Bloody Time Reflects Mounting Insurgency In Thai South

[vermin on arrival]

Wow. Pretty horrible. Shooting them with AK47s in front of their students. With the earlier killings of teachers, I've never head of it happening that way. Usually, they are poped while riding their motorcycles to school. I wonder how long before the crackdown starts, and the real boodbath begins.

Edited June 12, 2007 by vermin on arrival

[Jai Dee]

Bomb exploded in Tak Bai last night but no injuries

Yesterday (Jun 12) at around 19:00 hours, a group of suspected southern insurgents detonated a bomb in a grocery store in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat province. Fortunately, the blast did not injure anyone.

At about the same time, another bomb was planted nearby the area, but the bomb squad was able to prevent it from going off.

Officials believed the bombs were planted by suspected southern insurgents who attempted to create another unrest situation in the deep South.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 13 June 2007

[Mid]

Some 1,000 Thai Muslims stage a protest in front of a mosque in Raman district on Wednesday to demand the authorities to arrest insurgents who killed an uztad recently.

Photo by Nakharin Chinnawornkomol

[Jai Dee]

9 school attacked by arson in Yala last night

Assailants of an unidentified group and amount set fires to nine schools in Yala Province almost at the same time last night (June, 13th). The first arson took place at about 20.00 hrs. at the Ban Sato (บ้านสะโต) School in Raman (รามัญ) District. The other eight occurred in various other districts.

The assailants also scattered nails on many roads in the province to prevent officials from entering the scenes of arson. As a result, the cost of damage has yet been estimated.

During this month, more than 10 arsons took place in the province, Six of which occurred in the Mueang (เมือง) Yala District, 2 in Kabang (กาบัง), 1 in Bannang Sata (บันนังสตา), and 1 in Raman.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 June 2007

[Mid]

add Pattani and the number jumps to 13 ................

[Pd10642]

Oh my...

[Jai Dee]

60 schools in Yala closed temporarily

Yala (ยะลา) Educational Office 1 reports that about 60 schools in the province have been been closed temporarily due to series of violence attack.

Insurgency’s ambush attack local teachers on June 12th caused fear among teachers; therefore, Yala Educational Office has decided to allow 60 local schools to take a break in providing education.

Meanwhile, the government has been requested to tighten up security measures for southern education institutes.

Yala residents today arrange the worship of the Allah’s ki to pray for peace to happen in the region again.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

PM to call meeting with security units to discuss security for teachers in restive south

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will call a meeting with security units to adjust guidelines to tackle insurgency in the three Southern border provinces. The premier instructs the Ministry of Education to step up security for teachers.

Gen.Surayud says it depends on the Ministry of Education to decide what to do to prevent insurgent attacks on Southern teachers who will travel to meet him in Bangkok.

Today (June, 14th), Chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) Gen.Sonthi Boonyaratglin and Defence Minister Gen.Boonrawd Sontas will discuss the matter with the premier.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 June 2007

[Scott]

Last night (14 June), CNN was airing some footage on the southern violence. It showed a bomb explosion when the officials went to defuse a decoy bomb. It also showed the monks on a hunger strike. All in all, the press coverage wasn't very positive, but it's good to see that it's getting some international attention.

Sorry I don't have more details about the coverage. I was busy and was trying to listen at the same time.

[Jai Dee]

Another school in Yala was burned down by suspected insurgents

Police and army officials inspected Ban Thung Ka School in tambon Lam Mai in Muang district of Yala province this morning (Jun 15) after suspected insurgents set fire to the school.

Ban Thung Ka School was set ablaze last night, and the fire devastated two school buildings. The first building had six classrooms for kindergarten and elementary students as well as a nursery room and a storage room. Meanwhile, a library, a teachers’ office, a staff room were in the second building. The fire also destroyed three personal computers, important documents, and high-technological teaching materials.

Villagers living near the school said they could not come out of their residences when the school was on fire because the suspected insurgents threatened to shoot them. As a result, the fire could not be extinguished on time.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Royal wreaths laid down at funeral of official who died from southern blast

Chaiyaphum Governor Supakit Bunyaritthipong laid down the royal wreaths bestowed by His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, and Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolrat at the funeral of Second Lieutenant Adisak Amphochai who lost his life from a bomb blast in Thung Yang Daeng district of Pattani province on June 13th, 2007.

Second Lieutenant Adisak died while he was on duty to protect the southern teachers. The blast also injured one official identified as Private Suwit Prapatsri.

