Insurgents now taking aim at 'soft targets': Killing of Yala nurses

[webfact]

Insurgents now taking aim at 'soft targets'

The Nation

Yala Hospital tightens its security, staff instructed to only leave premises when absolutely necessary

YALA: -- DESPITE BOOSTING its security measures, Yala's Yupparaj Hospital could not escape an insurgent attack when two of its trainee nurses were gunned down in the middle of a crowded market across the street on Wednesday.

Prasit Meksuwan, chief of the Civic Council in Southernmost Provinces, deplored the attack as he cited the analysis by security officials as saying the two gunmen were likely lying in wait for anybody who could be considered a Buddhist to leave the hospital.

Unfortunately, the two young women - Sutheera Phetjan, 29, and Kulradee Phetmak, 21 - ended up being the targets. Their families are now being provided with counselling and other assistance.

Meanwhile, Prasit urged Buddhists to avoid travelling alone or visiting markets, which he said were difficult to secure as there were far too many people and protection was often lighter.

Security sources say that these two women were randomly chosen for the attack because they weren't wearing headscarves. Also, they were possibly chosen as "soft targets" by a new breed of insurgents, who were possibly seeking to avenge the arrest of an ustad or Islamic teacher on Monday.

Separately, Dr Sawas Aphiwijjaneewong, chief of the public health provincial office, said the hospital has issued new regulations instructing members of staff to only leave the hospital premises if they have to run important errands.

They have also been warned to not go out alone or after dark.

"However, the shooting happened in broad daylight in a market that was packed with people. This is beyond expectation," he pointed out.

Director of the Sirindhorn Public Health College in Yala, which had assigned 11 students to undergo apprenticeship at Yupparaj Hospital, said normally food was provided to students and members of staff inside the hospital and that security was tight for all hospital personnel.

She added that the two women were randomly selected because they were defenceless and also because they were clearly non-Muslims as they were not wearing scarves.

The remaining nine students have been moved to other hospitals outside the three strife-torn provinces in the South.

Kanthima Aldri-us, a senior nurse who oversaw the 11 trainees, said hospital staff and students were only allowed to go to the convenience store across the road for their own safety, but an ad-hoc market was set up on the day of the tragedy right next to the store.

"It happened within just 10 minutes, after the two victims left the hospital for the market," she added.

The double murders were committed during the month of Ramadan, which runs from June 28 to July 28.

A truce during the Muslim holy period last year was agreed upon between authorities and insurgents as a result of a dialogue, which said women, children and civilians, identified as soft targets, would not be harmed.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Insurgents-now-taking-aim-at-soft-targets-30238267.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-11

[noitom]

The Thai states "this was beyond expectations." So what is the Thai expectation for killing in the Thai south?

[noitom]

"Insurgents now taking aim" is counterproductive and an incendiary viewpoint.

[pisico]

The PCers will spin the assassinations of more than 500 teachers in the South to defend a puny feeling of fairness.

Maybe, they will argue, the killing was a double murder of 2 females nursing trainees by two jealous boyfriends who had gone on a failed double date. Do not laugh: it makes sense to their screwy PC logic.

If A=B and B=C the result is A=C

The preponderance of evidence points out in only one direction: the insurgency, nationalistic Malay reaction to the imposition of Thai culture, teachings of Buddhism and anything that is not in keeping with what was before the Malaysian Sultanate of Pattani, annexed by Thailand by force.

Yet, incredibly, Western PCers will deny that is so based, solely, on their personal highly anecdotal experiences..

Exceptions do not a rule make.

The Thai deep South is mostly Muslim, therefore.....

Will flamers be civil and refrain from using epithets on members who do not share their view?

[lostsoul49]

An 'ad-hoc' market was set up next to the store???

Sounds to me like the 'ad-hoc' market was a deliberate 'ad-hoc' trap.

Maybe they should be talking to the market organizers in this particular case.

[kamahele]

This type of action is counterproductive to their cause unless their cause is to never have peace in their lifetime. Targeting and killing innocents will only inflame further the majority non Muslim Thais

[jaidam]

This is surprising. I was just reading on TVF yesterday some dogmatic posts stressing that there was no proof at all that these assassinations were the work of Islamists. I expect the Islam apologists will be along shortly to well, apologize.

