Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Renewed violence has struck the troubled southern provinces, as armed assailants opened fire on civilians in the district of Chanae, Narathiwat, leaving a 76-year-old woman dead and her son seriously injured.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 15:25 on 2 May in the area between the villages of Ai So and Ai Bue Ta, located in Chang Phueak subdistrict. Authorities were alerted by the village head of Moo 4, Ai Bue Ta village, who reported that two people had been shot.

 

The fatal victim has been identified as Mrs. Sanga 76, a blind resident of Su-ngai Kolok district in Narathiwat province. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

The injured individual, Mr. Tasnai a local resident of Moo 4 in Chang Phueak, sustained a gunshot wound to the right side of his chest and was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

 

Authorities have launched an investigation into the shooting and have yet to identify the perpetrators or determine a motive. Security in the area has been heightened, with additional patrols deployed to prevent further violence and to reassure the local population.

 

The incident has reignited fears of escalating unrest in the region, where fragile peace talks between the Thai government and insurgent factions have shown only limited progress in recent years.

 

Local officials expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reiterated calls for unity and cooperation from the community in the face of ongoing threats.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-03.

 

 

 

 

Nothing seems to be done about this urban terrorism

I wonder how much of this is related to the unrest in the South and how much is just the random violence that happens everywhere? 

 

When I worked in Songkhla, I talked to a lot of the locals about the situation, and it seems a lot more complicated than I realized.  Largely related to land grabs. 

 

I'll leave my statement at that.  It's complicated.

 

16 minutes ago, impulse said:

I wonder how much of this is related to the unrest in the South and how much is just the random violence that happens everywhere? 

 

When I worked in Songkhla, I talked to a lot of the locals about the situation, and it seems a lot more complicated than I realized.  Largely related to land grabs. 

 

I'll leave my statement at that.  It's complicated.

 

That it is.

The southern border is lucrative territory, as most borders are. There's plenty of money to be made in smuggling, whether cigarettes & alcohol, drugs & people or anything else there's a market for. Gangs kill to control the best routes and maintain monopolies, and the southern insurgency provides a handy cover. Those 'gangs' include local mafia, various Muslim separatist groups, as well as corrupt officials, police, army and defence volunteers.