Following the bombing incident, Second Lieutenant Adisak was promoted from a Private to a Second Lieutenant. His body is at Wichien Thammaram Temple in Ban Thaen district of Chaiyaphum province. The relatives of Second Lieutenant Adisak were also at the temple and lamenting for his passing. Chaiyaphum Governor Supakit donated money from the Royal Thai Army to the relatives.

The cremation ceremony is scheduled on June 17th, 2007 at Wichien Thammaram Temple.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Fourth Army Area adjusts plans to tackle insurgency

The Fourth Army Area Commander, Gen.Wiroj Buacharun (วิโรจน์ บัวจรูญ) reveals that he has instructed military officials to adjust operational plans to deal with insurgency due to daily attacks on state officials in the three Southern border provinces.

As for progress of the bomb incident last night (June, 15th) at a tea shop in Krong Pinang (กรงปินัง) District, Gen.Wiroj says officials already detained six suspects and brought them to be interrogate at the Bo Thong (บ่อทอง) Military Camp in Pattani Province.

Investigating officials disclose that two of the suspects were definitely involved in the bombing due to strong evidences.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Authorities believe army patrol was attacked by more than 30 insurgents

Authorities believe that gunmen who attacked a military patrol in Yala province may have numbered more than 30.

The Commander of the Yala Provincial Police, Pol. Maj. Gen. Paitoon Chuchaiya (ไพฑูรย์ ชูชัยยะ), led a unit of police and military investigators to inspect a crime scene where earlier yesterday morning (June 15) a squad of Army soldiers from the 12th Yala Special Task Force of the 2514th Army Infantry company were ambushed and executed by insurgents. Officials found an overturned military pickup vehicle and a bomb crater about 1 meter wide in the area. A bomb of at least 20 kilograms was believed to have been used in the incident.

Pol Maj Gen Paitoon reports that evidence from the crime scene indicates that at least 30 insurgents were involved in the attack. The Yala provincial police commander said initial explosions were used to stun the patrol convoy, whereupon insurgents opened fire with assault weaponry before approaching and gunning down injured soldiers at close range. 7 soldiers immediately lost their lives, while 1 soldier was critically injured.

The deceased are: Sgt. Maj. Chanya Intawisai (จรรยา อินทาวิสัย), Sgt. Rangsan Rakchat (รังสรรค์ รักชาติ), Cpl. Kittisak Chaosiwa (กิตติศักดิ์ เชาว์ศิวา), Pvt. Dulayapap Mingsong (ดุลยภาพ มิ่งสงฆ์), Pvt. Pairote Boonkong (ไพโรจน์ บุญคง), Pvt. Banchong Chumthong (บรรจง ชุมทอง), and Pvt. Yodmanu Ammanee (ยอดมนู อ่ำมณี).

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 June 2007

More information about this particular incident can be found in this thread.

[Jai Dee]

Seven Muslims arrested in Thailand's deep south

Thai police arrested seven Muslim men on Sunday who media reports said were members of a militant group in Thailand's Muslim far south.

The seven were detained during a raid on a rented house in the province of Yala, one of three southernmost provinces where more than 2,300 people have died in three years of unrest.

"We have evidence that one of the seven was involved in several violent incidents in Yala's Muang district. The other six are being investigated," district police chief Phumphet Pipatpetchphum told reporters.

He gave no further details, but radio and newspaper website reports said the seven, aged between 25 and 33, were connected to a militant group called RKK, or Runda Kumpalan Kecil -- which means "Small Patrol Group" in Malay.

RKK first surfaced in a Bangkok Post report in January 2006 which described it as one of several militant groups operating in the mainly Malay-speaking region near the Malaysian border.

No group has taken formal responsibility for the violence and, despite the presence of 30,000 troops and police, the near-daily gun and bomb attacks show no signs of abating.

In the latest incident on Saturday, four Muslims including a religious teacher and a former provincial councillor were shot dead in the province of Narathiwat, police said.

Source: Reuters - 18 June 2007

[Scott]

Does anybody know just how many militant groups there are functioning in the South? What are the major players and are they independent or do they coordinate with one another?

[Mid]

Does anybody know just how many militant groups there are functioning in the South? What are the major players and are they independent or do they coordinate with one another?

ready for the scary answer ?

NO.

[Scott]

Thanks, that's what I was afraid of. I have read a few names of organizations, but they seem to be rather fleeting in the news, only to followed by another which then seems to fade out for quite some time. They are sometimes referred to as "shadowy" organizations in the media.

