Multiple Bombings In Narathiwat Tourist Areas Leave Two Dead, 40 Hurt

webfact · September 16, 2011

Serial blasts rock Narathiwat

By The Nation

Three bombings within 45 minutes in tourist areas leave two dead and 40 injured

Two people were killed and 40 others injured in three serial bomb attacks yesterday evening in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district, in what many considered was one of the most violent incidents in the deep South since the new government came into power.

Unconfirmed reports at the time of going to press said a two-year-old girl was the third fatality. A motorcycle bomb exploded at around 6.40pm near the Tae Chiew Clan charity association, injuring several people, while the second bomb went off 15 minutes later about 300 metres away, injuring a number of tourists.

Later at 7.20pm, a 30-kilogram car bomb exploded outside the Merlin Hotel, shattering its glass windows and damaging homes nearby. At press time, there were no details about which explosion killed the two victims.

Mobile-phone signals and electricity were unavailable a long while after the blasts, possibly because the power stations were affected by the explosions and the authorities were jamming the signal to minimise further bomb attacks. Electricity returned at 10pm.

All three sites were located in business and tourist areas, and the attacks took place on Friday night, when people usually go out. Residents have been advised by soldiers to stay indoors for security reasons.

Maj-General Akkhara Thiproj, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command in the South, said a number of suspects had been arrested and were implicated by the evidence initially available. He added that a bomb was also found near a Chinese shrine, but was defused in time.

The spokesman said the attacks could have been in retaliation for a raid on suspected drug dealers on Tuesday, which turned up a total of 14,000 amphetamine tablets.

After initial reports of four deaths, a statement from Pol Maj-General Chaiyathat Inthanoojit cut the death toll down to two. One of the victims was identified as Seksan Rojjanasiri while the other was a Malaysian tourist.

Among the 40 injured, 13 are in critical condition. The injured include two policemen, one soldier and a civilian defence volunteer.

Human Rights Watch's Sunai Pasuk, said the bombing was a message from the insurgents to show that they would remain active no matter who was in power in Bangkok.

Two policemen had earlier been killed and three villagers wounded yesterday after a shootout during a Friday prayer at the Anulyakin Mosque at Somboon Sarnwittaya School in Yala's Muang district.

A police team led by Colonel Krissada Kaewchandee found that police Senior Sgt-Major Arong Malaya and police volunteer Mahama Yama had died of shotgun wounds to the head.

The three injured villagers are Anuwa Deng, Leuman Yoma and Abdhul Wale Taha. They were being treated in a hospital.

Police said the victims had gone to the mosque to "worship Allah's kindness". A group of four insurgents had parked their motorcycles in front of the mosque. Two of them got inside the mosque and were sitting near the worshippers. Suddenly they stood up and shot them.

They escaped from the mosque and disappeared.

Police believe that the insurgents want to aggravate the violent situation in the deep South.

The Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre will ask the government to extend the emergency decree in the three Southern provinces. Meanwhile, Deep South Watch reported there were more than 11,074 cases of violent incidents in the three southernmost provinces over 92 months.

The large number of cases in the three Southern provinces has prompted Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) secretary-general Panu Uthairat to ask the government to extend the emergency decree in the areas.

The current emergency decree will expire on Monday.

The centre will spend Bt12 billion to develop these Southern provinces.

"I recently met with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and informed him about the situation. He said he would put this issue before the Cabinet at its next meeting," Panu said.

Deputy Prime Minister Kowit Wattana yesterday also voiced concern about the escalating violence in the three southernmost provinces.

"Despite signs of improvement, the violence has again intensified," he said.

Kowit said he had instructed the authorities to take extra precautions. He urged all sides to give moral support instead of trying to fault the security officials in charge of quelling violence.

"I am quite concerned about the situation, because September is the month coinciding with the rotation of officials," he said.

He also said the government would not revoke the emergency rule at this juncture.

-- The Nation 2011-09-17

webfact · September 16, 2011

Three dead, 50 hurt in multiple Thai south bombs

NARATHIWAT, September 17, 2011 (AFP) - Multiple bombings killed at least three people and wounded 50 on Friday in Thailand's insurgency-plagued deep south, police said, amid signs of escalating violence in the region.

Three near-simultaneous blasts targeted a hotel, police station and a Chinese-Thai cultural centre in Sungai Golok, in Narathiwat, one of three provinces in the Muslim-majority south where a seven-year rebellion has claimed thousands of lives.

