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

[Lite Beer]

Police seek arrest warrants against two suspects in Narathiwat bomb attacks

NARATHIWAT, Sept 18 - Police are seeking court approval to issue arrest warrants against two suspects in drug-related Narathiwat bomb attacks which killed five persons, including three Malaysian tourists, and wounding more than a hundred people, Thailand's acting national police chief said Sunday.

Acting national police chief Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong made remarks as he inspected the bombing scene in Su-ngai Kolok district Sunday morning.

Gen Priewpan said the police operations centre in the southern border provinces will closely work with concerned agencies to ease the insurgency in the three restive provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

Now it is clear that the culprits are linked with drug syndicates, Gen Priewpan reasserted. All concerned agencies are planning strict prevention and suppression of the movement after a situation assessment found drugs will be spread widely, especially in border areas.

Responding to the latest attack, Gen Priewpan said police are ready to seek arrest warrants for two men who allied to the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) and hired by major drug trafficking syndicates in the areas.

The acting police chief asserted that security measures in Su-ngai Kolok will be readjusted with the integration police, military and administrative officials work to ensure the safety of both residents and tourists.

The death toll from Friday's bombing rose to five after one of the injured persons died in hospital, while another 13 remain under treatment in several hospitals.

A series of car and motorcycle bombs occurred at three locations on the same road in Su-ngai Kolok district.

In the first incident, at 6.40pm, insurgents built a homemade bomb into a motorcycle, parking it at the entrance of the Teochew Association on Charoen Khet Soi 3 in the provincial seat.

The second device, also a motorcycle bomb, was detonated at 6.55pm some 300 metres from the initial blast, as the authorities, including defense volunteers and emergency rescue workers were investigating the first bomb.

At 7.20pm, the third bomb exploded in a car parked at the intersection opposite the Merlin Hotel. The 20-30 kg explosive device was triggered by radio, and the blast damaged many shops, and shattered windows in the hotel.

Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri said Saturday that three people were killed in the attacks, and 118 were wounded, but 75 had received treatment at hospital and were discharged. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-18

[Lite Beer]

Malaysia warns against travel to southern Thailand

KUALA LUMPUR, September 18, 2011 (AFP) - Malaysia warned against non-essential travel to southern Thailand on Sunday, after four of its nationals were killed in bomb attacks in the insurgency-plagued region.

Thai police have said militants may have deliberately targeted tourists in bombings near two hotels and a Chinese-Thai cultural centre in a coordinated attack in Narathiwat province on Friday night.

Malaysia's foreign ministry issued a statement on Sunday advising travellers to avoid southern Thailand until the security situation improves.

Those killed in the attacks included a three-year-old boy, the ministry said. The bodies have been returned to Malaysia.

A seven-year rebellion in Thailand's Muslim-majority south has left thousands dead.

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.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-09-18

[webfact]

Malaysian's death takes bomb toll to 5

By Narong Nuansakul,

Supitcha Tcharattana

The Nation

Narathiwat

The death toll in Friday's series of three bomb attacks in Narathiwat's Su-ngai Kolok district has risen to five after a Malaysian tourist succumbed to his injuries.

The district's normally lively downtown area has been mostly silent since the bombs exploded on Friday evening. Tourism-related businesses have been hurt by the attacks as tourists, mostly Malaysians, have cancelled their trips and hotel reservations over safety concerns.

"Tourists have cancelled reservations for 1,800 rooms owned by 42 hotel operators," said Saengthong Preechawuttidej, chairman of the Su-ngai Kolok Hotel Association.

Police would issue arrest warrants for two of eight suspects captured on video by closed-circuit cameras in a few days, said acting national police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong.

Yau Wing, 53, succumbed to his injuries at Yala Hospital on Saturday night.

The attacks killed four Malaysian tourists - including a 3-year-old boy - and a Thai rescue worker.

26 STILL IN HOSPITAL

Meanwhile, 26 of the more than 100 people injured remain hospitalised, six of them in serious condition. They were admitted to Yala, Songkhla Nakarin University and Su-ngai Kolok hospitals.

Priewpan was flown by helicopter to the district yesterday to inspect the attack scenes. Provincial police reported to him on the progress of the investigation.

During their report presentation, police said the two suspects were members of a militant group in Su-ngai Padi district in the same province. Police identified them only as Saman and Mading, withholding their surnames. The suspects were under surveillance by plainclothes police officers to prevent them from escaping, they said.

Priewpan said the two suspects were Runda Kumpalan Kecil (RKK) members 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.

TOURISM 'AFFECTED'

Saengthong said the bomb attacks on Friday evening were the worst incident since violence first broke out in 2004, as it was the first time that bomb attacks had killed foreign tourists.

He said the incident had unavoidably affected tourism, the economy and trade in the district as it caused tourists and entrepreneurs, especially those from Kelantan and Terengganu states in Malaysia, to fear for their safety.

Aman Madadam, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Narathiwat office, said the Malaysian media had devoted a lot of attention to the attacks, reporting from the district continuously.

Aman and Saengthong called on authorities to implement practical measures to ensure people's safety in a bid to restore the district's image.

Saengthong said hotel operators and other service-sector firms would not leave Su-ngai Kolok, despite the violence. But the government would have to act sincerely to end the chronic violence, he said.

Priewpan said police, military and administrative officials would adjust their security measures, taking responsibility for clearly zoned areas and co-ordinating their work.

