Bombs, banners and a murder in Thailand's far South

[webfact]

Bombs, banners and a murder in the far South
The Nation


A bomb-disposal soldier from the Anothai Task Force inspects a suspicious item placed on a bridge in Muang district in Yala yesterday. The item turned out to just be a powder bottle with electric wires.

BANGKOK: -- A series of insurgency-related incidents took place yesterday in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, including a murder, a roadside bomb, the erection of banners with messages attacking authorities, fake bombs and the burning of tyres.

In Narathiwat's Bacho district, a squad of soldiers on foot patrol narrowly missed a bomb attack. Explosives Ordnance Disposal officials said later that the bomb - 10 kilograms of explosive in a metal box - was detonated via a mobile phone but missed the eight-man squad.

Later, a 42-year-old man was shot dead in front of his house by two attackers on a motorcycle in a drive-by shooting. Police believe insurgents may be behind the killing.

Meanwhile, in Yala, a 'dud' grenade was lobbed into an area where villagers were exercising on Thursday night. But the K-57 grenade did not go off because the person who threw it forgot to pull out a second safety lever, police said.

The person who lobbed the grenade was on the pillion seat of a motorcycle and wore a woman's hijab.

Police were monitoring the route they took, but had yet to locate the attackers. Security in the area had been heightened. Yala police chief Pol Maj-General Songkiat Wathakul said security in Thai Buddhist communities had also been boosted.

In another attack in Yala, a group of up to five insurgents ambushed a four-man Border Patrol Police team on three motorcycles. The attackers opened fire with automatic rifles at the police as they returned to the base but missed the target, officers based in Kabang district said.

In addition, cloth banners were put up in 17 locations in Yala and in six spots in Narathiwat, security officials said. The banners, carried messages in Malay attacking the government. Many said: "If Siam cannot govern itself, how can it rule the Malayu state?"

In Narathiwat, a fake bomb was placed near a similar banner, while in Pattani insurgents set fire to several tyres and hung banners at four locations. A fake bomb was also planted at another spot. Security officials were not able to inspect these locations for fear of being ambushed.

Most of the banners had been examined for DNA evidence as of press time.


-- The Nation 2014-02-08

[chainarong]

One cannot expect some of the good people down south to support a political party with a Shinawatra in it, for those who don't understand why, just phone Thaskin Shinawtra in Dubai , I am sure Thaskin will be only to glad to enlighten you , that's if he bothers to tell the story correctly.

[Halion]

"Authorities can not inspect these areas for fear of being ambushed" Well this just goes to show who is in charge.

[pipkins]

One cannot expect some of the good people down south to support a political party with a Shinawatra in it, for those who don't understand why, just phone Thaskin Shinawtra in Dubai , I am sure Thaskin will be only to glad to enlighten you , that's if he bothers to tell the story correctly.

Do you dream of Thaksin? Just asking.

Bad situation in the South and it is totally out of control.

This is why the army can't help Suthep and his band of 200 anymore. They can't cope down there and would be even more lost if they tried to control BKK and the North.

Sorry to disturb your disturbed dreams.

[squarethecircle]

"Authorities can not inspect these areas for fear of being ambushed" Well this just goes to show who is in charge.

Thats the problem with insurgency...the people throwing bombs and such blend right in, and they only need to sneak one through to have success, whereas the authorities have a nearly impossible task. Kinda depressing this is still going on in the 21st century.

[diehard60]

One cannot expect some of the good people down south to support a political party with a Shinawatra in it, for those who don't understand why, just phone Thaskin Shinawtra in Dubai , I am sure Thaskin will be only to glad to enlighten you , that's if he bothers to tell the story correctly.

What does this story have to do with Thaksin???? These are all sutheps people that love him.

[surangw]

increased activity in the south to grab some of the headlines from the "doins" in BKK?