[simple1]

As of 2007 there were 28 attacks on medical workers that resulted in nine deaths in the deep south, along with attacks on medical facilities and staff housing; refer URL below. Unable to locate the current number of medical staff deaths / attacks. Seems to me the hospital director quoted in the OP had made a risk assessment for his staff, a difficult task, that proved to be tragically incorrect.

http://www.hum.au.dk/hsre/Docs/Presentations/3_Satelite%20Meeting/4_Experience%20from%20Thailand%27s%20Deep%20South%20Violence.pdf

Yet another recent analysis (04/2014) on the deep South conflict below that covers many of the issues. It claims from 01/2004 to 04/2014 total of 6,097 deaths in the region. A sample observation:

“Public deliberation through campaigns of about 200 forums of local communities during 2012-2013. Finding from the public discussions reveals that local people has expressed their strong orientation towards the self-governance model of administration to help support conflict resolution, 51.8 percent of the respondents preferred to variations of the election of governor”

http://www.deepsouthwatch.org/node/5904

I guess the killings will continue with the younger armed groups, Juwae, allegedly operating outside of the control of the militant poltical leaders; article talking to the Juwae below.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/05/the-strange-thai-insurgents-who-like-sorcery-and-get-high-on-cough-syrup/275614/

Edited July 11, 2014 by simple1

[jpduggan]

Why are there no statements of condemnation about these murders from high ranking Muslims? Is it because they condone the cowardly murder of these innocent women who were starting out on a like dedicated to helping others?

[Lancelot]

Terrorists engage in reprehensible acts because they often succeed in furthering their goals.

Knock on wood but I wonder why they have never targeted foreigners in tourist areas, especially in Bangkok and Pattaya?

[WitawatWatawit]

The terrorists have been aiming at "soft targets" ever since the current insurgency began. A 'Hard' target is one which is guarded or has considerable security. Not too many of those in the past 10 years.

[sae57]

This is surprising. I was just reading on TVF yesterday some dogmatic posts stressing that there was no proof at all that these assassinations were the work of Islamists. I expect the Islam apologists will be along shortly to well, apologize.

There are differences between an Islamist a separatitst/nationalist and (possibly) organized crime activities (random killings in retaliation for cracking down on human trafficking??). The point isn't to make apologies for anyone, but to try and accurately suss out what is going on. If this was the work of Islamists than that is a new, and very frieghtening development.

[pisico]

Terrorists engage in reprehensible acts because they often succeed in furthering their goals.

Knock on wood but I wonder why they have never targeted foreigners in tourist areas, especially in Bangkok and Pattaya?

Tourists are the softest of targets. The nature of tourism is precisely to free oneself from the rigor of daily life.

Phuket, Pattaya, Samui...? Is not a matter of if, but, unfortunately, when.

Remember Bali. The quintessential peace and beauty island: the dawn of the world...

[Krataiboy]

These killings are arguably worse than the recent rape and murder of a young girl on a Thai train. In the latter case, the accused was allegedly drunk and high drugs. The assassination of these two nurses, on the other hand, was clearly a cold blooded and premeditated act of random violence for which there are no extenuating circumstances and no excuse.

These attacks on innocent civilians are part of a pattern of escalating violence which has claimed more than 6,000 lives over the last decade - including those of many Thai military and administrative personnel - and new initatives to tackle the causes of unrest in the deep; south should be a far higher priority for the new regime than many of its current initiatives, such as worrying over ways to fix the price of lottery tickets.

[northernjohn]

"Insurgents now taking aim" is counterproductive and an incendiary viewpoint.

Pure and simple. This was not the work of insurgents.

Insurgents have a goal.

This is the work of terrorists who have no goal other than to kill and instill fear.

Hopefully the new government will do some thing about it. So far they are continuing with the failed policy they have been using for over 10 years. It is a new government with a massive amount of wrong to correct. It is my hope that this is on the list of things to correct. Not one of the things they think they have done.

Military action will not stop terrorists and talking to a bunch of burned out ex terrorists will not help it either. They need the cooperation of the population on their side to stop this.

As long as the population is willing to let it happen and do nothing about it there will be no end to it.

How many more years of terrorism do we need to prove that point?

Edited July 11, 2014 by northernjohn

[socksy01]

Cowardly cold-blooded murderers with innocent victims like doctors nurses and teachers being targetted by psycho's.