It was initially unclear whether the casualties were concentrated in a particular area of the town, which is on Thailand's border with Malaysia.

Two of the devices -- outside the Parkson hotel and the Chinese centre -- were believed to have been planted on motorcycles. The police station explosion was thought to be from a car bomb.

Around 4,800 people have been killed in near-daily attacks since shadowy rebels launched an uprising in early 2004, according to the latest figures from Deep South Watch, an independent research group that monitors the conflict.

The organisation has said it has seen a higher frequency of attacks with a greater intensity of violence in recent months, with authorities and both Buddhist and Muslim civilians targeted.

On Thursday five soldiers were killed after suspected insurgents opened fire on those wounded in a roadside bombing, police said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-09-17

PaulHamon · September 17, 2011

v.sad anywhere in the world.

alant · September 17, 2011

I dont know how you deal with this, give help and they will just use it against you. once people put their cause above people nothing matters to them except the cause. those in charge of the actions should be on view for all to see so that they can take credit for their actions.

my view, give them independence and seal the border, nothing in or out.

Bakseedaa · September 17, 2011

Dont worry folks...Yinluck will fix-it... one wave of her "magic wand"......

OzMick · September 17, 2011

"Two of them got inside the mosque and were sitting near the worshippers. Suddenly they stood up and shot them."

So much for the sanctity of the mosque BS that crops up every time an infidel goes near one.

kmj · September 17, 2011

Christ you're boring, name any government in the past that has fixed it... No? didn't think so.

RaoulDuke · September 17, 2011

That's a nice idea but it would never work. Just look at India and Pakistan, India already tried and failed miserably to reach a compromise. The same nightmare of endless violence is going on in the Philippines in Mindanao. If you give an inch, they will take a mile, and they will never be happy, always demanding more and more. The only real solution is for the powers that be to start preaching tolerance and coexistence, which is a pipe dream, to say the least. Until people learn to live together and respect each other, this type of absurd violence will only get worse. It is human nature to be greedy, intolerant, and self-centered. People never think about the bigger picture, only about what they want for themselves.

webfact · September 17, 2011

Defense Minister: Narathiwat bomb attacks kill three, wound 118 on Friday, are retaliation to govt strict actions against illicit drug syndicates /MCOT

drdoom6996 · September 17, 2011

All she has to do is ask her brother. He might say something like kill them all and let Buddha sort it out. That's what he did.

drdoom6996 · September 17, 2011

Are you crazy? What country where on this earth has fixed this problem. The comment was meant, as I see it, to bring attention to the lack of action done by this inept woman on anything anywhere at any time.

pacovl46 · September 17, 2011

What we can all learn from this is: Don't go down south. R.I.P to the ones that lost their lives.

james24 · September 17, 2011

Same week as the Cambodian temple border dispute got sorted.

Cause a problem then fix it = more popularity

webfact · September 17, 2011

Malaysians among four dead in Thai south blasts

NARATHIWAT, September 17, 2011 (AFP) - Malaysian tourists were among four killed and 110 wounded in multiple blasts in the insurgency-plagued Thai south, authorities said Saturday, amid concerns that foreigners were targeted.

Three Malaysians, including a three-year-old boy, and one Thai national died in explosions near two hotels and a Chinese-Thai cultural centre in a coordinated attack in Sungai Golok town, Narathiwat province on Friday night.

Police said militants may have deliberately aimed to hurt tourists in the triple bombing, one of the largest in recent months in the Muslim-majority deep south where a seven-year rebellion has left thousands dead.

"The insurgents intended to raise the violence to the level of international terrorism by targeting foreigners," said Phaithoon Choochaiya, commander of Southern Border Province police, during a visit to see the injured at the town hospital on Saturday morning.

Shadowy rebels regularly target security forces, government workers and Buddhist and Muslim civilians in attacks, but the violence rarely affects foreigners.

The director of Sungai Golok hospital said 19 Malaysian tourists were among the wounded in Friday's blasts. He said 40 people were still being treated for their injuries and the rest had been discharged.

Two devices -- outside the Parkson hotel and the Chinese centre -- were believed to have been planted on motorcycles. Another explosion outside the Merlin hotel and near a police station was thought to be from a car bomb.

Other police and army figures gave another explanation for the violence, saying drug dealers, who provide money for local militants, instigated the blasts in revenge for a recent narcotics crackdown.

