Bomb Explodes In Narathiwat As School Set Ablaze

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS

Bomb explodes in Narathiwat as school set ablaze

The Nation

NARATHIWAT: -- A school in Narathiwat province was set on fire Wednesday night and a bomb targeting government personnel exploded nearby, but no one was wounded.

The blaze took place on the eve of the visit by Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa, and Army chief Prayuth Chanocha.

The twostorey Ban Ta Ngo School was destroyed after being set ablaze when defence volunteers guarding the school went to perform prayers. Traces of gasoline were found in the remains of classroom, where the fire had been set.

About 300 metres from the burned out school building, an explosive device placed in a 20kg fire extinguisher was triggered by radio control, apparently targeting the response team of state security personnel.

Pol Col Prayong Khotsakha, superintendent of Cho Ai Rong police station, led three pickup truckloads carrying 30 police and soldiers to inspect the scene.

An unknown number of attackers believed to have been hiding in a rubber plantation detonated a bomb buried beneath the road surface when the three vehicles passed.

Police said that suspected insurgents likely set the school building afire to ambush the responding police vehicles in retaliation for their crack down on insurgents. No one was wounded in the incidents.

Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa and Army chief Prayuth Chanocha are visiting the violenceplagued southern border region today.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for the South, Gen Prayuth said he would visit local authorities' operations to ensure their implementation of government policies is in line with the strategies of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

With the eighth anniversary of the Krue Se incident on April 28 drawing near, the army chief said he had placed security personnel on high alert with checkpoints being set up by all units. Intelligence work had been increased and efforts were being made to reduce public misunderstanding.

Both officials first visited a military camp in Pattani to review intelligence operations there and hear progress on the investigations of the March 31 car bombings in the Yala and Hat Yai business districts.

While local intelligence is reporting that the number of attacks has dropped, the authorities must remain vigilant as they have not received full cooperation from local residents, the army chief said.

"I ordered officials to work hard all the time and they are now implementing policies as directed by governmentappointed committees to tackle the southern violence," Gen Prayuth said.

-- The Nation 2012-04-19

[webfact]

School arson, bombing in Narathiwat

NARATHIWAT, April 19 - A school building was set on fire here Wednesday night and a bomb exploded nearby, targeting government personnel, but no one was wounded in either incident on the eve of the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa, who oversees national security, and Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The two-storey Ban Ta Ngo School was destroyed after being set ablaze when defence volunteers guarding the school went to perform prayers. Traces of gasoline were found in the remains of classroom, where the fire had been set.

About 300 metres from the burned out school building, an explosive device placed in a 20kg fire extinguisher was triggered by radio control, apparently targeting the response team of state security personnel.

Pol Col Prayong Khotsakha, superintendent of Cho Ai Rong police station, led three pickup truckloads carrying 30 police and soldiers to inspect the scene.

An unknown number of attackers believed hiding in a rubber plantation detonated a bomb buried beneath the road surface when the three vehicles passed.

Police said that suspected insurgents likely set the school building afire to ambush the responding police vehicles in retaliation for their operations cracking down on insurgents. No one was wounded in the incidents.

Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa and Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha are visiting the violence-plagued southern border region today.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for the South, Gen Prayuth said he would visit local authorities’ operations to ensure their implementation of government policies is in line with the strategies of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

On the eve of the eighth anniversary of the Krue Se incident on April 28, the army chief said he had placed security personnel on high alert with checkpoints being set up by all units as well as increased intelligence work and reducing public misunderstanding.

Both officials first visited a military camp in Pattani to review intelligence operations there and hear progress on the investigation of the March 31 car bombings in the Yala and Hat Yai business district.

Local intelligence reported the number of attacks has dropped but the authorities must remain vigilant as they have not received full cooperation from local residents, the army chief said.

“I ordered officials to work hard all the time and they are now implementing policies directed by government-appointed committees to tackle southern violence,” Gen Prayuth said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-04-19

[heiwa]

Such a shame. I won't be going back - shame because it's one of the nicest town I have been to in Thailand. Nice river, nice fishing. Soldiers were constantly circling the town on motorbike. They would ride two up. The guy on the back would be holding a machine gun. Same as in Sungai Golok. If anyone is in to Muay Thai they have a good Muay Thai camp there - for the adventurous. Road all all over Narthiwat - only hitch was getting caught in between machine gun fire with soldiers and insurgents in Sungai Padi. Have been down there 4 times -never again. Seen to many lose their legs. 5,200 dead. 20,000 - lost limbs or eyes. Very sad.

Edited April 19, 2012 by heiwa

[pisico]

Such a shame. I won't be going back - shame because it's one of the nicest town I have been to in Thailand. Nice river, nice fishing. Soldiers were constantly circling the town on motorbike. They would ride two up. The guy on the back would be holding a machine gun. Same as in Sungai Golok. If anyone is in to Muay Thai they have a good Muay Thai camp there - for the adventurous. Road all all over Narthiwat - only hitch was getting caught in between machine gun fire with soldiers and insurgents in Sungai Padi. Have been down there 4 times -never again. Seen to many lose their legs. 5,200 dead. 20,000 - lost limbs or eyes. Very sad.

TIAT: That is also Thailand... unfortunately.

[LucidLucifer]

I can understand that they have a cause to fight, and I'm not getting into the politics/religion of the whole situation. But <deleted>, why target schools? I've never understood that.

[Jim walker]

I think they target schools because they teach girls and boys at same school and Muslims don’t like this teaching girls

[Farma]

It's pure madness in the name of religion.

My brother in law had a lucky escape a couple of years ago. He spent time down there as a teacher at a govt school.

There was a small kitchen at the school. As he picked up the gas bottle to replace it one morning he felt something strange underneath. Insurgents had placed a pressure activated device underneath during the night.

It was pure luck it failed to operate as he lifted the bottle.

[heiwa]

Sometimes its better to say nothing. Farang the waters are very murky here. The change of the perception of safety to danger is only a bomb blast away, gun shot away or poisoned meal away, being chased on your bike and tailgated by a robber at 140km/hr. Malay tourist was blown to smitherines at a food court in Narathiwat recently. Could have been me as I had a meal there. They wait for the tourists to arrive to detonate the bomb as they want to internationalize the issue. My friends friend from Malaysia had both legs blown off outside Merlin Hotel, Sungai Golok, coma for a month, on waking up such grief of having no legs he willed himself to death within one week. It's a real effen mess. Aussie guy was blown up in the market in Yala. Google tak bai massacre.

Edited April 20, 2012 by heiwa