in Thailand (both former and current). The talks in Indonesia reflect the mismanagement of this situation. You have military personnel, and according to some reports, the ambassador at the talks, which gov't says aren't official. So basically, the Thai gov't doesn't speak with one voice.

Basically, these former and current gov't officials who engage in this type of dialogue outside officially sanctioned talks, whether formal or informal, should be charged with either treason or aiding and abetting terrorism. There dialogue does nothing but spread confusion, and apparently doesn't work very well, considering the recent events.

Of course, I don't discount the possibility that the gov't does sanction the talks, but doesn't want to lose face. Either way, without a clear policy on the South, it's hard to know who is doing what to make any kind of a measurable impact on the situation.

the talks never happened, Scott... so says Somchai...

Thai PM denies government talking with southern insurgents

BANGKOK, Oct 1 (TNA) - Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Wednesday denied that the Thai government has been negotiating with insurgents in the southernmost provinces, but Indonesian state-related media reports that representatives of the Thai government and the country's nearly five-year-old insurgency will meet again next month.

Somchai's denial came amid reports from Indonesia's Antara news agency that Thai government representatives, will meet with ethnic Malay Muslim insurgents from Thailand's Malaysian border province in November.

Indonesia has reportedly agreed to mediate talks which would resume at Bogor, south of Jakarta on November 1, Antara quoted Indonesian State Secretary Hatta Radjasa as saying.

Somchai said he had asked an official concerned with the reports and was told that no negotiations have been held with any insurgent groups.

The prime minister said the insurgency in the southern border provinces is an internal problem which the government had been attempting to address. Currently, he said, the situation had improved *it has???* :D, although a steady number of violent incidents continue to be carried out in the area. a "steady number" indeed... :D

Somchai said his government will revise its strategy and what it will implement to cope with the unrest after it presents its policy statement before the House of Representatives.

The Premier said the National Security Council and state agencies concerned had already wrapped up a strategic plan to address the insurgency.

Local residents in the violence-plagued provinces had a better understanding of what the government has done. he said, and now they are ready to cooperate.

More than 3,500 people have been killed since violence erupted almost five years ago in the restive southern region.

Edited October 1, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Bomb blast injures 2 women

A bomb targeting a security team exploded yesterday morning in Narathiwat's Bacho district, wounding two local women.

The bomb went off behind the Bacho police station at about 7am when a security team arrived in the area to provide protection for monks making their morning alms round in the district. Authorities said the bomb was planted under a tree in front of a motorcycle repair shop on the Bacho-Ban Ton road, and was triggered by remote control. Two local women standing in front of the repair shop sustained shrapnel wounds while the shop was partly damaged, they said.

The injured were identified as Fatima Talae, 50, and Farida Arleesu, 42.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/141008_News/14Oct2008_news13.php

[Scott]

More sad new from the 'Southern front.' I hope that in the current conflict with Cambodia that people don't forget about the South.

[sriracha john]

Emergency decree in insurgency-plagued far South extended

BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) - The Cabinet on Tuesday decided to extend the emergency decree imposed in Thailand's three restive southern border provinces – Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat -- for another three months, a government spokesman said.

Natthawut Saikua told a press conference in the Thai capital that the emergency decree, which will be extended from October 20 to January 19, is still needed there to allow law enforcement officials to do their job.

The emergency decree has now been extended for the 13th time. On each occasion it lasts only three months.

To date, over 3,500 persons have been killed since the violence resumed in the three southernmost provinces in early January 2004.

======================================================================

Emergency decree extended three months

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved an extension of the enforcement of executive decree for administration in emergency situations in the three southernmost provinces for three more months. The renewal of the emergency decree in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat will begin on October 20 until January 19. "The enforcement of the Executive Decree on Emergency Situations there is still necessary," Government Spokesman Nattawut Saikua said after the Cabinet meeting. The emergency decree was first put into effect by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2005 to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=131414

[Scott]

I think the situation in Thailand could get quite difficult if the problems in the South and the border conflict with Cambodia continue. It would be best if one of these situations were settled--or better yet, both were settled.

