PM Paetongtarn to visit southern provinces amid recent bombings

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will visit the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat tomorrow despite recent bombings in the region, as confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

 

Phumtham, who is also with the defence ministry, yesterday, January 14, addressed two bomb incidents: one in Ano Ru subdistrict, Mueang district, Pattani, which injured six paramilitary rangers on Monday morning, January 13, and another in Sri Sakhon district, Narathiwat, which claimed the lives of two police officers.

 

Phumtham mentioned that these incidents were discussed in a National Security Council meeting, noting that “whenever we reduce the enforcement of emergency laws, incidents occur, seemingly aligned with the agenda of certain groups.”

 

He expressed the need to reassess the situation, instructing the council to review within a month whether the measures implemented have led to improvements or setbacks.

 

The deputy PM stated that PM Paetongtarn planned a visit to the southern border provinces tomorrow and confirmed he would accompany her. He stressed that security measures are the responsibility of relevant agencies, which must ensure everything is handled appropriately.

 

This visit will be the 38 year old Thai premier’s first to the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala. During this trip, PM Paetongtarn plans to attend a meeting to expedite and monitor development projects in these regions, including constructing a parallel bridge over the Kolok River in Sungai Kolok district and the Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok double-track railway project.

 

 

This announcement follows the death of an award-winning police officer and his son, who were killed when a road bomb hit their pickup truck yesterday morning, January 14.

 

The officer, 56 year old Police Lieutenant Colonel Suwit Chuaythewarit, and his son, 35 year old Police Senior Sergeant Major Dome Chuaythewarit died in the explosion in Sri Banphot subdistrict, Sri Sakhon district, at 9.50am.

 

Pol. Lt. Col. Suwit was the principal of Tua Ngo Border Patrol Police School in Sri Banphot subdistrict, serving approximately 120 pupils who are not native Thai speakers.

 

A Muslim native of Phatthalung province, he was one of 13 teachers at the school. Suwit received the Princess Maha Chakri Award 10 years ago for his outstanding contribution to education and the development of his students’ lives. His school emphasises teaching morality and sufficiency to local students, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Having attended another border patrol police school in his home province during childhood, Pol. Lt. Col. Suwit was inspired to become a teacher at a border patrol police school.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-15

 

 

[Gknrd]

I lived down there for a while, this ain't never going away. No way No how.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Phumtham mentioned that these incidents were discussed in a National Security Council meeting, noting that “whenever we reduce the enforcement of emergency laws, incidents occur, seemingly aligned with the agenda of certain groups.”

Get around a table and sort this mess out... that's if you want it sorted out that is?

[watchcat]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will visit the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat tomorrow despite recent bombings in the region

 

Don't forget to bring a hard hat.

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Get around a table and sort this mess out... that's if you want it sorted out that is?

Been there, not done it.

"Locked in Unrest: Southern Thailand’s Insurgency 20 Years On,"

https://thediplomat.com/2024/11/locked-in-unrest-southern-thailands-insurgency-20-years-on/

• "... acceptance of the Tak Bai massacre lawsuit in August offered Paetongtarn’s administration a chance to mitigate anti-establishment hostilities in the region." by Nurrisha Ismail  November 13, 2024
• (paraphrasing) While the Narathiwat Court  found sufficient grounds for murder and illegal detention charges against seven former high-ranking officials related to the Tak Bai massacre, the government failed to uphold the rightful judicial process, and bring a measure of accountability for the killing at Tak Bai, could significantly hinder future peace efforts.
• "Barriers to cooperation at both the insurgency and national levels can be ameliorated when conflict resolution policies are strategically designed to build consensus and uphold justice." (my bold)

"when" isn't apparently now.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“whenever we reduce the enforcement of emergency laws, incidents occur, seemingly aligned with the agenda of certain groups.”

The Muslim "South" has been under constant Kingdom of Thailand's State of Emergency (removal of constitutional rights) for decades. Relaxing enforcement while NOT raising or relaxing the State of Emergency entrenches mutual contempt and distrust by the Malay Muslim insurgents, especially in light of new and younger Malay Muslim insurgent groups not represented in the last decade of "peace talks" by the Thai government, largest insurgency group BRN and Malaysia.