Betong blackout after sabotages by militants

YALA: -- Violence continued in the deep South today with the southern militants blowing up power poles along the Mae Wat to Betong, causing electricity blackout in the southern most business town bordering Malaysia for several hours.

The incidents happened at 7 am Saturday at three locations on the road from Thanto district of Yala to Betong.

The first location happened at Sala 72 in Ban Koyae of Tambon Mae Wat in Thanto district.

The bomb explosion planted at the power pole base knocked down the pole and caused a power blackout from Mae Wat to Betong.

The second explosion brought down two power poles on Highway 410 at Ban Pulosaniye village in Thanto district, and the third explosion in front of Ban Nakaset broke down two poles.

The sabotage of power poles along the Highway 410 cut off electricity supply to Betong which is a significant border town where tourists from Malaysia often visit at weekend.

Security personnel were sent in to provide security for electricity men to replace the fallen piles and restore power supply back to Betong late today.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/betong-blackout-after-sabotages-by-militants

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-11

Restore the power. Yeah right... only for 20 minutes. Still blackout here at 17.55pm.

It's a good thing the violence has decreased according to the Junta.

Otherwise its stated goal to have peace with the insurgents before year-end might seem unlikely.

The insurgency might have gained some momentum and more support with the Junta's latest deportation of muslims back to China. It may only be a matter of time that Prayut will refer to the Malay-Thais as "breeding animals." Then they may become stampeding animals.