[sriracha john]

and in the midst of all that Thailand faces now, the Southern turmoil rages on...

Thai police and investigators look at a weapon next to the body of a man who was shot dead in southern Thailand's Pattani province October 17, 2008. A 25 year-old suspected militant was shot dead and four men were arrested in a raid by 100 police and soldiers in Pattani province on Friday, after 20 minutes of fire exchanges and a helicopter hunt, police said.

REUTERS

[Scott]

Thanks SJ for keeping us posted. I am away from Thailand, and this is the only news I get. This situation still needs to be kept alive in people's minds.

Isn't 100 police and soldiers a lot? (Not a critical remark, just a question).

[sriracha john]

the death toll continues to go up and up... as murder continues to occur throughout the region..

Three men killed in Thailand's restive south

YALA, Thailand (AFP) – Three Muslim men including a suspected militant were killed in separate incidents in Thailand's restive south, police said on Saturday.

A 32-year-old labourer, working on the construction of a district hospital in Narathiwat province, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting early on Saturday.

In nearby Pattani province a 53-year-old Islamic teacher was shot and killed in another drive-by shooting as he drove with his family from a local market. His wife and five-year-old son were also shot and are critically ill in hospital.

Also in Pattani, a 25-year-old man was shot dead late on Friday in a gunfight with security officials after the arrests of five other suspected militants.

More than 3,500 people have been killed since separatist unrest erupted almost five years ago in the far southern region.

- AFP / 2008-10-18

[Scott]

Thanks again SJ. Good to keep us informed of the south in these trying times in so many places not only around the kingdom, but far beyond.

[sriracha john]

Teen shot in head in rebel reprisal attack

PATTANI : A teenager was shot in the head in Yarang district yesterday morning, local police said. He was identified as Nattakarn Dorasantia, 18, and was in a serious condition in a local hospital.Police said Mr Nattakarn left home and was riding a motorcycle along the Pattani-Yala road towards Yala when two men on a motorcycle opened fire at him. Police believe the attack was carried out by insurgents in revenge for the killing of one of their core leaders by authorities on Wednesday night. An intelligence source said the slain militant leader was Asmeen Katae, 35, who was on a list of core insurgent leaders who were active in the deep South. He had earlier been taken in for questioning at the Ingkayuthboriharn military camp and

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/241008_News/24Oct2008_news14.php

[Scott]

The article fails to link the shooting to the insurgent leader. Do they think this 18 year old turned him in? Is he related to an informant? Maybe they just go around and randomly shoot people because they are p*ssed off?

[sriracha john]

missed posting this article from a few days ago... which details 5 murders and 6 injuries from last week...

As government compensates deep South victims, the killing goes on

Yala's Governor, Theera Minthasak, has handed out 4.72 million baht in compensation to relatives of victims of the ongoing violence in the region, where five more people died and six were injured in two separate incidents yesterday.

Family members of 21 civilians and six police officers killed earlier in the line of duty, as well as 23 officers and 15 civilians injured in the violence, took part in the ceremony yesterday organised by the provincial officer to win hearts and minds in the local community.

The event came one day after violent attacks in the nearby provinces of Pattani and Narathiwat where five people died in two separate shooting incidents police blamed on separatists.

In Pattani's Tung Yang Daeng district, six men on motorbikes opened fire with M-16 rifles in a gangland style attack on a local home, killing three people in this highly contested area which, according to police, is infested with separatists and sympathisers.

In Narathiwat's Rangae district, assailants attacked a pickup truck with AK-47 assault rifles on the outskirts of the town, killing two and injuring six others as they riddled the vehicle with bullets.

Police identified the victims as village chief Suhaiming Unu, 45, and Arong Kaseng, 22, both residents of Tambon Kalisa of Rangae district.

In Pattani's Yarang district, attackers set on fire the two-storey building of the Pitumuding Tambon Administrative Organisation on Monday afternoon when security guards were away for their evening prayers.

- The Nation / 2008-10-22