"The blasts last night were definitely retaliation from drug dealers who fund the insurgents. Every time we focus on drugs, there is more violence," Sungai Golok police colonel Jakkarporn Tantong told AFP.

Lieutenant General Udomchai Thamsarorat, of the Fourth Army Area Command, concurred, saying illegal activity "is the cause of all the trouble" in the area.

Around 4,800 people have been killed in near-daily attacks since early 2004, according to Deep South Watch, an independent research group that monitors the conflict in three southern provinces near the Malaysian border.

The group has said it has seen a higher frequency of attacks with a greater intensity of violence in recent months.

On Thursday five soldiers were killed after suspected insurgents opened fire on those wounded in a roadside bombing, police said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-09-17

Lite Beer · September 17, 2011

PM assigns deputy police chief to follow up bomb attacks in Narathiwat

AYUTTHAYA, Sept 17 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she had assigned Deputy Police Chief Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkaew to closely follow up situation after the bomb attacks in the southernmost province of Narathaiwat that killed three people and wounded dozens of victims.

Ms Yingluck said at the moment it was too early to confirmed that the attacks were retaliation from the drug syndicates against government actions to crack down illicit drugs as more time was need to investigate the incident.

The premier said she had told Gen Adul to travel to Narathiwat to oversee the situation.

Narathiwat's Su-ngai Kolok district on Friday was hit by a series of motorcycle and car bombs in the provincial seat, killing three people while some 43 people were still in the hospitals, seven of which were seriously injured.

During a visit to flood victims in Nakhon Sawan, Ms Yingluck said that she would discuss with the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit on how to solve violence problems in the three southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.

The government would seek ways to bring peace to the provinces and, if necessary, would be open to talks to pacify southernmost provinces but these would be based on the rule of law and peaceful means.

Deputy Prime Ministers Yongyuth and Pol Gen Kowit Wattana would coordinate the work and would ask for more cooperation from the military, particularly the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

Asked by reporters whether the intensification of attacks by the insurgents were aimed to challenge the new adminstration, Ms Yingluck said she did not want anyone to jump to conclusions in that way as it could affect the work of the government.

She said the violence in the south had stemmed from various factors and yesterday's incidents were not the first.

Meanwhile, the 4th Army Region commander Lt Gen Udomchai Thammasarorat and Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre director Pol Lt Gen Paitoon Chuchaiya had inspected the bombing scenes on Charoen Khet Soi 3 and visited victims at the hospital.

Gen Udonchai said that the authorities would do their best to arrest the assailants and vowed that security measures would be stepped up to prevent any attacks in the future. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-17

chooka · September 17, 2011

Do you really think that will work? Do you think Islam will be happy and not want to move the border further north. Is there a single country on the planet where muslims are satisfied and not longing to spread thier religious beliefs and sharia laws further? Sorry but this sort of thing will go on forever until the entire planet is under Islamic rule.

swillowbee · September 17, 2011

And just in time for the ramp-up to the tourist high season. They know how to hurt Thailand (their pocket books) and win the attention of international media (the killing campaign seems far off the radar of most international media).

The Thais are so far incapable of solving the problem ... at what point does the Thai government concede the need for international mediaries and find a solution to annual murders now numbering a couple of thousand of innocent civilians? It is getting no better.

Bad as this is, their wanton destruction of civil society will be crippling to Thailand if they ever come out of the South to do their evil.

OzMick · September 17, 2011

have to agree Chooka -appeasement will not work. the only vaccine for religious mania is education. The ONLY logical step is to force muslim religious schools to teach a govt set curriculum with minimal religious education time, or be closed. If muslim youths can achieve an education as good or better than Buddhists, they can compete in the job market and be satisfied with their life.

That said, the whole thai education system needs a massive o/haul and upgrade - not likely to happen under the current govt; they like their voters gullible.

kevinellerton · September 17, 2011

What is the goal of these "insurgents?" What are their demands?

I mean, they are certainly willing to go a long way to achieve their objective... murdering thousands of people over a 7 year period. Have they sent a demand letter to the Thai gvt? Have they aired their issues in the media for all to see? Isn't that how rebellions / uprisings are supposed to work?

In Israel, Muslims are killing Israelis because they want to take over the land and make it into a Muslim country. At least they are civilized enough to say, "Give us your country and we will stop killing your children." Have the Thai "insurgents" at least made their intentions clear? Or... does this voiceless jihad herald the beginning of a new strategy for the Army of Allah? "Well, I guess this whole terrorism thing hasn't worked as well as we'd hoped. After decades of political failure, we no longer expect your evil infidel governments to give us the land out of "terror." So we are just gonna kill you guys until we are the only ones left in the area."

