Bomb blast in Songkhla's Na Thawi district kills one, injures six

[webfact]

SOUTH INSURGENCY
Bomb blast in Na Thawi kills one, injures six
The Nation


A bomb went off in Songkhla

Attack a surprise as district believed to be stronghold of Muslim insurgents

SONGKHLA: -- A bomb exploded yesterday in Songkhla's Na Thawi district, killing one policeman and wounding six others, three of whom are in serious condition.

This is the first time in six years that this area, which is a fair distance from the three southernmost provinces, has been attacked.

The 5-kilogram homemade bomb, containing steel shrapnel, was planted at a tea shop near a Toyota outlet and detonated by a mobile phone, members of a military ordnance team said.

Though Na Thawi district, one of the four Yawi-speaking districts in the province, is regarded to be home to active insurgents, terror attacks rarely take place here. This attack was more unexpected because the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is getting closer, and a break in violence was one of the conditions agreed upon during the peace dialogue.

Since this tea shop is frequented by security and civilian officials, district chief Phongthep Jirasukprasert said the bomb was possibly intended to harm them. Retired policeman Jamras Thongket was killed at the scene, while the others are undergoing treatment in hospital.

The last attack in Na Thawi district took place in August 2007 at a busy marketplace where a policeman was killed and nine civilians hurt. Insurgent attacks in Na Thawi district are few and far between when compared to the districts of Chana, Thepha and Saba Yoi.

Military intelligence sources blamed yesterday's attack on insurgents opposed to the peace dialogue as insurgent commander, Usoh Leemoh, led 15 operatives under his command to surrender to authorities under a pardon scheme on Thursday.

Na Thawi district is also used as a platform for the pardon scheme. The court decided to drop trials against two insurgents who underwent this scheme and were later pardoned of all their crimes.

In Narathiwat, security officials led raids on two villages in Rusoh district and arrested six insurgents after a gunfight. One paramilitary ranger was wounded in the 15-minute combat.

The raids were intended to apprehend two insurgent commanders - Abdulrohing Da-i-soh and Masupeeyan Yakumor - and the men under their command. The suspects ambushed the officials as they approached the villages and tried to fight them off with automatic weapons.


-- The Nation 2013-06-29

[Andre0720]

As it is said,

Religion is the worst creation of man.

Because that it is what it is all about...

[GentlemanJim]

As it is said,

Religion is the worst creation of man.

Because that it is what it is all about...

Agreed. It does seem Monotheistic religions are by far the worse. It always lends itself to 'God is on our side'.

[simple1]

As it is said,

Religion is the worst creation of man.

Because that it is what it is all about...

It has been claimed that Islamic extremists are starting to surface as the Juwae are hardening their attitudes and resistance to the Thai central government. One of the reasons being target killings carried out by pro-government death squads that have been extensively documented in the deep South. There is no indication that such a tactic has improved the situation or created the kind of atmosphere that could lead to peaceful dialogue. Also the extensive use of torture by Thai security agencies would be a contributing factor.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2011/04/06/opinion/Can-the-old-guard-get-peace-talks-going-in-the-Sou-30152592.html

You make the claim that the killings in the deep South are primarily motivated by belief in Islam, but both Thai political and military, plus foreign commentators state this is not the case; some examples below. Also it is claimed that around 40% of the killings are in fact carried out by criminal gangs.

The southern conflict is fuelled not by blind religious rage but by political and cultural alienation.

Read more: http://world.time.com/2012/04/23/thailand-insurgency/#ixzz2XZGVym5s

Col. Parinya Chaitilok, a spokesman for Thailand's Fourth Army, which is responsible for security in the deep South, said he believes that only about 20% of attacks on civilians are the work of insurgents.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2095306,00.html#ixzz2XZFxXbOw

Edited June 29, 2013 by simple1

[noitom]

This Thai south thing is on a global definition of terrorism based on numbers of deaths. These Thai comments "believed to be" for ten years is getting tedious at certainly 10,000 deaths. It's at least 7,000 reported, God knows how many in reality and the maiming of people. It's time for the UN to send in troops to the Thai south. The Thais clearly don't have the capability and the will to end it.

[seajae]

as I keep saying, bullets are cheap and the thai govt can afford a lot of them, just shoot the bastards

[simple1]

This Thai south thing is on a global definition of terrorism based on numbers of deaths. These Thai comments "believed to be" for ten years is getting tedious at certainly 10,000 deaths. It's at least 7,000 reported, God knows how many in reality and the maiming of people. It's time for the UN to send in troops to the Thai south. The Thais clearly don't have the capability and the will to end it.

It would require a resolution of the Security Council to send UN member country troops to enforce peace/counter insugency operations in the deep South, it would never be passed.

[drdoom6996]

Is it Ramadan yet?

[sunshine51]

Is it Ramadan yet?

Early next month I believe...

[tomross46]

If the government had followed the ideas of DPM Chalerm, this whole problem would have been taken care of. The reason he did not go to the south, is not because he is a coward, but because he was on ear medication.

Some feel that if the pacification process similar to the ones used by USA General Pershing in the Philippines, the insurgency would be resolved.

[surangw]

As it is said,

Religion is the worst creation of man.

Because that it is what it is all about...

Agreed. It does seem Monotheistic religions are by far the worse. It always lends itself to 'God is on our side'.

Its really about power and control, the "religious" leaders are rarely killed or carrying out the attacks

( much like politicians, they just send out others to do their dirty work)

[SunSeek01]

It's nearly always Muslim combat age (11-39) men. Don't fall for the religious bent they proclaim. It's all about money in the end. Raping male children is just another thing they like to do. It's real, don't fall for the Ali Akbar baloney. Look at any city in Europe. I had coffee with a German in Frankfurt, he said the Germans would do anything to get them out of there.

[simple1]

It's nearly always Muslim combat age (11-39) men. Don't fall for the religious bent they proclaim. It's all about money in the end. Raping male children is just another thing they like to do. It's real, don't fall for the Ali Akbar baloney. Look at any city in Europe. I had coffee with a German in Frankfurt, he said the Germans would do anything to get them out of there.

Provide links to reports that Thai Malay Muslims in the deep South "like raping male children"

Edited June 29, 2013 by simple1