Violence Erupts In The South Again

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Prem attends a meeting with government and private sectors to solve the problems in Deep South

Privy Council and Statesman General Prem Tinsulanonda (เปรม ติณสูลานนท์) recently chaired a meeting with related agencies to find ways to douse the southern flames in the three southern border provinces. The meeting was attended by provincial governors, President of the Islamic Commission of the 5 Southern provinces, Army commander, President of the Islamic private school association, Chairman of Pondok(ปอเนาะ)school association. The media was not invited to attend the meeting.

Privy Councilor Surayuth Chulanond (สุรยุทธ จุลานนท์) said ythe meeting was meant to be internal and would not like to elaborate details regarding the talks.

He said the meeting discussed over the current situation in various aspects and also the solutions to the problems in the future.

He stated that the agencies will help improve the problems, especially educational matter where the youths will be given opportunities to get better education.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 August 2006

[sriracha john]

CRISIS IN SOUTH

Prem seeks solutions as killing continues

Four more die in violence

Violence continued unabated in the deep South yesterday as four men died and two others were injured in separate incidents.

The killings came as the Privy Council chief and prominent military figures met locals to discuss ways of curbing the unrest.

In Yala's Muang district, the owner of an elephant troupe, Mongkhol Traiyod, 24, was shot dead by suspected Muslim insurgents while selling show tickets to children.

Police said four men pretending to wait in line for tickets shot seven rounds at him before fleeing on motorbikes. The troupe was about to perform its afternoon show behind a mosque.

Later, police led by Lt-Colonel Somsak Tangnapadon, deputy investigative commander in Yala, detained suspect Ibrohim Galong, 21, and interrogated him for two hours. Mongkhol's wife Banjong Ked-iam, 25, and two other witnesses were able to identify him from a line-up.

Police said they would proceed with the investigation and arrest the other gunmen.

According to a local news agency, Mongkhol had said in an interview this month that he feared for his safety because of the ongoing violence, but felt that his show would not be targeted.

He and his colleagues toured the most violent towns of the Muslim-majority region to entertain children with his elephants, which play football, do tricks and walk on two legs.

In Pattani's Yarang district, Noppadol Yamapat, 44, was shot dead by suspected Muslim militants while riding his motorbike and carrying rubber to sell. Two gunmen on a motorbike fired four rounds with an 11mm pistol. He died at the scene.

Later, in Kok Pho district of the same province, merchant Saroj Tantanawat, 41, was shot by two gunmen using a .38 pistol while he was riding his motorbike home. He was pronounced dead in hospital.

Late on Sunday, Ausmin Jehtanee, 29, and two friends were shot outside a tea shop in Narathiwat. Police said two men on a motorcycle opened fire with an AK-47 rifle. The three victims were taken to hospital, where Ausmin died early yesterday.

Meanwhile, six soldiers injured in a bombing of a motorbike shop in Narathiwat on Sunday were all in good condition in hospital. However, two of six onlookers were still in a coma. Kansak Aungpattanakul, 42, whose head and body were struck by shrapnel, was paralysed down the entire left side of his body.

Police said they had interrogated four witnesses and received very useful information. They claimed at least one militant sat in a pick-up truck opposite the crime scene to detonate the bomb. Police were also able to identify the owner of a motorbike that concealed the bomb.

More than 1,400 people have been killed in near-daily shootings and bomb attacks since violence re-emerged in the three southernmost provinces in January 2004.

Privy Council President Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, Privy Council member Gen Surayuth Chulanont, Army commander Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin and several other prominent military figures visited Pattani yesterday to meet governors from Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla and Satun.

After the meeting, they donated Bt30,000 to 10 temples and mosques in the five provinces.

None of the generals would talk to reporters.

The Nation

[Jai Dee]

Foreign Affairs Ministry is ready to cooperate with security-related units to follow up insurgents' movements

The Foreign Affairs Ministry is ready to cooperate with security-related units in order to follow up on the movements of insurgents in the deep South.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon (กันตธีร์ ศุภมงคล) said that his ministry has given an importance on the interview of PULO via BBC of England. He said that the interview referred to the violence in Thailand’s southern region. However, security-related units have insisted that there is no clear intelligence indicating that PULO will create violence in the three southernmost provinces of the country.

