Bloody Time Reflects Mounting Insurgency In Thai South

[Jai Dee]

Railway in Narathiwat derailed

This morning (August 9th), the army officials surveyed the railway connecting Ban Aisatir (บ้านไอร์สะเตีย) Train Station and Ban Bukit (บ้านบูกิต) Train Station in Cho Airong (เจาะไอร้อง) district of Narathiwat (นราธิวาส) province and discovered that 12 railway pegs were removed by suspected southern insurgents.

The army officials have coordinated with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) in repairing the route while instructing the railway officials to drive carefully to prevent potential dangers.

The officials believe that the southern insurgents could be attempting to derail the train in the area. Nevertheless, the officials have beefed up the security measures to prevent the insurgents from creating turbulence.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 August 2007

[Jai Dee]

Insurgents commit arson, murder, and vandalism in Pattani province

Insurgents set fire to several homes and schools in Pattani province, resulting in at least 2 fatalities.

AT 00:30 today, an unknown number of insurgents set fire to 2 homes in Tambon Takae (ตาแกะ) of Yaring (ยะหริ่ง) district in Pattani province, resulting in the death of 2 home owners inside. The victims were identified as Mr. Noei Sang-ampai (เนย สร้างอำไพ) and Mr. Chit Thechawanto (จิตร์ เตชะวรรณโต).

Shortly after at 1:30, insurgents set fire to a school in Tambon Laem Pho (แหลมโพธิ์) and another school in Tambon Tanyong Talo (ตันหยงดาลอ) of Yaring district resulting in extensive damage to classrooms. Insurgents also vandalized road surfaces and electricity poles in local areas, in addition to placing suspicious objects on road lanes.

Later this evening, the Deputy Minister of Public Health, MD Morakot Kornkasem (นายแพทย์มรกต กรเกษม ) will be traveling to the muang district of Pattani province to host funeral ceremonies for 2 public health officials who were recently murdered by insurgents at a community health center in Yarang (ยะรัง ) district of Pattani province.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 August 2007

[Scott]

My condolences to the health officials and their families. I think it would be wise to leave these folks alone since both sides need them.

[Jai Dee]

Rampage shooting spree amongst 200 soldiers and insurgents

A gun battle occurred between authorities and insurgent elements in Narthiwat province, resulting in 3 fatalities.

Yesterday, an unknown number of insurgents wielding assault weaponry opened fire on a Border Patrol Police unit in Su-ngai Padi (สุไหงปาดี) district of Narathiwat province. The unit was engaging in routine patrols, when insurgents initiated a gun battle which lasted for more than 2 hours.

Reinforcements comprised of over 200 military and police personnel rushed to the scene and aided Border Patrol Police units in battling insurgents for an additional 3 hours before finally ending the incident.

Local officials report that one soldier from the 31st Narathiwat Special Task Force, identified as Pvt Pawee Chat (พาวี ชาติ) was shot in the leg and received critical injuries. 3 insurgents clutching assault weaponry were found dead in the area. Investigations are underway to determine the identities of the deceased gunmen.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2007

[Mid]

Southern violence nearly resolved

Defense minister General Boonrawd Somtas has expressed optimism that the situation in the south will improve in December.

He also explained that the implementation of martial law is still necessary in the southern provinces as daily cases of violence are still occurring.

snip

(BangkokPost.com)

[Mid]

meanwhile .......................

Army put Na Thawi of Songkhla under close watch

Mon, August 13, 2007 : Last updated 22:49 hours

The Army has added the Na Thawi district of Songkhla to be placed under close security watch following the increase of violence in the area, a senior army officer said Monday.

Na Thawi district is adjacent to Saba Yoi in the same province and has been the scene of frequent insurgency attacks, Lt Gen Chamlong Kungsong, a chief of staff, Internal Security Operation Command, said.

snip

The Nation

[Scott]

I get baffled as to where they come up with these dates--in this case the insurgency will improve in December. Why December? I know there will be elections (and the King's Birthday), but what's magical about December?

