Picture courtesy of The Bangkok Times

 

Yesterday evening, a horrific shooting occurred in Pattani Province that claimed the lives of two community leaders. The incident took place around 6.30 pm on a local football field, where a village headman and an administrative clerk were shot dead. In the same attack, a government official and a meatball vendor suffered injuries.

 

The attack occurred post a local football match in Datoh subdistrict. Aged 56, Cherdchai Promradkaew, the clerk, fell victim to two gunshots to the head. Sithichai Petchsuriya, the village headman aged 47, was also shot twice, but in the torso.

 

The injured victims, Nattasak Srian, a 38-year-old government official and Makorseng, a 59-year-old meatball vendor, are being treated at Mae Lan Hospital. Based on the M16 cartidges found at the scene, military-grade weapons were likely used in the attack.

 

Preliminary investigations suggest four attackers came on two motorcycles. They shot the victims from behind at close range, while the remaining two fired cautionary shots into the air before making their escape.

 

Immediately after the incident, military forces, including Special Task Force 43, initiated a round-the-clock search within a 500-meter area surrounding the crime scene. Vehicle and individual inspections at established checkpoints have also been intensified.

 

With the magnitude and method of the attack, the police suspect it's the handiwork of a group trying to stir unrest in the region.
 

-- 2024-05-08

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A village headman shot to death in the south?

 

That's very surprising. 

''local leaders''.  What do they lead?  Lollipops and stationary.

2 hours ago, Chris Daley said:

''local leaders''.  What do they lead?  Lollipops and stationary.

Thai policy... which doesn't seem to go down very well.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the police suspect it's the handiwork of a group trying to stir unrest in the region.

Much like Ukraine is trying to eject Russian occupiers from Ukraine and Crimea. It's not "unrest."

Peace talks were "on track" in August 2022 but by February 2024 no major breakthroughs. Since then it appears to be a resurgence of clashes between government and rebellions perhaps reflects the failure of those talks.

Rebel Malay Muslim team leader Ana's Abdullah hoped the new Thavisin government, "purportedly toward democracy," would focus in talks on "recognition of the Patani's community identity, economic and development issues, human rights, education, culture  and the security system. https://www.benarnews.org

Independence or autonomy for the former Kingdom of Patani appears to still be far away. That does not track to a peaceful resolution.

 

It's one thing to whack politicals, but shooting a meatball vendor is way out of line.