Nevertheless, his ministry will cooperate with relevant units to find further information about the situation. The ministry will also help develop better make understanding with the local people about this issue.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda visits a mosque in Pattani yesterday. While there he met with southern religious leaders to exchange ideas about solving the problems plaguing the deep South.

Source: The Nation - 15 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Lt.-Gen. Adul admits that insurgents are preparing to cause violence in the deep South

The Commander of Provincial Police Region 9, Lieutenant-General Adul Sangsingkaew (อดุลย์ แสงสิงแก้ว), has received the news of the insurgents' movement in the deep South. However, he said that the authorities are ready to deal with the possible violence.

The Commander has adjusted the security measures to prepare for the possible insurgence in the South. He said the authorities have also been trained on how to use weapons.

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 August 2006

[sriracha john]

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened.

Really??

Perhaps General Adul needs to read this thread.

[Jai Dee]

Cabinet approves debt suspension for cooperative members affected by the southern violence

The Cabinet has approved a budget of 69.2 million baht to finance debts incurred by members of agricultural cooperatives who are affected by the southern violence.

At its weekly meeting chaired by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra via a video conferencing system, the Cabinet agreed to a Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives proposal to waive debts owed by cooperatives' members who were killed in the violence in the three southernmost provinces.

As for those who are unable to repay debts because of interruptions by the violence in the region, they will be granted a 3-year reprieve during which they will be exempted from debt repayment while the government will bear the interest burden for them.

The suspension scheme covers the period from 2004 to 2006.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 August 2006

[Losangels]

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened.

Really??

Perhaps General Adul needs to read this thread.

Does he really mean it?!!!

Does he expect people to believe it?

Oh I get it, his boss will believe it or couldn't care less.

Very very frightening situation developing and we have people like him in charge

[sriracha john]

Jai Dee @ 2006-08-15 15:46:12)

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened.

74-year-old man killed in drive-by shooting

Yala - A 74-year-old man was shot dead by two militants in another drive-by shooting in this southern border province Wednesday morning.

Thuan Intharat, 74, was shot dead while riding his motorcycle on a village road in Muang district to the downtown at 8 am.

Witnesses told police that the old man was followed by two gunmen on a motorcycle and one of them opened fire at him twice with a .38 revolver, hitting his body and killing him at the scene.

The Nation

--------------------

I would proffer that Mr. Thuan would have disagreed with General Adul's assessment.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Thuan..... rest in peace....

[sriracha john]

With each passing day, General Adul's words are ringing more and more hollow:

Thai soldiers search as they collect evidence at the bomb site in Ra-ngae district of Narathiwat province, southern Thailand Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006. A bomb believed to have been detonated by suspect Islamic insurgents went off at the district center early on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006, injuring five soldiers and seven civilians. More than 1,500 people have been killed in near daily shootings and bomb attacks since an insurgency the government blames on Islamic separatists flared up in January 2004. (AP Photo)

12 injured in bomb attack in Narathiwat market

Narathiwat - Five soldiers and seven civilians were injured in a bomb attack at the Tanyong Mas morning market in this southern border province.

Militant hid a homemade bomb in the oil tank of a motorcycle left park near the market in Ranage district.

They apparently detonated the bomb while a group of soldiers was walking past the motorcycle to buy foods at the market at about 8 am.

The five soldiers were severely injured and four villagers were also badly hurt. The rest suffered minor injuries.

Witnesses told police that they saw two young men riding the motorcycle and parking it in front of the gold shop not long before the explosion.

The Nation

=============================================================

Seven injured in Yala bomb attack

Yala - Two policemen and five civilians were injured when militants detonated a bomb hidden at road-side foods stall in front of the provincial hospital Thursday morning.

Police said the bomb occurred when the two policemen were having breakfast at the roadside foods stall on a soi in front of the Yala Provincial Hospital at 8:30 am.

The blast impact also damaged four motorcycles.

The two policemen were identified as Police Lance Corporal Kittirat Roscha, 20, and Police Lance Corporal Samphao Thongkham, 24.

The five civilians were identified as Pornthip Musika, 30, Methi In-ek, 17, Boonlert Pakdeerujirat,, 50, Somjai Pakdeerujirat, 44 and Jiraphorn Sukcharoen, 36.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

And in the third of three Deep South provinces:

Two state employees killed in drive-by shooting in Pattani

Pattani - A municipality employee and state informant were killed in two separate drive-by shootings in this southern border province Thursday morning, police said.

