Four shot dead in Pattani ambush

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS
Four shot dead in Pattani ambush
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THREE SOLDIERS and an assistant district chief were shot dead and five others wounded after being attacked with a roadside bomb while on their way to rescue security volunteers at a checkpoint in Khok Pho in Pattani, officials said yesterday.

Pol Lt Thirawut Panma of Na Pradu police station said the insurgents started the attack by spraying bullets at defence volunteers stationed at a checkpoint in Tambon Pak Lor - to lure other security officials to the scene to rescue them.

Authorities led by Khok Pho assistant district chief Chaktra Promkaew, accompanied by soldiers in an armoured car had not reached the checkpoint when their vehicles were hit by an improvised explosive device, thought to be a 30kg gas cylinder.

After the explosion, they requested backup from Pattani Special Force 21, both on land and air, because the insurgents threw nails around the scene.

Pattani Provincial Governor Witthaya Panitpong said all officials were alive after the bomb attack but the insurgents came out from hiding and sprayed bullets at them before fighting erupted, leading to the casualties.

The three soldiers killed were Master Sergeant First Class Rungruang Klarob, 34, Corporal Tossaporn Phoklang, 25, and Private Samruay Supanmuang, 24.

The five injured included two soldiers, two village heads and a defence volunteer. All were sent to Yala Hospital.


-- The Nation 2014-02-03

[Cloggie]

R.I.P - how many more people need to die..

[smoochy]

Isn't it about time that this problem is taken seriously?

[noitom]

This Thai south thing merits a UN force. Thais are clear that they have no will or competence to take action.

[Yunla]

RIP. My prayers are with the injured and the families of all the victims.

Resolving this tragic situation needs to be at the top of Government work agenda. Regardless of who is in power, this situation is of critical importance and can not be sidelined any longer.

[simple1]

This Thai south thing merits a UN force. Thais are clear that they have no will or competence to take action.

This would require a request by Thai government - highly unlikely - or a resolution by the Security Council. If a Resolution did get on the agenda & pass all the political barriers, again highly unlikely as interferring in Thailands domestic affairs, what countries would allocate forces & who would pay? However the use of force is normally not the solution to bring about an end game, but a professional COIN strategy and implementation.

As has been mentioned in other topics concerning the deep South, follow the money; as there is hugh amounts of wealth to be made by the corrupt & unscrupulous on both sides on the conflict. .

Whilst is it somewhat abrupt, a starting point previously posted by a TV member may be a step in the right direction.

"Of course the real solution would be to give the Southern provinces semi-autonomy and their own government officials instead of the largely Thai-Chinese pork eaters who are sent down to govern them on short term postings like a colony, make Malay a second official language and pump in investment to develop the economy, as recommended in the Chatchuron report c2005."

[sunshine51]

Isn't it about time that this problem is taken seriously?

It's long past time this problem is taken seriously, however

until BKK get's off their fat bums and initiates numerous

measures & reforms....this ain't gonna stop any time in

the forseeable future. Sad but true.