Eight hurt as bus guards battle insurgents in Yala

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS
Eight hurt as bus guards battle insurgents in Yala
Nakarin Chinworakomon
The Nation

YALA: -- SUSPECTED insurgents yesterday opened fire at a passenger bus, injuring eight passengers as guards on the bus fought them off in Yala's Krong Penang district.

Bus driver Winai Preechachote told police the Muang Yala district-bound bus, with 10 people aboard including himself, was passing two men standing on the side of Highway 410 (Yala-Krong Penang) at around 7am when they suddenly pulled out pistols and fired at the vehicle. Winai said he sped away and, after learning that several passengers were wounded, headed to the Central Yala Hospital.

The injured were identified as Jamnian Niamprom with a gunshot wound on the hip, Arob Chuthong, Mati Sayakij, Prajak Sanyakij, Ritthipol Makkliang, Kim-in Songsri-in, Nunam Thawornwong, who sustained injuries in her leg, and Urai Thammachote. Five people were later released while two gunshot victims and one woman with traumatic shock were hospitalised.

Yala Governor Dejrath Simsiri visited the injured at the hospital and presented them with initial assistance money.

Defence volunteer Prajak told the governor that he and Mati, also a defence volunteer, fired back at the assailants while the bus driver sped away. Prajak, who sustained bruises in his back and leg from bullet fragments, said that after hearing gunshots he shouted for all passengers to stay down and returned fire.

In related news, a policeman was injured by a roadside bomb while overseeing traffic in front of Wiang Suwan Wittayakhom School in Narathiwat's Waeng district yesterday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Eight-hurt-as-bus-guards-battle-insurgents-in-Yala-30238072.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-09

[squarethecircle]

Now how is the ThaiVisa terrorist sympathy support squad going to explain this attack?

[Seastallion]

Now how is the ThaiVisa terrorist sympathy support squad going to explain this attack?

I would be very suprised if any TV members have sympathy for terrorists.

Some considered opinions may see the separatist POV, but that does not equate to sympathy support.

[noitom]

Open fire at a passenger bus, and Thai bus drivers fighting them off. Where is the military dictatorship?

[thhMan]

Suspected Insurgents?

[ggt]

What strategic advantage could these cowards possible hope to achieve by trying to kill ordinary citizens...? My hope is that none of them live long enough to receive the death penalty...

Edited July 9, 2014 by ggt

[soalbundy]

Just your normal run of the mill terrorist thugs trying to make a point,not sure what the point was but they made it.

[monkeycountry]

What strategic advantage could these cowards possible hope to achieve by trying to kill ordinary citizens...? My hope is that none of them live long enough to receive the death penalty...

If you scare ordinary people enough, then eventually they might just agree to your crazy terms, such as sharia law or whatever, if they are convinced agreeing will prevent the killing.

[The Deerhunter]

Open fire at a passenger bus, and Thai bus drivers fighting them off. Where is the military dictatorship?

Extremely stupid comment, fortunately more than matched by the level bravery of the defence volunteers. Brave folk in a dangerous and difficult part of our LOS.

I will not comment on whether Noitom's post rates as a "terrorist sympathy support squad" comment or just an ill-considered anti-coup comment.

Edited July 9, 2014 by The Deerhunter

[squarethecircle]

Now how is the ThaiVisa terrorist sympathy support squad going to explain this attack?

I would be very suprised if any TV members have sympathy for terrorists.

Some considered opinions may see the separatist POV, but that does not equate to sympathy support.

Sure it does. If the separatists/jihadists were making a organized and peaceful response, rather than going into a murderous rampage, they would deserve sympathy and support. But they haven't done that and instead have launched into ethnic/religious cleansing. A fair comparison is with the Indians in Malaysia who have similar complaints about disenfranchisement, and marched on a massive peaceful scale in 5/5/2011 (5 leaders were tortured by Malaysian authorities, then released). Those deserve sympathy, but there hasn't been anything of this kind in S. Thailand. People bring up the Tak Bai incident but that was effectively an armed insurrection (mobbing up around a police station demanding the release of people who had stolen military-grade weapons), albeit with response that falls under "criminal negligence". But yes supporting these guys does amount to "sympathy for a terrorist movement".

In fact I was accused by one of the "terrorist sympathizers" on here for being exactly the same in suggesting there may be a legitimate self-defense motive behind the anti-Muslim mobs in Myanmar (which I have not visited so will withhold judgement), so it's perfectly fair to refer to the people who find justification for the S Thailand insurgent organizations as "terrorist sympathizers".

