Arson Attacks On The Rise In The South

Arson attacks on the rise in the South

PATTANI: -- There has been four arson attacks in Pattani province on Tuesday according to the local police. Two male suspects were arrested soon afterwards, when officials raided their home and found arms and gasoline.

The arsonists either used bottle-bombs or lit mosquito repellent sticks to start the fire, Police Captain Kiartipong Radomsuk of the Thung Yang Deang Police Station told journalists.

The targets were houses of villagers and civil servants, he said. Among the targets was an old police station in Pithan District, which was only slightly damaged as villagers managed to help distinguish the blaze.

One house in Tambon Talameana was almost burnt to the ground. The home owner, 52-year-old Taew Kuepara, also reported a truck with a load of 500 kilograms of rubber was damaged. Police also said the attackers fired at one of the houses, but no one was hit.

The attacks were coordinated and aimed to cause chaos in Pattani, according to the Thung Yang Deang police chief, Police Colonel Chob Silasang.

Pattani is one of Thailand’s three southern-most provinces which have been swept by insurgent violence since the beginning of the year. More than 500 people have been killed in the violent unrest.

The police have identified the two detained men as Manoch Weahaloh and Meng Ming. Police said they seized around twenty rounds of M16 ammunition from the first man's house and charged him with illegal possession of bullets.

The police found seven bottles of gasoline at the other suspect's home and have charged him with arson. The investigation is continuing.

The Thung Yang Deang police superintendent told journalists that he believed the two men were part of the militant movement behind the unrest in southern Thailand.

--TNA 2004-12-28