Southern Unrest: Military Denies 'Locking' Women in Mosque
By Khaosod English


Police, soldiers, and armed volunteers after a clash with suspected insurgents in Saba Yoi district, Songkhla province, 4 Dec 2014.

SONGKHLA — A military spokesperson has dismissed rumours that security officers locked a group of women and children inside a mosque while they searching for potential insurgents in the southern province of Songkhla last week.

Col. Pramote Prom-in, spokesperson of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), said yesterday that the allegation is an "attempt to distort information by certain individuals to accuse the officials of using excessive force."

According to the allegation, security officers herded a group of women and children into a mosque in Saba Yoi district during a gunfight with separatist insurgents on 4 December. The women and children were reportedly locked inside the mosque without food or water for hours.

However, Col. Pramote told reporters that soldiers placed the civilians inside the mosque for their own safety after armed militants started firing at security officers who were searching the village. He also said the civilians were treated with respect throughout their detention.

"The officials arranged for food and water to service the women and children," Col. Pramote said. "The men were separated, because we needed to inspect their background. But in the end, we released all of them without causing physical harm to anyone."

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1418018631

-- Khaosod English 2014-12-08

So, in effect, both accounts appear to be the same, except each has put their own spin on it.

southern idiots / military thugs

Wouldn't trust either group to be honest

Just bringing happiness to the people.

Seems a reasonable action to me.

Seems a reasonable action to me.

These people are Muslim people. They are not Thai people.

Seems a reasonable action to me.

These people are Muslim people. They are not Thai people.

They are Thai muslims. You are a Thai bigot.

Kinda like saying "police lock Irishmen in bar"

Seems a reasonable action to me.

These people are Muslim people. They are not Thai people.

What a racist you are!!

Muslim is a religion, if they were born in Thailand, which many of them are, they're Thai by birthright.

Not for the first time you show complete ignorance and bigoted comments !!!

The ones I interact with at work always state their nationality first maybe down to the fact I work in their country ?

I don't think to be honest I've ever met a Muslim who when asked their nationality stated they were Muslim !!

I have worked along side Syrians, Jordanians, Pakistani, Malaysian, Phillipinnos, Egyptians, Iranians too, and don't ever recal any of them stating their culture and religion as a preference over their nationality.

Seems a reasonable action to me.

These people are Muslim people. They are not Thai people.

There are lots of Muslim Thai people.

Some posts containing overly derogatory bigotry comments have been removed as well as the replies.

A troll post removed as well.