[NeilSA1]

Open fire at a passenger bus, and Thai bus drivers fighting them off. Where is the military dictatorship?

Extremely stupid comment, fortunately more than matched by the level bravery of the defence volunteers. Brave folk in a dangerous and difficult part of our LOS.

I will not comment on whether Noitom's post rates as a "terrorist sympathy support squad" comment or just an ill-considered anti-coup comment.

Yet another regular "ill-considered anti-coup comment. "

[Seastallion]

Now how is the ThaiVisa terrorist sympathy support squad going to explain this attack?

I would be very suprised if any TV members have sympathy for terrorists.

Some considered opinions may see the separatist POV, but that does not equate to sympathy support.

Sure it does. If the separatists/jihadists were making a organized and peaceful response, rather than going into a murderous rampage, they would deserve sympathy and support. But they haven't done that and instead have launched into ethnic/religious cleansing. A fair comparison is with the Indians in Malaysia who have similar complaints about disenfranchisement, and marched on a massive peaceful scale in 5/5/2011 (5 leaders were tortured by Malaysian authorities, then released). Those deserve sympathy, but there hasn't been anything of this kind in S. Thailand. People bring up the Tak Bai incident but that was effectively an armed insurrection (mobbing up around a police station demanding the release of people who had stolen military-grade weapons), albeit with response that falls under "criminal negligence". But yes supporting these guys does amount to "sympathy for a terrorist movement".

In fact I was accused by one of the "terrorist sympathizers" on here for being exactly the same in suggesting there may be a legitimate self-defense motive behind the anti-Muslim mobs in Myanmar (which I have not visited so will withhold judgement), so it's perfectly fair to refer to the people who find justification for the S Thailand insurgent organizations as "terrorist sympathizers".

I don't want to sound pedantic, but "sympathy" and/or "support" are very different in meaning and in effect from "seeing a POV".

I think you exaggerate and are being alarmist when you call them jihadists.

Separatism that is fought for by people who happen to be Muslim is exactly the same separatism as that which is fought for by any other group in the world.

[englishoak]

Im beginning to wonder if the only way to get progress in the south is to let tourists know how very very dangerous it is down there with some international coverage Seems to me incentive is required to find a solution and sooner or later there are going to be foreign casualties, possibly tourists and then there will really be hell to pay.

Throughout the whole of the disruptions and incidents in the rest of the country the south has continued almost daily to rack up civilian casualties... its clearly well beyond the capabilities of Thailand alone to even curb this let alone find a solution.

Its really time to ask for international help on this, really.

[ginjag]

Im beginning to wonder if the only way to get progress in the south is to let tourists know how very very dangerous it is down there with some international coverage Seems to me incentive is required to find a solution and sooner or later there are going to be foreign casualties, possibly tourists and then there will really be hell to pay.

Throughout the whole of the disruptions and incidents in the rest of the country the south has continued almost daily to rack up civilian casualties... its clearly well beyond the capabilities of Thailand alone to even curb this let alone find a solution.

Its really time to ask for international help on this, really.

You would recommend the U.N. with their armory -blue beret's- peace keepers,???or some highly trained commando units?? or a team of Muslim mediators?? Envoy as in Tony Blair ??? so do tell us oak, who and what would you do to solve the problem ??

Everyone seems to know 2 persons on a m/cycle are NOT crossing the border one day with guns---another with bombs as most of these insurgents are LOCALS,

from villages friends of ? surely most of these will be known, someone is harboring them, more local intelligence is needed badly.

It is easier to stop the border crossings than to try to find them once in Thailand (that is the ones that do cross).

Hit and run, on motor cycles, every day ???? something is seriously wrong here.

[tomyummer]

Wow! We need those bus defense volunteers on the railways!

[soalbundy]

Now how is the ThaiVisa terrorist sympathy support squad going to explain this attack?

I would be very suprised if any TV members have sympathy for terrorists.

Some considered opinions may see the separatist POV, but that does not equate to sympathy support.

Sure it does. If the separatists/jihadists were making a organized and peaceful response, rather than going into a murderous rampage, they would deserve sympathy and support. But they haven't done that and instead have launched into ethnic/religious cleansing. A fair comparison is with the Indians in Malaysia who have similar complaints about disenfranchisement, and marched on a massive peaceful scale in 5/5/2011 (5 leaders were tortured by Malaysian authorities, then released). Those deserve sympathy, but there hasn't been anything of this kind in S. Thailand. People bring up the Tak Bai incident but that was effectively an armed insurrection (mobbing up around a police station demanding the release of people who had stolen military-grade weapons), albeit with response that falls under "criminal negligence". But yes supporting these guys does amount to "sympathy for a terrorist movement".