[northernjohn]

This is surprising. I was just reading on TVF yesterday some dogmatic posts stressing that there was no proof at all that these assassinations were the work of Islamists. I expect the Islam apologists will be along shortly to well, apologize.

Islamists apologize for nothing they justify the actions of the terrorists.

How many active groups of Islamists have you heard of who are actually doing some thing to stop the terrorists.

If there is such a group it would seem to be non effective. More like a social bridge club.

[simple1]

Why are there no statements of condemnation about these murders from high ranking Muslims? Is it because they condone the cowardly murder of these innocent women who were starting out on a like dedicated to helping others?

Does an Imam come under your definition of "high ranking Muslims". A number of Imams have been murdered for speaking out against the killings by Muslim groups in the deep South, example below. Fairly brave I would think, knowing you become an instant target.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Leading-imam-shot-down-as-violence-escalates-in-So-30211971.html

Muslim informers are also murdered on a regular basis.

Edited July 11, 2014 by simple1

[squarethecircle]

"Muslim informers are also murdered on a regular basis."

Yes but if the overall sentiment I think doesn't find the murders of the kafirs fundamentally wrong. See that article on "Malay-Muslims and the Perfect Religion Syndrome", plus Muslims who help the "kafir" government are considered traitors to "the cause". Seems like a similar thing is going on in the Roman Catholic Church, where the vast majority of its adherents aren't abusing children but they do continue to support the scandal on the whole, and it will take outsiders such as law enforcement to shut it down. In the case of these jihadists and their worldwide rampages it will take decisive military (ie: extrajudicial) action, either that or surrender.

[northernjohn]

Why are there no statements of condemnation about these murders from high ranking Muslims? Is it because they condone the cowardly murder of these innocent women who were starting out on a like dedicated to helping others?

Does an Imam come under your definition of "high ranking Muslims". A number of Imams have been murdered for speaking out against the killings by Muslim groups in the deep South, example below. Fairly brave I would think, knowing you become an instant target.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Leading-imam-shot-down-as-violence-escalates-in-So-30211971.html

Muslim informers are also murdered on a regular basis.

Muslim terrorists are not fussy about who they kill as long as they can kill some one. Makes no difference to them.

They have no cause they just get a rush off of inspiring terror.

[transam]

This type of action is counterproductive to their cause unless their cause is to never have peace in their lifetime. Targeting and killing innocents will only inflame further the majority non Muslim Thais

You cannot change the weak in mind after brainwashing. These scrotes should be sent to meet their maker, well seems they talk to him every day, so in person must be a highlight for them......

[CharlieH]

Post removed

11) Do not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[Alwyn]

Maybe now the good General will be motivated to do something about addressing the issues in the south? Ot will he carry on with the important stuff like what colour vests the motor bike taxis should wear? I seem to recall one of the reasons for the 2006 coup was Thaksin's mis-handling of the south's insurgents?

[Lancelot]

Terrorists engage in reprehensible acts because they often succeed in furthering their goals.

Knock on wood but I wonder why they have never targeted foreigners in tourist areas, especially in Bangkok and Pattaya?

Tourists are the softest of targets. The nature of tourism is precisely to free oneself from the rigor of daily life.

Phuket, Pattaya, Samui...? Is not a matter of if, but, unfortunately, when.

Remember Bali. The quintessential peace and beauty island: the dawn of the world...

The current spate of Southern terrorism has been going on since about 2001, that's a long "when"...

Here is one explanation:

"We have no wish to attack outsiders," he says. "We could easily do so if we wished." An alternate possibility is that the game is rigged: Rebels are believed to use neighboring tourist-friendly provinces to hide from police, launder money, and run a variety of low-key, low-risk fundraising operations. As one Westerner involved in security put it, "You don't shoot where you eat."

[BusyB]

The sheer cowardice and depravity of this leaves me with a sinking feeling in my gut and almost at a loss for words.

[pisico]

Terrorists engage in reprehensible acts because they often succeed in furthering their goals.

Knock on wood but I wonder why they have never targeted foreigners in tourist areas, especially in Bangkok and Pattaya?

Tourists are the softest of targets. The nature of tourism is precisely to free oneself from the rigor of daily life.

Phuket, Pattaya, Samui...? Is not a matter of if, but, unfortunately, when.

Remember Bali. The quintessential peace and beauty island: the dawn of the world...