The first shooting occurred at 7:15 am in Sai Buri district.

Boonchu Longprom, 47, an employee of Tambon Taluban Municipality was shot four times while riding his motorcycle to work. He died later at the district hospital.

In the second incident, Ma Matohae, 31, was sot and killed on a village road in Tambon Thakhamcham of Nong Chik district at 8 am, police said. He died at the scene.

Police said Ma was an informant of officials and might be killed in a revenge by Muslim militants.

The Nation

[Losangels]

Hey General Adul, I'm still waiting to hear your press conference about how things are under control in the South.

Or are you waiting nervously to get the hel_l out of there and waiting orders from BKK to return?

[Jai Dee]

Intelligence units warned against the movements of insurgents

Intelligence units warned against the movements of insurgents reportedly about to cause havoc in the region. The insurgents has come up with tactics to rob people’s property such as stealing cell phones. The stolen cell phone will be used to detonate bombs.

The insurgents has changed its tactics following the government’s policies in preventing violence in the Deep South by urging sim-card dealers to record sim-card buyers’ profiles.

With the measure mplemented, it has been difficult for insurgents to buy sim-cards off the rack.

Besides, authorities have been tipped off that the insurgents may sabotage August 31st as it commemorates Berchatu (ขบวนการเบอร์ซาตู) terrorism.

According to the news, sim-card dealers have been requested to check their buyers’ profiles as to prevent bringing fake documents to buy sim-card.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Narathiwat governor calls a meeting to follow up implementation related to security

Narathiwat (นราธิวาส) Governor Pracha Terat (ประชา เตรัตน์) called a meeting with the government officials the representatives from the private sector to follow up on the implementation related to security in the province.

Following his observation on the situations in the deep South, he said that most of the violence are rooted from personal conflicts, including narcotic problems. He said that only 20 percent of violence is resulted from security-related matters. However, he has urged officials to eliminate narcotic problems in the districts of Sungai Kolok (สุไหงโก-ลก), Sungai Padi (สุไหงปาดี), and Tak_bai (ตากใบ).

Besides, he has requested entrepreneurs to install closed circuit television (CCTV) in their shops to reduce the number of violent incidents in the province.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 August 2006

[sriracha john]

Suspected militants want to buy Casio : police

Police have warned vendors in major markets in Songkhla to keep a close watch for people buying digital watches, particularly of the Casio brand, since these could be used to set off bombs in the restive southern region.

Copies of the watches were distributed to the vendors during a meeting with the police in July, a Songkhla vendor said.

"At the meeting police said that only genuine digital Casio watches could be used in making bombs. The fake ones cannot be used," the vendor said.

Songkhla police chief MajGeneral Worapong Shewpreecha revealed at the weekend that suspected militants in the three restive southernmost provinces - Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala - had been coming to Songkhla's KimyongSantisuk Market to buy mobile phones and watches, both of which are important components in making bombs.

The suspected militants bought large amounts of mobile phones and watches of the same brand, prompting suspicious vendors to report the purchase to the police.

The Nation

---------------------------------------------------------------

Tomorrow's story:

In order to quell Southern violence, a plan to register all digital watches nation-wide is being considered. Approximately 58 million watches will fall into this category and will require a budget of 23 billion baht to complete the registration process......

[Pakboong]

I am curious as to where the money is coming from to buy Casio Watches and mobile phones not to mention that it is highly unusual for anyone from such a poor area to donate their motor bikes to be used in a bombings. Just not a picture that fits Thailand. Somethings just do not make sense to me about all of this. There are a lot of lame possibilitioes such as the bikes were stolen, the watches were stolen, the phones were stolen...... Again, just not likely. Casio watches cost at least 1500 baht and I just can't imagine a run on these watches. I would be looking for the folks that are paying for all this.

[meemiathai]

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened.

Really??

Perhaps General Adul needs to read this thread.

Does he really mean it?!!!

Does he expect people to believe it?

Oh I get it, his boss will believe it or couldn't care less.

Very very frightening situation developing and we have people like him in charge

Are you guys saying you know how to control it?

I guess doctors should be blamed for people dying of cancers as well!