I've never quite gotten a handle on whether it's a Muslim insurgency, an ethnic Malay problem, an independence movement or, as I suspect, a bit of all 3. Maybe it's an anti-Thai, anti Bangkok thing.

It isn't very often that you run into a situation where the goals of a militant group seem to be as unknown as they are in the South. Most of them are very straightforward. I wonder how much mis-information is given by the gov't just to confuse the issue.

[Jai Dee]

Car bomb in Pattani killed 3 and injured 1

Suspected insurgents triggered a car bomb in the southern border province of Pattani, resulting in three deaths and one injury.

The car bomb blasted this morning (Jun 19) when a group of officials were inspecting the fire incident at Ban Ta Lo Sai Thong School in Mai Kaen district of Pattani province. Three officials were killed and one was injured from the explosion. The fatalities include Mai Kaen District-Chief Officer Chaiyapat Raksayod (ชยพัทธ์ รักษายศ), the Secretary-General of the Mae Kaen’s Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Center, Lieutenant Colonel Surasak Kotutha (สุรศักดิ์ โคตุทา), and security volunteer Arhama Laharn (อาหะมะ ละหาร). The injured victim is identified as Sergeant Major 1st Class Serm Kongrat (เสริม คงราช). Mr. Chaiyapat died while he was delivered to Mai Kaen Hospital.

Police assumed that the insurgents wanted to pressure the state officials after the Chief Executive of Tambon Don Sai Administrative Organization and the local village headman were shot dead previously.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

DSI’s investigations in Deep South progresses by more than 50%

Deputy Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) discloses that DSI’s investigations into cases in the three Southern border provinces have progressed more than 50%. Most of the cases are complicated and concern insurgency in the area, he says.

DSI Deputy Director-General Tharit Phengdit (ธาริต เพ็งดิษฐ์) says DSI has dispatched more officials to the three Southern border provinces to gather intelligence related to the cases and assess the situation. Cases which are under DSI’s investigation include the gun robbery at the Phatthana (พัฒนา) Military Camp, drug trafficking, mafia activities, and piracy. Mr Tharit says there are 12 influential people in the provinces involved in the cases.

The deputy-director general also says the progress of the investigations facilitates the government’s security measures in the Deep South.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2007

[Mid]

notice there is no mention of Two Major Cases that await investigation ,

amongst numerous others ...............

[Jai Dee]

Authorities arrest 17 suspected insurgents in Yala

Authorities have apprehended 17 suspected insurgents in Yala province.

Yala Governor Theera Mintrasak (ธีระ มินทราศักดิ์) and Yala provincial police Deputy Commander Pol Maj Gen Paitoon Chuchaiya (ไพฑูรย์ ชูชัยยะ ) conducted a joint press conference to report on the success of authorities in apprehending a number of suspected insurgents. Governor Theera revealed that the 12th military Special Task Force, Bannang Sata (บันนังสตา) police officers, and administrative officials conducted a joint operation to arrest 17 suspects, and seize a number of firearms, explosives, and equipment.

The Yala Governor said that the operation constitutes a very successful offensive strategy implementation by authorities. Further investigations will be conducted in order to determine the suspects' identities, affiliations, and crimes.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2007

[Mid]

The Yala Governor said that the operation constitutes a very successful offensive strategy implementation by authorities. Further investigations will be conducted in order to determine the suspects' identities, affiliations, and crimes.

did I really read that ????

[admiraldy]

Insurgents are getting more and more sophisticated in their tactics , the goverment must act quikly otherwise , watchout for the snow ball getting bigger and bigger.

[Mid]

if you don't know what there identities, affiliations, and crimes are prior ,

how do you identify them as Insurgents ???

[Jai Dee]

PM affirms government is ready to negotiate with insurgents

The Prime Minister, Gen. Surayud Chulanont, affirms that the government is opened to negotiations with the southern insurgents.

Prime Minister Surayud gave an interview to reporters in Chiang Mai province to report on the government's policy on dealing with the southern insurgency. Gen. Surayud reveals that he has been coordinating with Muslim leaders from Al-Azhar University in Egypt, in order to prevent Thai students studying at the university from being deceived into joining insurgent groups as rumoured. He says the Al-Azhar University will be opening a campus at the Princess of Narathiwat University so that Thai-Muslim students do not have to travel out of Thailand to pursue their studies.

The Prime Minister says the government is ready to open negotiations with insurgents in order to create peace in the southern region. Gen Surayud added that the new constitution's draft is nearing completion therefore public participation is required to assess the constitution's contents. A new government is expected to be established by the end of this year and is expected to more effectively address the southern insurgency.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 June 2007

[Mid]

expected to more effectively address the southern insurgency.