I see this sort of thing a lot in the news and I am wondering is it some kind of fortune-teller type thing or something astrological because it sure seems to be arbitrary.

[draggons]

Couldn't understand that either when I read it in the papers.

[TAWP]

Atleast they keep it simple for the insurgents to disprove them all the time. Just up the violence in December.

[Mid]

RI to help solve religious conflict in restive southern Thai provinces

Abdul Khalik and Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Yogyakarta

Indonesia has agreed to help Thailand find a solution to violence plaguing the southern part of the country.

Indonesian Foreign Ministry director for East Asia and Pacific affairs Yuri Thamrin said Thai leaders had asked the Indonesian government for suggestions on how to overcome conflict in several Muslim-majority provinces in the south.

"As a good neighbor, we have accepted Thailand's request. We will support a peaceful solution within the framework of Thailand's territorial integration as we have had some similar experiences, such as finding a solution to the conflict in Aceh," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

snip

thejakartapost.com

[Jai Dee]

Gen Sonthi bids farewell

Commander in Chief and Chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน) earlier met with Malaysia’s Commander in Chief as the latter bid farewell to the Thai top brass as he is about to retire this coming September.

Gen Sonthi informed that the meeting also discussed border issues between the two neighboring countries.

As for Thailand’s southern violence, Gen Sonthi said that Malaysia understands the situation. He said that the situation has improved due to local residents’ cooperation.

Malaysia has expressed willingness to provide assistance to Thailand in coping with the southern unrest.

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

[Jai Dee]

Navy able to arrest southern insurgents w/ war weapons

The Deputy Commander of the 3rd Naval Area Command, Rear Admiral Saknarin Charoensuk (ศักดิ์นรินทร์ เจริญสุข), says the southern insurgents were smuggling war weapons into Satun (สตูล) province, but the authority was able to arrest them and put the situation under control.

Rear Admiral Saknarin says the arrested insurgents were trying to gather war weapons in the southern province of Satun, and they travelled from a neighboring country through the Andaman Sea.

However, Rear Admiral Sakarin says the overall situation is still normal even though many illegal foreign labourers have been trying to smuggle into Thailand. He says poverty and economic recession could be the key factors influencing them to find work opportunities in Thailand. Besides, Thai fishermen also need more low-wage workers. Worse off, some of the illegal workforces have also joined the southern insurgency in the three southernmost provinces.

As for the spread of narcotics in the six Andaman coastal provinces, the Deputy Commander of the 3rd Naval Area Command says smaller amount of narcotics have been smuggled into the area as more Thai people are aware of the dangers as well as the penalties. He says most narcotics smuggled into Thailand are reportedly bought by some foreign tourists.

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

[Scott]

What a load of crappola! Everything is "normal", a very strainge definition of normal. And Thai people basically don't smuggle drugs, foreigners do! Do they have a huge influx of foreign tourists in this region.

I think they need some new spin doctors because the stuff they seem to be trying to get us to swallow is pretty sour.

[Jai Dee]

Insurgents unleashed spate of attacks in Yala

The southern insurgents triggered a bomb in a restaurant in Muang district of Yala province, resulting in one injury. The insurgents also ambushed military officers, set fire to six telephone booths, obstructed roads with trees and place suspicious objects in many areas.

Today (August 16th) at around 10:25 hours, Pol. Col. Phumphet Phiphatpetchphoom (ภูมิเพชร พิพัฒน์เพชรภูมิ), said a bomb went off in a restaurant in Muang district of Yala province and one person was injured from the blast. She was identified as Mrs. Sakina Yusoh (ซากีนะ ยูโซ๊ะ), a 35-year-old restaurant owner and she was sent to Yala Hospital following the incident. Pol. Col. Phumphet says the bomb was triggered by a remote control and it was hidden inside a trash can.

Late last night, the insurgents also ambushed military officers who were surveying the areas in Raman district of Yala province. The attack injured one officer. Following the ambush, the insurgents cut down trees and used them to obstruct the local road.

In Krong Pinang district, police and insurgents clashed last night, but no injuries were reported.