Strange world strange people!

[meemiathai]

I am curious as to where the money is coming from to buy Casio Watches and mobile phones not to mention that it is highly unusual for anyone from such a poor area to donate their motor bikes to be used in a bombings. Just not a picture that fits Thailand. Somethings just do not make sense to me about all of this. There are a lot of lame possibilitioes such as the bikes were stolen, the watches were stolen, the phones were stolen...... Again, just not likely. Casio watches cost at least 1500 baht and I just can't imagine a run on these watches. I would be looking for the folks that are paying for all this.

You would not expect people who do not abide by the laws to be genuinely poor, would you?

[sriracha john]

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened.

Really??

Perhaps General Adul needs to read this thread.

Does he really mean it?!!!

Does he expect people to believe it?

Oh I get it, his boss will believe it or couldn't care less.

Very very frightening situation developing and we have people like him in charge

Are you guys saying you know how to control it?

I guess doctors should be blamed for people dying of cancers as well!

Strange world strange people!

It's VERY appropriate for you to mention doctors....

Due to Thaksin's chronic mishandling of the situation, half the doctors that used to be in the South.. presumably taking care of "cancers" and such, HAVE FLED THE AREA....

Doctors flee hospitals in Thailand's troubled south

08/21/2006

BANGKOK -- Hospitals in Thailand's Muslim-majority south face a severe shortage of senior medical staff, especially doctors who are fleeing more than two years of violence in the region, officials said Monday.

Nearly half the doctors working at the main hospitals in Yala and Narathiwat provinces have left because of an Islamic separatist insurgency and other unrest that has killed more than 1,400 people in the region.

Chalerm Saksorachai, director of Narathiwat Ratchanakarin hospital, said that of the nearly 40 doctors on his staff, only 24 have stayed. Many of his surgeons were among the ones who had left, he added.

Yala's hospital director Wattana Wattanayakorn said his staff of 80 doctors had been reduced to just 42.

"Doctors feel unsafe because the violence is continuing, while the doctors who stay have more responsibility because many patients come in with injuries from the unrest," Chalerm said.

"If the unrest is not over soon, it may affect to treatments," Chalerm added.

There is only one doctor for every 10,000 people in the region, compared with one to 500 in Bangkok, Chalerm said.

Thailand's deep south suffers nearly daily attacks, including a drive-by shooting that left two dead and one injured Monday in Yala province.

Agence France-Presse

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be more direct in responding to your query... If I was in charge, for starters, I would not have murdered young men by loading and stacking them on top of one another in the back of military trucks like they were planks of wood.

Hundreds of demonstrators were arrested then loaded onto a handful of military trucks and driven for several hours to an army camp. Officials admitted that at least 78 people had died while on the trucks, mostly from suffocation. Photo by AFP, Text by BBC

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And you?

Where would you start?

Edited August 21, 2006 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened. Words of General Adul.

The horrible death toll rises...and still nothing from Thaksin:

Yesterday, in Yala's Bannang Sata district, three fruit traders were gunned down at the entrance to Pa Wang Nok village. Sawek Nunphan, 67, was shot in the back of the head and face while sitting on the back of his pick-up truck loaded with durian. Also found dead near the vehicle was Bunsong Buntham, 61, who was shot in the head and body. Surin Nunphan, 33, Sawek's son, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and died later at Yala Centre Hospital. Witnesses said two gunmen on a motorcycle parked near the truck and opened fire on the victims before fleeing. Police believed they belonged to insurgent or terrorist groups. In Narathiwat, Mahanafi Dao, 30, was found dead in a pool of blood in his house in Talonaeng village in tambon Bangpor in Muang district. The man's body was riddled with rifle bullets. According to police, the victim was in his house when two assailants riding a motorcycle parked in front of it. The pillion rider burst through the unlocked door and shot Mahanafi.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/22Aug2006_news06.php

[Jai Dee]

Yala residences' morale is lowest

Yala Governor Boonyasit Suwannarat (บุญสิทธ์ สุวรรณรัตน์) admitted that the morale of Yala residences have been crushed.

He expressed his concern about the violence in Muang (เมือง ) and Bannangsata (บันนังสตา) district as a series of violence hasl occurred. As a consequence of the situation, people’s confidence in government oficials has aggravated too.