In sharia law, there are two types of land. Dar Al Salaam - "land of peace" (which operate under sharia law), and Dar Al Harb - "land of the sword" (everything else).

When is the civilized world going to wake up to the reality of what's going on, and realize that this must be stopped? Freedom of religion is a noble concept, but it can only go so far. As much as we would like to pin the blame on "radical islam," we must take some responsibility as well. It us our western political correctness and radical, dogmatic liberalism that provide the environment in which this tragic reality is allowed to unfold. And we must also realize that -- uncomfortable as it may make us feel -- we have the power to change that.

FamiIsa · September 17, 2011

the 'insurgents' down souths have little to do with Islam or full understanding of Islam except for perhaps being Islam by birth. the people of the south are not happy with the going on and many have moved out. POLO existed since a long time ago, their demands that they shouldnt be part of thailand was to correct the mistake of one idiot newly appointed Brit viceroy who 100 years ago, without consult or consent from the sultan of kedah and sultan of kelantan, decided to mark the territory by drawing the line at the Sungei perlis in the west and sungei golok in the east, which happen to flow from the same mountain range, thus making a nice clear line. the then governer of krabi, who oversees the entire south, had a laugh, for this idiot think theres nought of value but more work keeping areas above that line. The map of the deep south hath been the land of warlords. They and the commodities they deal with have evolved over the years and they have no intention to let it go. The killings in the south has been going on since before the recorded thousands and much of it has little to do with political motives. The same happen, including political motivated killing, in other parts of thailand. Where people are uneducated and have dislike for governers that doesnt like them, it is only with ease that they could be manipulated under banners such as islam, POLO or such, to undertake otherwise illogical undertakings. I often wonder if belfast is grossly uneducated. The people in power up north are downright unhappy as the see all those nice south forest not within their greedy reach. seems they have cleared the rest of Thailand. the recent change to the map is the gasfields off pattani and kelantan. mahathir and taksin diverted gas away via Songkla piped down to kedah when the pipe network already existed all the way to opposition held kelantan. Insurgency lept many folds thereafter. The warlords, the politician, POLO now have a common goal for autonomy.

anterian · September 17, 2011

I agree that a pacifist tolerant will never work in dealing with Islam, a religion that preaches violence can only be countered by greater violence.

Can anyone explain this comment? "Despite signs of improvement, the violence has again intensified," ..... if a doctor said "the patient is showing signs of improvement but is still rapidly dying", would that make sense?

kimamey · September 17, 2011

Quite agree. It sounds a good idea but forgets that there are Thais living in that area that don't want independence. They would just as likely start on the next province north anyway. Just look at Northern Ireland.

sjjmmi · September 17, 2011

so sad

Pi Sek · September 17, 2011

This is very harsh, I know the area affected very well indeed and spent last year's Loy Krathong there. Sungai Kolok is not usually a target, as it's very popular with Malaysian tourists from Kelantan (the province in Malaysia that enforces Islamic Law). I've been on the phone to those I know down there, they are shocked and appalled and the very large hospital there is having a hard time dealing with all the casualties.

Interesting to hear the Defence Ministry saying it's retaliation for harsh action on drug syndicates. I don't think so, although the Islamist insurgency there - which is mostly driven by Malays - have strong links to the drug syndicates as they share common aims. Maybe they know something, but I suspect it's just a very strong message to the new government that they want independence (which isn't the case amongst more than half of the three Deep South provinces). I do hope this isn't used as an excuse to ramp up the anti-drug campaign and take out a few more political enemies as happened last time.

By the way, regarding the above comments about independence - hardly anyone in Sungai Kolok, which is almost entirely Buddhist, wants to be part of an independent Islamic state of Pattani. As I say above, throughout the rest of the Deep South, it is a minority that want independence.

wellred · September 17, 2011

Ah yes the good old peace loving religion that is Islam. What ever happened to the Buddhist counter group that was formed to fight back against these no bacon eating psychos? Thai's united were they called?

What needs to happen is all these lot should be rounded up, and sent on their way to Iraq or Afghanistan. Im sure they will fit in just fine there.

Edited September 17, 2011 by wellred

Pi Sek · September 17, 2011

^^

What an intelligent point of view.