-- The Nation 2011-09-19

[johna]

The Nation newspaper was once accused by the government of being unpatriotic in its reporting of the southern violence, in its defense The Nation replied that much of its reporting amounted to little more than reprinting government press releases.

Shades of Orwell's "Newspeak"

The conflict is not about religion, but a clash between two distinct cultures one of which is Moslem the other Buddhist.

If you want to get a handle on this read Phil Rees book "Dining with Terrorists" though not about southern Thailand it goes a long way in explaining so called Moslem terrorists.

[OzMick]

The Nation newspaper was once accused by the government of being unpatriotic in its reporting of the southern violence, in its defense The Nation replied that much of its reporting amounted to little more than reprinting government press releases.

Shades of Orwell's "Newspeak"

The conflict is not about religion, but a clash between two distinct cultures one of which is Moslem the other Buddhist.

If you want to get a handle on this read Phil Rees book "Dining with Terrorists" though not about southern Thailand it goes a long way in explaining so called Moslem terrorists.

What is "so called" about a muslim terrorist?

[webfact]

Arrest warrants out for two suspects in multiple Narathiwat blasts

BANGKOK, Sept 19 - Thailand's deputy national police chief Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkaew on Monday confirmed that court-approved arrest warrants have been issued against two suspects in the coordinated bombings in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district last Friday.

Friday night's deadly coordinated bombings killed five people, including three Malaysian tourists, and wounded more than a hundred others.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about the continuing violence in the southern border region, Gen Adul disclosed that there was substantial evidence against the two.

At least five people are believed to have been involved in the deadly bomb attacks. Investigation is under way to track them.

The deputy police chief said the prime minister instructed security personnel in the region to adjust their operations to protect the lives of the people with coordination among agencies concerned.

Gen Adul said the latest violence was part of an attempt to keep violence in the public eye, and to follow the pattern of violent acts by the insurgents.

He also brushed aside suggestions that the blasts were aimed at challenging the new Pheu Thai-led government.

Almost daily attacks since early 2004 have claimed about 4,800 lives in the insurgency-torn region, according to Deep South Watch, an independent research group that monitors the violence in Thailand's three southern provinces of Yala Pattani and Narathiwat bordering Malaysia. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-19

[TechnikaIII]

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.

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.

"... this sort of thing will go on forever until the entire planet is under Islamic rule". Yes.... or preferably, entirely without it.

[TechnikaIII]

The Nation newspaper was once accused by the government of being unpatriotic in its reporting of the southern violence, in its defense The Nation replied that much of its reporting amounted to little more than reprinting government press releases.

Shades of Orwell's "Newspeak"

The conflict is not about religion, but a clash between two distinct cultures one of which is Moslem the other Buddhist.

If you want to get a handle on this read Phil Rees book "Dining with Terrorists" though not about southern Thailand it goes a long way in explaining so called Moslem terrorists.

What is "so called" about a muslim terrorist?

Yes OzMick, that "so called" thing is .... ?

But seriously, this really beggars belief:

"The conflict is not about religion, but a clash between two distinct cultures one of which is Moslem the other Buddhist."

[TechnikaIII]

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.

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.

It's just that in the "bigger picture" as seen by Muslims, they are the only ones left.

[johna]

The Nation newspaper was once accused by the government of being unpatriotic in its reporting of the southern violence, in its defense The Nation replied that much of its reporting amounted to little more than reprinting government press releases.

Shades of Orwell's "Newspeak"

The conflict is not about religion, but a clash between two distinct cultures one of which is Moslem the other Buddhist.

If you want to get a handle on this read Phil Rees book "Dining with Terrorists" though not about southern Thailand it goes a long way in explaining so called Moslem terrorists.

What is "so called" about a muslim terrorist?

Yes OzMick, that "so called" thing is .... ?

But seriously, this really beggars belief:

"The conflict is not about religion, but a clash between two distinct cultures one of which is Moslem the other Buddhist."

Find a copy of Phil Rees book "Dining with Terrorists"

you will defiantly change your mind on this issue.

Every Moslem fighting for justice has been called a terrorist.

[elektrified]

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

You're missing some very beautiful parts of the country if you don't see the Southern provinces. I've been down there. Never felt in danger at all. It could happen anywhere. I used to ride the train to the Atocha station in Madrid all the time...10 days after I left Spain there was one of the worst bombings in history.

[Amr]

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?

[Amr]

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

This is not about independance - this is about world domination REALLY? SEEMS STRANGE THAT A BRIT TALKING 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? YES THEY WILL, DO A VISIT TO THE SOUTH AND SEE FOR YOUR SELF!

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. AGAIN BRIT IS TALKING !!

Unfortunately - its either us - or them! WHO YOU ARE REFERRING AS US ? YOU ARE BRIT RIGHT? SO WHO IS US?

Living together peacefully is something they just dont want...and cannot comprehend. WILL, THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING PEACEFULLY FOR AGES UNTILL SOME SICK BRIT CAME 120 YRS AGO AND DID ALL THAT MESS !!

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

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GO AND READ ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SOUTH OF THAILAND BEFORE YOU POST SUCH A VERY SMART POST !!, DO A LIL SEARCH ON YOUTUBE OR GOOGLE !! GOD, HOW SOME PEOPLE ARE STUPID!!