The governor said that government agencies should find a way to salvage the situation in the Deep South. He said that information and cooperation from people are needed to improve the matter.

Mr Boonyasit said he has already dispatched officials to ensure security in risk-prone areas.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 August 2006

[Losangels]

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened.

Really??

Perhaps General Adul needs to read this thread.

Does he really mean it?!!!

Does he expect people to believe it?

Oh I get it, his boss will believe it or couldn't care less.

Very very frightening situation developing and we have people like him in charge

Are you guys saying you know how to control it?

I guess doctors should be blamed for people dying of cancers as well!

Strange world strange people!

No unfortunately I do not know how to control it.

I was not trained to combat insurgents.

I do expect those that are in charge of the country and have control over the military to solve the problem or at least come up with a workable solution.

Get capable commanders someone with experiences in the South, those that are familiar with the culture and people. There are several interconnecting factors contributing to the unrest. Reading the report of solving the crisis by the committee headed by Mr.Annan Parachun would be a good start. So far the situation down there has gotten worst, I'm afraid to say that it will get even worst if this administration is still in office

[Jai Dee]

The Commander of Provincial Police Region 9: Community relations plays a key role in solving violence in the deep South

The Commander of Provincial Police Region 9, Lieutenant-General Adul Sangsingkaew (อดุลย์ แสงสิงแก้ว), indicated that community relations plays a key role in creating cooperation and understanding between state officials and local people. He said such relations will enable officials to gain comprehensive information useful in the suppression of violence in the Deep South.

He said that community relations will complement officials' efficiency. He, however, admitted that insurgents have increasingly made brutal attacks on innocent local residents, after their operations failed to inflict damages on officials.

He said that he has already ordered authorities to increase protection measures for people.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 August 2006

[sriracha john]

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened. Words of General Adul.

Five killed in Thailand's South

NARATHIWAT - Five people have been killed in a spate of shootings by suspected Islamic militants in Thailand's restive south, local police said Wednesday.

Four Muslim men, including a local government official, have been killed since late Tuesday in separate attacks around Narathiwat, one of three southern provinces plagued by separatist violence and other unrest, police said.

They said militants in the area had recently sent letters to local leaders, warning them not to cooperate with government officials trying to rein in the unrest.

In neighboring Yala province insurgents opened fire on a couple returning home from market late Tuesday, killing the man and seriously injuring his wife, police said.

Three others were shot and injured in the same area on Tuesday, one day after three fruit vendors were killed in a drive-by shooting.

Yala governor Boonyasit Suwanrat said he has ordered 200 soldiers to hunt down the gunmen in Bannang Sta district, where police say the killers appear to be targeting individuals.

The region along the Malaysian border was an ethnic Malay sultanate until Buddhist Thailand annexed it a century ago, and separatist unrest has simmered ever since.

More than 1,400 people have been killed in the mainly Muslim provinces since the latest violence erupted in January 2004.

Agence France-Presse

[Jai Dee]

Gen Sonthi urges local administrators to have more roles on tackling violence in the deep South

The Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน), has urged local administrative units to have more roles in tackling violence in the deep South.

Gen. Sonthi said that local administrators, district officers and village chiefs have to take more actions and coordinate more with each other so the capability to curb the unrest situations would improve.

As for the commander’s discussion with Mr. Wan Muhamad Nor Matha (วันมูหะมัดนอร์ มะทา) yesterday, they talked about ways to cope with the violence. Gen. Sonthi added that their views on solving the southern turbulence are in the same direction.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 August 2006

[sriracha john]

Just in case people mistakenly thought that things have begun to settle down in the South:

Two killed, 7 wounded in southern Thailand attacks

YALA - Militants ambushed a group of around 20 soldiers in Thailand's mainly Muslim far south on Saturday and a Thai soldier and a militant were killed, officials said.

The militants attacked two pick-up trucks carrying the soldiers in Yala, one of three provinces in the far south near the Malaysian border where more than 1,500 people have been killed in an insurgency which began in January 2004, they said.

In nearby Pattani, a bomb wounded a policeman and a civilian near a weekend market as Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin visited the province.