The current spate of Southern terrorism has been going on since about 2001, that's a long "when"...

Here is one explanation:

"We have no wish to attack outsiders," he says. "We could easily do so if we wished." An alternate possibility is that the game is rigged: Rebels are believed to use neighboring tourist-friendly provinces to hide from police, launder money, and run a variety of low-key, low-risk fundraising operations. As one Westerner involved in security put it, "You don't shoot where you eat."

Not so fast! Better to be proactive than to loiter in the past.

Less than 2 years ago, a mall was bombed, full of tourists in the South.

Whatever that individual said (in your quote, along with your anonymous Westerner) is not a credible statement/evidence of reality: read above line.

In the South terrorists DO shoot where they live and eat.

If you make an effort and extrapolate, you will see that 9/11 in New York, bombings in London, Nairobi, etc., are all conducted when their usual tactics no longer bear fruits. The extremists in the South will eventually do what has been done in war consistently throughout history: take the war to the enemy's front steps.

Terrorists, no matter why they do their destructive work, all have one and preponderant aim, to further their "cause". Destruction of their targets validates their "cause" with far reaching implications, instill fear and attain notoriety.

[northernjohn]

Why are there no statements of condemnation about these murders from high ranking Muslims? Is it because they condone the cowardly murder of these innocent women who were starting out on a like dedicated to helping others?

Does an Imam come under your definition of "high ranking Muslims". A number of Imams have been murdered for speaking out against the killings by Muslim groups in the deep South, example below. Fairly brave I would think, knowing you become an instant target.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Leading-imam-shot-down-as-violence-escalates-in-So-30211971.html

Muslim informers are also murdered on a regular basis.

The article says nothing at all about any other Iman. Just the one. It was more about continuing on wasting time talking to the wrong people. Not sure but it seems since they started the talks a year or thereabouts ago but I believe the murder rate has escalated. All Muslims are open season for the terrorist. If you are not a terrorist it is open season on you also. They are equal opportunity terrorist organizations. Wouldn't surprised me to see them fighting among them selves.

[simple1]

Just make a bit of effort and you will find the murdered Imam was not only Imam with his attitude to the killings. As I said the article was an example of one individual. I recall that 300 senior Imams signed some form of communication that denounced the militant killings after the subject Imam was murdered (remember reading in BKK Post). However, another example Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) militant, who turned his back on the insurgency to work for peace, again murdered.

http://khabarsoutheastasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/11/17/feature-02

if you're interested do some deeper research, that despite what some post, it is claimed the majority of locals do not support the militants / terrorist killings.. I did provide a link within this topic, perhaps you did not or don’t want to read the content; just in case now repeated below.

http://www.deepsouth...h.org/node/5904

It's a truism that media rarely report the activities, positions, of the so called moderate Muslims and on the internet you often have to work past pages and pages of negative Muslim reporting and hate sites.

You might be interested to again another viewpoint, not a pretty picture, that allegedly provides some insight to the modus operandi of some of the insurgency / militant groups’ activities and how they have some understandings with Thai security forces

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Map-of-violence-could-open-a-path-to-peace-in-deep-30234436.html

Edited July 11, 2014 by simple1

[transam]

Why are there no statements of condemnation about these murders from high ranking Muslims? Is it because they condone the cowardly murder of these innocent women who were starting out on a like dedicated to helping others?

But wait, member here 7x7 will tell all here that we are all wrong and it has NOTHING to do with a religion.......You just wait............

[OZEMADE]

These killings are arguably worse than the recent rape and murder of a young girl on a Thai train. In the latter case, the accused was allegedly drunk and high drugs. The assassination of these two nurses, on the other hand, was clearly a cold blooded and premeditated act of random violence for which there are no extenuating circumstances and no excuse.

These attacks on innocent civilians are part of a pattern of escalating violence which has claimed more than 6,000 lives over the last decade - including those of many Thai military and administrative personnel - and new initatives to tackle the causes of unrest in the deep; south should be a far higher priority for the new regime than many of its current initiatives, such as worrying over ways to fix the price of lottery tickets.

They murdered 3 police as well and it is about time this so called military now took hold of the reins and really moved a heap of troops and planes and navy to the area/border and sorted this lot out.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742130-three-police-officers-gunned-down-in-yala-after-prayers/