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

[Mid]

Al Qaeda, Manipur, Thailand...

B. Raman

Web | Aug 20, 2007

The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency has reported as follows on August 20,2007:

"Fifteen suspected Al Qaeda operatives have been arrested from Moreh town in Chandel district of Manipur bordering Myanmar, official sources said on Monday. While 10 operatives were Myanmarese, five were from Bangladesh, the sources said. Assam Rifles personnel, acting on a tip-off, nabbed them from a house at Moreh Ward number 3, about 120 km from Imphal on August 17, the sources said. All of them had entered India without valid documents, they said.

snip

Among the significant seizures from them are reportedly a Thai work permit and a receipt issued by a bank in Kuala Lumpur. The place of origin of the hospital card is not clear. Thailand has a sizeable number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and from the Arakan area of Myanmar. In the past, there had been reports of links between them and the jihadis indulging in acts of terrorism in Southern Thailand. There were also reports that the jihadis operating in Southern Thailand were being trained in secret camps of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI) and the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JUM) in Bangladesh territory.

It is, therefore, necessary to thoroughly verify the antecedents of the arrested persons and their links, if any, with the ongoing jihad in Southern Thailand.

outlookindia.com

[Mid]

India arrests 'foreign militants'

Last Updated: Monday, 20 August 2007, 11:54 GMT 12:54 UK

Troops in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur have arrested 15 suspected foreign Muslim militants, officials said

snip

"We think they are members of a Rohingya insurgent organisation operating in Arakan but we are not yet definite which one," Maj-Gen BK Chengappa, who leads Indian counter-insurgency operations in Manipur, told the BBC's Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta.

Asked whether those arrested may have links to al-Qaeda, he said there was "no evidence" about such links, which "could only be speculative".

snip

"If they are Rohingya insurgents, it is possible they would have links with militant groups in southern Thailand. But this is something we have to check in depth," an intelligence official told our correspondent.

snip

bbc.co.uk

[Scott]

This is starting to sound Iraq type normal. I do hope there is no connection between the outside groups with links to Al-Queda, but I suspect there is.

[Jai Dee]

Land reform official killed, guard beheaded

An official of the local Land Reform Office was gunned down in Pattani municipality on Tuesday, while a security guard was attacked and beheaded Monday night in his home in Narathiwat.

In Pattani, an official of the local Land Reform Office was gunned down. Thanong ChuChuay, 48, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting as he was on his way to work on Tuesday morning.

A gunman on a motorcycle attacked the victim on a road in Pattani municipality. The gunman made off with Mr. Thanong's weapon.

In another incident, a security guard was killed and his head was nearly entirely severed in his own home in Narathiwat's Waeng district.

Police inspected the body of Mavee Shomupai, 41, who lay dead in a pool of blood in his house after his neck was slashed by an unknown number of attackers.

The victim, a Sungai Kolok municipality security guard, died at the scene.

The police are investagating the motive of the killers to determine if it's related to the southern violence or not. A former co-worker, also a security guard for Sungai Kolok municipality, was recently slashed and killed.

Source: TNA - 21 August 2007

[Mid]

969m baht budget approved for south

(BangkokPost.com) – The cabinet has allocated a budget of 969 million baht to go towards the purchase of closed-circuit telelvision cameras that are to be installed in Thailand’s south.

Assistant to the spokesperson to the Prime Ministser’s Office, Chote Suwannaporn,

affirmed that a the camera installation project will affect five major southern provinces.

snip

The Post Publishing Public Co

[Mid]

Opinion

Locals cling to hopes of a solution in South

Published on August 24, 2007

For the battered military and its Army-installed government, the ongoing raids and the mass arrests, not to mention the "indoctrination" process in the deep South, were meant to rattle the cages of the insurgents just as much as for domestic consumption.

Bang Seng (not his real name), a villager from Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district who was detained in one of the raids, thinks the officials were just out to reach certain quotas - like the drug war during the Thaksin years when the body count became some sort of a benchmark.

But this time round, it's the number of people they put in boot camps, he explained.

