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[webfact]

Bomb squad ambushed in Narathiwat; 4 police officers killed
By English News



NARATHIWAT, Sept 28 - An explosive ordnance disposal team was ambushed in Ruso district of this southern province Friday, while four police officers died in a crash en route to provide backup to their colleagues.

The ambush took place when the team's 17 personnel in four vehicles were on a road in the mountains after inspecting an earlier bombing today in which no one had been injured.

During the attack, a bomb exploded on the mountainside, tumbling rocks across the roadway.

After the blast, insurgent attackers began firing on the government force from hiding places on the mountainside and spewed tripod spikes to stop the government vehicles from continuing their journey.

The attack continued for about an hour.

Reinforcements from Bacho Police station led by Pol Lt Arcom Intarasomboon responded to a call for support, but his vehicle carrying the reinforcements overturned while attempting to pass through the spikes blocking the way.

Four police officers, including Pol Lt Arcom, were killed in the engagement. Seven others were wounded and were taken to hospital. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-28

[webfact]

Five police die in restive Thai south

NARATHIWAT, September 28, 2013 (AFP) - Five police officers racing to the scene of an ambush in southern Thailand were killed Friday when their car crashed after hitting spikes laid by suspected insurgents, authorities said.

The incident in Narathiwat province came as officers responded to a call for back-up from colleagues attacked nearby by some 20 militants, police said in a statement.

"Their car hit spikes dropped by militants," Army Colonel Theerapan Paeruang told AFP.

A civilian was also killed by stray bullets in the gun battle between rebels and police at the ambush site, the statement added.

A shadowy conflict waged by Muslim militants in Thailand's southern region has left more than 5,700 people dead since 2004.

Insurgents frequently lay spikes in the road to slow or stop security forces reaching remote areas where they have planned ambushes or bomb attacks.

Experts say rebels have become increasingly well co-ordinated in their attacks.

In Friday's violence officers investigating a bomb blast came under heavy fire from rebels hiding in dense forest.

The gunbattle lasted for an hour with at least three police injured, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

"The militants were on higher ground on a hill and opened fire at forensic police who were investigating the bomb blast," he said.

"The most seriously injured was shot in the chin."

The violence comes despite several rounds of peace talks between the government and the rebels, who are seeking some form of autonomy for the region, which was annexed by Buddhist-dominated Thailand a century ago.

The next round of talks is expected to take place next month, despite a recent surge in deadly militant attacks on Thai security forces.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-09-28

[webfact]

Forces reduced in 5 southern districts ahead of planned emergency decree lifting

BANGKOK, 28 September 2013 (NNT) – Security agencies are gradually withdrawing officers from five districts in the Deep South in preparation for a possible revocation of the emergency decree in the areas due to a drastic drop in violence.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the cabinet had previously approved an idea to revoke the enforcement of the emergency decree proposed by the Internal Security Operations Command. The five districts where security units are being withdrawn on a trial basis consist of Sukhirin, Mai Kaen, Kabang, Waeng and Betong.

As part of the transition process, the Army is scaling back forces in the aforementioned areas, leaving them in the hands of local police and defense volunteers.

Meanwhile, the National Security Council affirmed that it is analyzing rebel group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)’s five demands in preparation for the next round of peace talk scheduled in October. Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha earlier commented that one of the demands which calls for the setting up of a Deep South special administrative zone will likely not be met.


-- NNT 2013-09-28

[lee b]

This again is more terrible news, RIP to the police that were killed, and i hope that one day this will be sorted out once and for all

[hellodolly]

So what else is new.

This is an ongoing story with no effort being made on either side to stop it.

Just sham peace talks trying to get people to think they are working on the problem.

[falkan]

looks like thai army still not using using armor personal carrier and doing patrols on motorbikes or pickups..

Edited September 28, 2013 by falkan

[indyuk]

Current strategy is wise. Further loss of Thai Military lives unacceptable. Time to consider a purchasing Drone units of both surveillance and Predator Drones to track and remove the leaders among the terrorists from the equation.

[rosst]

Current strategy is wise. Further loss of Thai Military lives unacceptable. Time to consider a purchasing Drone units of both surveillance and Predator Drones to track and remove the leaders among the terrorists from the equation.

I feel sorry for the poorly trained and poorly equipped soldiers, I do believe that the deployment of crack units into these areas and targeted missions to remove key personnel particularly with drone surveillance and attacks could reduce the military casualties, as would the use of body armour.

RIP the men on the ground and condolences to their families.

[LarryBird]

Unreal. I hope this story gets the international attention it deserves.

[ppmacready]

Unreal. I hope this story gets the international attention it deserves.

The muslims are biding their time.

When the ''Thai spring'' occurs.

Thats when the fire works will kick of in the ''restive south''.

Hope the drones will be able to distinguish red shirts from yellow shirts then!

[simple1]

Current strategy is wise. Further loss of Thai Military lives unacceptable. Time to consider a purchasing Drone units of both surveillance and Predator Drones to track and remove the leaders among the terrorists from the equation.

I feel sorry for the poorly trained and poorly equipped soldiers, I do believe that the deployment of crack units into these areas and targeted missions to remove key personnel particularly with drone surveillance and attacks could reduce the military casualties, as would the use of body armour.

RIP the men on the ground and condolences to their families.

Thai army has deployed Marines & other specialist forces in the deep South for quite a while. An example of a detailed analysis of issues being faced in the deep South for civil, political and security matters dated 12/2012 (a bit out of date) can be found at:

http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-east-asia/thailand/241-thailand-the-evolving-conflict-in-the-south.pdf

[OMGImInPattaya]

An and Prachurachan [sP] came up with a fair and balanced and workable plan years ago. Of course the square-faced one and others in the security state apparatus summarily rejected the plan.

Since then, there's been thousands of deaths on both sides, with the insurgents seeming to be getting the upper hand.