- Reuters

============================================================

Thai authorities transport an injured soldier to a hospital in Yala province, August 26, 2006. Militants ambushed a group of around 20 soldiers in Thailand's mainly Muslim far south on Saturday and a Thai soldier and a militant were killed, officials said. REUTERS

============================================================

Bombs kill 2, hurt 7 in deep South

Two soldiers were killed and five others injured in a roadside bomb explosion yesterday.

Colonel Suthisak Prasertsri, commander of Task Force 1, died instantly after a powerful roadside bomb exploded as his vehicle passed.

The explosion killed soldier Pvt Phanuwat Thanya and injured five accompanying men.

Police believed the bomb was detonated by mobile phone.

The explosion occurred on a remote stretch of road in Tambon Banangsta. Suthisak was returning from a religious ceremony at a local Buddhist temple.

There was another roadside bombing at Khok Pho district in Pattani.

One police officer and a civilian were injured.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Highest-ranking Military Officer Based In Yala Killed

Taskforce commander killed in violent Thai South

Unidentified gunmen Saturday afternoon attacked a group of Special Task Force (STF) soldiers of the Royal Thai Army in Thai southern province of Yala, killing a taskforce commander and a soldier, a military source told Xinhua.

The group of STF soldiers, who were heading to Bannang Kuwae Village in Yala's Bannang Sata district, were attacked by several gunmen with submachine guns at about 2:35 p.m. local time (0735 GMT).

The gunmen also detonated a roadside bomb, killing a soldier and Col. Sutthisak Prasertsri, the commander of STF in Yala.

The source said Col. Sutthisak, the highest-ranking military officer based in Yala, is also the highest-ranking victim in Thai southern violence up till now.

Col. Sutthisak and the soldier died on the spot and five other soldiers were seriously injured.

The soldiers briefly exchanged fire with the gunmen before they escaped from the scene by motorcycles.

Security was highly tightened after the incident since Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin was also inspecting local military affairs in Yala Province.

Yala is among the three southern border provinces plagued with violence related to an ongoing insurgency which has claimed more than 1,300 lives since it resumed in early 2004.

Source: Xinhua

------------------------------------

With kudos to Ta22 who originally posted this news

[sriracha john]

The turmoil persists:

Man killed in drive-by shooting

Yala - A man was shot dead at a petrol station at Kue Long in Bannang Sata Sunday, police said.

Witnesses said one of two men on a motorcycle opened fire with a pistol, killing Sujin Jitrban, 57, as he filled his pickup.

Police suspected Muslim extremists were behind the attack.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

He said he is satisfied with the officials’ performance in dealing with violence in the past, and statistics of violent incidents have lessened. Words of General Adul.

Village defence volunteer slain, ears chopped off

Narathiwat - A village defence volunteer was shot dead Monday morning by militants who also chopped of and took away his ears.

The body of Sa-mael Jeha, 56, was found dead on a village road in Moo Si village of Tambon Rigo in Sungai Padi district at 5:45 am.

He was shot and his neck was nearly cut off. His ears disappeared.

His body was found near his motorcycle.

He was riding his motorcycle to deliver his Chinese donuts to coffee shops in the area when he was shot dead by militants.

Police said the militants apparently wanted to cut his head off and take it with them, but failed, so they cut off his ears instead.

The Nation

Edited August 28, 2006 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

No let up in sight....

Southern couple shot while tapping rubber in ongoing violence

NARATHIWAT, Aug 29 - Two more casualties were registered Tuesday in Thailand's ongoing southern insurgency, but they may survive the experience.

Wounded and apparently left for dead, the couple were shot by unidentified gunmen in a rubber plantation in this southern border province of Narathiwat's Sungai Padi District early Tuesday morning.

Waedueramae Arong, 37, and his wife Wae-aesor Waemawae, 25, were wounded by two suspected insurgents armed with AK-47 assault rifles. They were tapping rubber at the time.

The victims were taken to hospital for treatment and reports of their condition have not yet been available.

Meanwhile, in the nearby province of Yala, a bomb squad Tuesday morning inspected the site of a bombing in Yala municipality at a roadside pavilion Monday night. No casualties were reported from the blast.

According to the initial investigation, a 10 kilogramme bomb was planted behind the roadside pavilion.

Witnesses said they saw two teenagers stop their motorcycle there shortly before the bomb went off.

- MCOT

============================================================

Officials inspect the hole caused by an explosion last night in Yala, which nearly killed a group of soldiers passing by.

The Nation