(edit to include the quote, as it went over the page)

Edited September 17, 2011 by Pi Sek

Lite Beer · September 17, 2011

Fourth victim of Narathiwat blasts dies

By The Nation on Sunday

Another victim of Friday evening's series of three bomb attacks in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district succumbed to his injuries yesterday, taking the toll to four deaths and 74 injuries.

Authorities dispatched two teams to hunt for the perpetrators along the Malaysian border, and suggested the attacks might have been retaliation by a drug syndicate for a recent anti-narcotics operation.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday sent deputy police chief General Adul Saengsingkaew to oversee efforts to tackle the unrest in the deep South. Declining to speculate on whether the timing of the attack was related to the recent change in government, Yingluck said she would discuss ways to restore peace in the three southernmost provinces with Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha later yesterday. She said she would seek cooperation from neighbouring countries, adding that officials in the South would be allowed to keep their jobs and that she didn't want to make changes too hastily.

Yesterday morning, police continued to inspect the three bombing sites: outside the 198 karaoke bar, where a motorcycle bomb was detonated; the Tae Chiew Clan charity association, site of another motorcycle bomb; and outside the Merlin Hotel, where a car-bomb was detonated. Police suspected the attackers comprised four teams, one to plant each bomb and a fourth to detonate them, possibly from a hotel room with a clear view of all three spots. Police were checking security cameras placed along the road for evidence of the suspects, who are believed to be Runda Kumpalan Kecil (RKK) sympathisers hired by drug syndicates in the area to carry out the attack in retaliation for a major drug bust. The RKK is a Malay nationalist group blamed for violence in the South.

There were 78 casualties in the three bomb attacks. Besides the three Malaysian tourists - including a 3-year-old boy - who died at the scene, rescue worker Seksan Rojpasiri, 38, later succumbed to his injuries. Forty of the 74 injured people remained hospitalised as of yesterday. Seven were in serious condition, some with broken limbs and some with burns to more than 50 per cent of their bodies, at Yala Central Hospital and Songkhla Nakarin University Hospital.

Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha and Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 deputy chief Maj-General Akkhara Thiproj shared the view that the bombing of the commercial and tourist area was the work of insurgent sympathisers who had joined with illicit drug syndicates for the purposes of getting money, challenging state power, discrediting the government and intimidating people. Akkhara said the attack was most likely in retaliation for a major drug bust in Sungai Kolok on Tuesday, as the authorities had found videos relating to the southern unrest on a seized cell phone, along with a list of people thought to be involved in drug dealing and another list of names connected with oil-smuggling bribes. Akkhara said two teams were hunting for the attackers, while security along the Thai-Malaysian border had been beefed up and immigration police put on alert to prevent those responsible from fleeing the country.

Isoc chief and Region 4 Army commander Lt-General Udomchai Thammasarorat said security would be tightened in Sungai Kolok to prevent more attacks, and that officers would continue to crack down on the trade in illicit items that is reportedly funding the unrest.

Shaken Sungai Kolok residents said the attacks were the most severe to have hit the district. Resident Anchalee Udomsilpa said this was the worst incident since the unrest erupted in 2004. "I can still feel the shaking caused by the third bomb, which was followed by a blackout. I was so frightened; I didn't know where the bomb had gone off, only that it was near," she recalled.

In the neighbouring province of Pattani, security officials set up checkpoints in 12 districts around the clock to look for suspicious vehicles, as intelligence officials warned of possible further attacks in busy areas of Pattani town. Meanwhile, 29-year-old paramilitary volunteer ranger Anan Rattana, the sole survivor of Thursday's ambush on his six-strong team in Pattani's Ka Pho district, was recovering from serious injuries and expected to be taken off a respirator today.

-- The Nation 2011-09-18

kevinellerton · September 18, 2011

+1

elgato · September 18, 2011

"Akkhara said the attack was most likely in retaliation for a major drug bust in Sungai Kolok on Tuesday"

Doubtful that this was drug related other than the bomb delivery people being tweakers.

djlest · September 18, 2011

Its true - give them an inch and they take a mile

This is not about independance - this is about world domination

Independance is only the first step to getting what they really want...

Do you think the mentality of these kind of people will just let things be after they get independance?

No way! They want to eliminate everyone who is not one of them... and they are sick individuals that will spread the disease further and further if we give into them.

Unfortunately - its either us - or them!

Living together peacefully is something they just dont want...and cannot comprehend.

Do you see buddhists bombing their mosks and poisoning their food and chopping the heads of children?

Edited September 18, 2011 by djlest

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