In fact I was accused by one of the "terrorist sympathizers" on here for being exactly the same in suggesting there may be a legitimate self-defense motive behind the anti-Muslim mobs in Myanmar (which I have not visited so will withhold judgement), so it's perfectly fair to refer to the people who find justification for the S Thailand insurgent organizations as "terrorist sympathizers".

I don't want to sound pedantic, but "sympathy" and/or "support" are very different in meaning and in effect from "seeing a POV".

I think you exaggerate and are being alarmist when you call them jihadists.

Separatism that is fought for by people who happen to be Muslim is exactly the same separatism as that which is fought for by any other group in the world.

but you do sound pedantic. Let us just call these indiscriminate murderers what they are,terrorists.

[englishoak]

Im beginning to wonder if the only way to get progress in the south is to let tourists know how very very dangerous it is down there with some international coverage Seems to me incentive is required to find a solution and sooner or later there are going to be foreign casualties, possibly tourists and then there will really be hell to pay.

Throughout the whole of the disruptions and incidents in the rest of the country the south has continued almost daily to rack up civilian casualties... its clearly well beyond the capabilities of Thailand alone to even curb this let alone find a solution.

Its really time to ask for international help on this, really.

You would recommend the U.N. with their armory -blue beret's- peace keepers,???or some highly trained commando units?? or a team of Muslim mediators?? Envoy as in Tony Blair ??? so do tell us oak, who and what would you do to solve the problem ??

Everyone seems to know 2 persons on a m/cycle are NOT crossing the border one day with guns---another with bombs as most of these insurgents are LOCALS,

from villages friends of ? surely most of these will be known, someone is harboring them, more local intelligence is needed badly.

It is easier to stop the border crossings than to try to find them once in Thailand (that is the ones that do cross).

Hit and run, on motor cycles, every day ???? something is seriously wrong here.

"Sigh" would you like me to be flippant or serious ? How about at least asking for help from the UN on some level preferably Asian and local nations. ASEAN im not sure has any set up for this as yet though im sure they will in the future.

Malaysia would be the logical first port of call to my mind and dialogue in some way, that would have to be the local Muslim clerics i suspect. Outside that death squads I doubt very much will work ... BUT if it is indeed a well greased network then counter terrorism efforts would need to be made accordingly. Lets not mince words here its terrorism pure and simple.

Something IS seriously wrong here theres no doubt about that, random killings of a couple of girls in a market ? bus ? ... this is getting more and more towards happening to a tourist in the wrong place at the wrong time. the international reaction and fallout dosnt bare thinking about being as Phuket and Samui and Krabi etc arnt that far away. its risking tourism killed flat dead if anyone on a package ever gets in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Number of times ive been through the south and tourists use the same route, the odds are increasing every day it continues.

I dont have the answer to this one, All I know is its clear after all this time neither does Thailand on its own. Proactive or reactive ? thats the choice I see and id rather Thailand proactive with help than its track record alone to date.

[Seastallion]

would deserve sympathy and support. But they haven't done that and instead have launched into ethnic/religious cleansing. A fair comparison is with the Indians in Malaysia who have similar complaints about disenfranchisement, and marched on a massive peaceful scale in 5/5/2011 (5 leaders were tortured by Malaysian authorities, then released). Those deserve sympathy, but there hasn't been anything of this kind in S. Thailand. People bring up the Tak Bai incident but that was effectively an armed insurrection (mobbing up around a police station demanding the release of people who had stolen military-grade weapons), albeit with response that falls under "criminal negligence". But yes supporting these guys does amount to "sympathy for a terrorist movement".

In fact I was accused by one of the "terrorist sympathizers" on here for being exactly the same in suggesting there may be a legitimate self-defense motive behind the anti-Muslim mobs in Myanmar (which I have not visited so will withhold judgement), so it's perfectly fair to refer to the people who find justification for the S Thailand insurgent organizations as "terrorist sympathizers".

I don't want to sound pedantic, but "sympathy" and/or "support" are very different in meaning and in effect from "seeing a POV".

I think you exaggerate and are being alarmist when you call them jihadists.

Separatism that is fought for by people who happen to be Muslim is exactly the same separatism as that which is fought for by any other group in the world.

but you do sound pedantic. Let us just call these indiscriminate murderers what they are,terrorists.

Are you unable to understand the conversation? Nobody is trying to define "terrorist". squarecircle is accusing people who understand the seperatist's motives as supporters of the terrorists.

Nobody supports the terrorists.