Monk Shot Dead In Thai South

[webfact]

Monk shot dead in Thai south

BANGKOK, March 5, 2011 (AFP) - Gunmen killed a Buddhist monk and injured two others as they collected alms in Thailand's insurgency-plagued south on Saturday, police said.

The three monks were shot by two assailants on a motorcycle as they walked through a busy area in Pattani province.

Monks often make their daily rounds with a security detail to protect them from attacks, but police said the victims were unaccompanied because they felt they would not be in danger in a market with a lot of people around.

Shadowy Islamic insurgents have waged a violent campaign in Thailand's southernmost region bordering Malaysia since early 2004, leaving more than 4,400 people dead, including both Muslims and Buddhists.

Violence appears to have intensified recently. A bomb in Yala province killed nine villagers in January and an unusually bold attack by militants a week earlier on a military base left at least four soldiers dead.

Last month, a grenade and bomb attack on a karaoke bar in Narathiwat town injured 17 people and another blast on a busy street in Yala town killed one shop worker and injured 13 other people.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-03-05

[webfact]

One Buddhist monk killed, another injured along with novice in Pattani

Pattani - A Buddhist monk was fatally shot and another injured along with a novice while they were collecting alms Saturday morning.

Police said the shootings occurred at 7 am on the Khok Pho - Tha Rua road in Khok Pho village in Khok Pho district.

Phra Apichai Rojrangsan, 28, a monk at the Sri Mahapho Temple, was shot in the back with a 9mm pistol. He died later at the Khok Pho district hospital.

Phra Suchart Inthankaew, 36, a monk at Pura Pradit Temple, and a novice, Sakol Semsan, 16, who walked on the opposite side of the road from the first monk, were shot and severely injured.

They were rushed to the district hospital and forwarded to the Pattani Provincial Hospital.

-- The Nation 2011-03-05

[Lite Beer]

Monk shot dead, 2 others serious in Pattani

By The Nation on Sunday

The fatal shooting of a monk and serious injuries sustained by another, plus a novice, as they collected alms in Pattani's Khok Pho district yesterday, have forced authorities to beef up security and arrange a "safe zone" for monks to collect alms

The drive-by shooting occurred at 7am on the Khok Pho-Tha Rua road in Khok Pho village. Initial police inquiries found that the two monks and one novice went to collect alms as usual on the route without soldiers providing security when two unidentified gunmen on a motorbike - suspected to be insurgents - shot at them and fled the scene.

Phra Apichai Rojrangsan, 28, who was shot in the back with a 9mm pistol, was pronounced dead at Khok Pho district hospital, while fellow monk Phra Suchart Inthankaew, 36, and novice Sakol Semsan, 16, all from Pura Pradit Temple, were shot and severely injured.

Region 4 Army Commander Lt-General Udomchai Thammasaro-ratch, who visited the injured novice at Pattani Provincial Hospital yesterday, said the route had previously been deemed as safe, with soldiers providing security only by patrolling, so there were no soldiers guarding the three at that time.

Udomchai said police would hunt for the culprits who carried out the shooting. He said officials classed southern insurgents into a "hard-core" group that carried out violent attacks and a supporting group that worked behind the scenes providing direct and indirect assistance.

Pattani Governor Nipon Narapitakkul said the gunning down of the monks might be linked to the fatal shooting on Thursday of Ban Pa Oi Mosque's imam Jaeali Jiyima in Khok Pho district, as the culprits may have wished to undertake a revenge attack or provoke a conflict over different religious faiths.

At press time last night, novice Sakol had a swollen brain and was under medical surveillance at Pattani Provincial Hospital. Phra Suchart, who was sent to Songkhla Nakarin Hospital in Hat Yai, was said to have been shot in the lung and the liver with one bullet remaining in his spine, which may prevent him from being able to walk again. Doctors will check to determine what kind of surgery the monk needs.

Wat Sri Mahapho abbot Phra Khru Sopitphotikhun said the latest shooting had really shaken the morale of monks. He urged the authorities to provide better security.

Khok Pho district dean Phra Khru Navakansopon, said he was saddened by an such attack on peace-loving and innocent monks. He said it wouldn't be much use getting armed soldiers to guard monks as they collected alms because the culprits could be anyone.

Aree Phubalkrasae, the ailing mother of Phra Apichai, was shocked to learn about her son's death and lamented that he had wanted to be a monk for five seasons to make merit for her, before leaving the monkhood to tap rubber and take care of her. Grieved by this loss, she said she was proud, however, he had carried out religious duty up to the last minute of his life.

Meanwhile, suspected insurgents planted a 3kg roadside bomb early yesterday in tambon Karubi of Pattani's Kapho district, targeting a passing patrol of soldiers, but the device went off "late" at 10am and no one was injured. A similar incident also occurred yesterday in tambon Yaha in Yala's Muang district, where a 10kg roadside bomb, targeting a five-soldier patrol, went off minutes after the team passed the spot. No one was injured in that blast either.

-- The Nation 2011-03-06

[jayjay0]

Just more reasons why Islam should be stamped out.

[softgeorge]

I really do not understand why muslims have such hatred for anything that is not islamic. Why do muslims think it is thier right to just wander down the street and kill anyone who they think is not muslim. Islam is not a religion it is a cult run by mad people who preach death and destruction.

[jayjay0]

I really do not understand why muslims have such hatred for anything that is not islamic. Why do muslims think it is thier right to just wander down the street and kill anyone who they think is not muslim. Islam is not a religion it is a cult run by mad people who preach death and destruction.

Interesting. On another thread they are trying to blame it all on the drug barons.

funny how people are so willing to stick there heads in the sand and avoid reality.

Maybe they are using to much of the product they are claiming is the problem in the South.

[ThiagoBras]

Just more reasons why Islam should be stamped out.

Just more reasons why FUNDAMENTAL Islam should be stamped out

[ThiagoBras]

Just more reasons why Islam should be stamped out.

Just more reasons why FUNDAMENTAL Islam should be stamped out