"They got this scanner that is supposed to detect bomb-making materials but they try to pass it off as some sort of a lie-detector machine," Bang Seng said.

snip

Don Pathan

The Nation

Yala

[Jai Dee]

Security officials are ready for possible insurgent attacks in Yala

Army, police and administrative officials teamed up in Muang district of Yala province after the intelligence unit reported that southern insurgents could be plotting violence in the area at the end of this month.

According to the report, the insurgents could be planning to create unrest at police stations or attack village security volunteers. Consequently, security officials and relevant units are well-prepared, and they are ready to counter the wrongdoers, if violence occurs.

Recently, police officers have arrested an insurgent ringleader identified as Mr. Amree JaeSoe (อัมรี เจ๊ะโซะ). Mr. Amree was hiding in Yaha district of Yala province.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 August 2007

[TAWP]

This is starting to sound Iraq type normal. I do hope there is no connection between the outside groups with links to Al-Queda, but I suspect there is.

And that is why they should be implementing Letters of Marque and Reprisal against selected individuals.

[Jai Dee]

PM remarks education will help resolve southern violence

The Prime Minister (นายกรัฐมนตรี), Gen. (พลเอก) Surayud Chulanont (สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์), indicates that education (การศึกษา) is an important factor in solving violence in the three southern border provinces (จังหวัด) of Thailand.

Gen. Surayud says people in the far South give more cooperation to authorities by promptly informing the authority of insurgent activities, leading a decrease in the number of unrest situations.

In addition, the Prime Minister expresses his belief that the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the three southernmost provinces is worth to invest as it will help officials to seek the wrongdoers, especially the insurgent ringleaders.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 August 2007

[Mid]

PM remarks education will help resolve southern violence

one hopes he's genuine and not passing off indoctrination .................................

[Mid]

FAR SOUTH / MENTAL HEALTH OF POLICE UNDER SCRUTINY

Policeman so scared of insurgent attack on outpost he kills himself

MUHAMMAD AYUB, PATHAN

A police lance corporal shot himself dead at an outpost in Pattani's violence-plagued Sai Buri district yesterday after suffering from stress caused by fear of an insurgent attack. Pol L/Cpl Adisak Khanpabutra, 25, was found dead in the outpost about 7am yesterday.

Sai Buri police chief Pol Col Khamron Yodrak said Pol L/Cpl Adisak had been positioned in the district for three months and had a history of mental problems.

Police colleagues said he was playing a computer game and listening to radio before shooting himself in the head.

His death has triggered concern about the mental health of police officers working in the deep South.

The government should take their welfare seriously, Pol Col Khamron said.

snip

bangkokpost.net

Edited August 31, 2007 by Mid

[Scott]

I saw the article in the BKK Post as well. It's very sad and it's unusual for folks in war zones to commit suicide. If, as the Post article said, this man had mental health problems, then it's questionable whether he should be a police officer and it's certainly a bigger question whether he should be sent to such a troubled area.

[Jai Dee]

ISOC Region 4 seize insurgent weapons cache

The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 reports that authorities have seized arms and munitions hidden by Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent groups following confessions by insurgent members of the location of their weapons cache.

The Director of the Public Relations Center to the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, Col. Akara Tiparote (อัคร ทิพโรจน์ ) reports that the 33rd Special Task Force recently surrounded Rue (รือเสาะ) district of Narathiwat province on September 9, resulting in the arrest of Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent groups. The leader of the arrested RKK unit, Mr. Abdullapor Yurae (อับดุลรอพา ยูแล), confessed to hidding arms and munitions in a Long Kong plantation. Officials were able to seize three M-16 rifles, one AK-47 rifle, one shotgun, three M-16 grenade launchers, and 100 bullets.

The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 will be expanding their investigation and commended the excellent cooperation of local residents in aiding authorities in their work.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 September 2007

[Mid]

Army Chief reports satisfactory work in combating southern insurgency

The Army Commander in Chief and Chairman of the Council for National Security reports that efforts to solve the southern insurgency have been mostly satisfactory.

Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตนกลิน) conducted a visit to operational units in the three southern border provinces in order to urge special task forces in certain areas to improve their efficiency. The CNS Chairman said that the work of southern personnel have been mostly satisfactory. He revealed that authorities will now be directing their attention to areas with harsh terrain such as Bannang Sata (บันนังสตา) district in order to conduct full suppression of insurgent elements.

The Army Commander in Chief revealed that procurement of devices to jam cellular signals is currently underway in order to provide authorities with more tools to combat insurgents. Gen Sonthi added that authorities are currently focused on dealing with southern protesters, and insurgent members.

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

20 years of trouble

By Post Reporters and AFP

Pattani - The separatist insurgency in the deep South will not be stopped for at least another generation, outgoing army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin says.

Gen Sonthi was in the southern province of Pattani for a farewell ceremony held in his honour. The general will retire at the end of the month but will remain chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS).

A lot more time will be required to realise the goal of stamping out the insurgency which resumed with the weapons heist and killing of soldiers guarding them at an army camp in Narathiwat on Jan 4, 2004.

"It may be another generation," he said.

snip

bangkokpost.net

[Jai Dee]

Multiple bombing in Narathiwat

Insurgents bombed several locations in Narathiwat province, causing more than 10 injuries.

Authorities report that at 6:18 AM today an explosion occurred at a vegetable stand in Ra-ngae (ระแงะ) district of Narathiwat province, resulting in 8 injuries to innocent bystanders and security forces. The victims were identified as: Monk Sakul Sirisopol (พระสกุล ศิริโสภณ ) Pol. Sgt. Maj. Pracha Khamsawat (จ.ส.ต.ปรัชญา คำสวัสดิ์ ) Pvt. Pathomapong Suansawan (ลปฐมพงษ์ สวนสวรรค์ ) Ms. Pathrawadee Naknam (ภัทราวดี นาคน้ำ ) Mr. Rosoh Yaramae (รอเซะ ยาราแม) Mrs. Koda Dirateh (คอดา ดีราเต๊ะ ) Mr. Muhammad Lee Sama-air (มูฮัมหมัดลี สะมะแอ) and Mrs Ancha Sukthapadima (อัญชา สุคธปธิมา ).

All injured bomb victims have been transported to the Ra-ngae Hospital.

Later at 8:10 AM, explosions occurred at 4 locations n Ra-ngae district of Narathiwat province, including an ATM in front of the local Krung Thai Bank branch, the Thanyongmas (์ตันหยงมัส ) Postage Office, the Surin Limited Partnership Motorcycle Dealership, and the Suan Wachara (วัชระ) Sports Field ,resulting in 1 injury to local residents. 2 further explosions occurred in Waeng (แว้ง) district and Si Sakhon (ศรีสาคร ) district of Narathiwat province, resulting in injuries to 1 security volunteer, 2 soldiers, and 1 local resident.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 01 October 2007

[Jai Dee]

Coordinated bombings rock the South

A string of 13 bomb explosions Monday morning in the troubled deep South injured at least nine people, including one Buddhist monk, a military source said.

The first batch of five bombs went off about 7 am local time in the morning market of Rangae town, Narathiwat province, 790 kilometres south of Bangkok, injuring a monk on his alms-gathering rounds and two soldiers guarding him, said regional army spokesman Colonel Akara Thiprote.

Five villagers were also injured in the first attack.

Another four bombs were detonated in Rangae at 8:10 am, injuring one person.

Rangue is classified as a "red zone" by Thai authorities, because of the close collaboration between separatists and the town's inhabitants.

Meanwhile, two more bombs went off in Waeng, and one each in Sisakorn and Sungai Padi, all in Narathiwat, leaving two people injured.

They were the latest of more than 6,000 violent incidents reported over the past three and a half years in Thailand's troubled deep South, the majority-Muslim region comprising Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces and parts of Songkhla.

According to army data, some 2,500 people have died from the violence since January 1, 2004.

Source: DPA - 01 October 2007