I'll bite ,

anyone want to assist with my edification here ??

[Jai Dee]

Malaysia signal positive intention to solve southern unrest

Defence Minister Boonrod Somthas says Malaysia has sent positive signals that it is willing to help Thailand in solving the violence in the three southern border provinces.

Gen. Boonrod says the Thai and Malaysian authorities have a discussion on the southern unrest, and the Malaysian authority has expressed its intention to fully help Thailand end the problem. Gen. Boonrod says Malaysia does not want the southern violence to spill over to its country. In addition, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will take an official visit to Malaysia to have a discussion on this issue with the Malaysian Prime Minister.

Gen. Boonrod says it is possible for the southern border region of Thailand to become a special administrative zone, but insists that the southern problems must be addressed quickly. He reiterates that he will not allow anyone to divide the country.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

3 killed, 10 injured, schools torched

Yala - Three people were killed and at least ten others injured when southern insurgents launched coordinated attacks, including school arsons, in Yala and Songkhla Friday night.

Police said the casualties happened in Yala when insurgents opened fire a teashop.

The insurgents also set fire to a school in Yala, set fire to several other spots as well as detonating a bomb while their colleagues in Songkhla set fire to five schools.

Police said an unknown number of insurgents on a pick-up truck opened fire the teashop using assault rifles at about 9:10 pm.

The shop was located in Ban Thamnob Village in Tambon Tanoh Puteh of Bannang Sata district.

Three were killed at the scene and the injured were rushed to the provincial hospital.

All of the three were 14-year-old boys identified as Rusalan Ruding, Marolima Senglaroh and Imrol Sengsoh.

The shooting against the teashop followed arson attacks against a school in Raman district at 8 pm. Two buildings of the Ban Kameng School were damaged.

Police said insurgents also set fire to power poles and rubber tiles at many spots in Yala's Muang district.

Insurgents also detonated a bomb, destroying two power poles on the Yala-Bannang Sata Road in Muang districts.

Meanswhile, the insurgents also fire to five schools in Songkhla's Sabayoi district at about 9 pm.

They were Ban Khoksileng School in Tambon Thungpho, Ban Khoktok Schook in Tambon Thungpho, Sabayoi School and Ban Thamniab School in Tambon Sabayoi as well as Polormudor School in Tambon Janae.

Source: The Nation - 23 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Five Songkha schools torched by insurgents

Five schools in this southern border provinces were torched allegedly by insurgents Friday night, police sid.

The five schools in Sabayoi district caught fire at about 9 pm.

They were Ban Khoksileng School in Tambon Thungpho, Ban Khoktok Schook in Tambon Thungpho, Sabayoi School and Ban Thamniab School in Tambon Sabayoi as well as Polormudor School in Tambon Janae.

Source: The Nation - 23 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Special administrative region in restive South possible, says defence minister

Plans by the Thai government to confer with militant insurgent leaders in the restive South to end the bloody violence in the region are considered positive, said Defense Minister Gen. Boonrawd Somtas Saturday, who suggested it is possible to establish a special administrative region (SAR) there.

Speaking to journalists after a two-day visit to Malaysia which began Wednesday, Gen. Boonrawd said the government in Kuala Lumpur is prepared to cooperate with Thailand in finding solutions to the violence in Thailand as it feared that the problem may spill over into Malaysia.

He said that while Malaysia did not offer to mediate between Thai government and southern militant leaders, Thailand's plan to negotiate with the insurgents is part of a "road map" to restoring peace in the troubled region.

The Thai government has now "nearly" approached the militant leaders, Gen. Boonrawd said, adding that there is a possibility that the government would consider their demands to establish a Special Administrative Region in the Muslim-majority provinces and districts.

"Even China has SARs," said Gen. Boonrawd, reflecting on the Chinese experience.

"If the government believes such an approach could solve the problem," he commented, it could be done. "It all depends on the (Thai) government to discuss the issue but what we can't accept is to set up autonomy," said Gen. Boonrawd.

He said senior Thai and Malaysian foreign ministry officials would meet late this month to discuss situation in Thailand 's restive South. Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont is scheduled to confer with his Malaysian counterpart on the deep South again in the Malaysian resort of Penang in August.

More than 2,300 people have been killed in the ongoing insurgency in the provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat which has renewed after militants raided and stole military arms from an army base in early January 2004.

Source: TNA - 23 June 2007