2 Narathiwat soldiers killed, anti-govt banners raised

[webfact]

2 Narathiwat soldiers killed, anti-govt banners raised
THE NATION July 17, 2015 1:00 am



NARATHIWAT: -- Two soldiers were shot dead and set on fire inside their pickup truck in Narathiwat's Rusoh district yesterday, while insurgency sympathisers put up banners attacking the government in four other districts as well as in the neighbouring province of Pattani.

Corporal Prasit Nakarareung and Private Yusob Tehlee of the Narathiwat 30th Special Task Force were returning to an outpost after completing an errand at around 11am, when unknown gunmen ambushed them in tambon Batong.

The attackers shot them, poured petrol on their corpses and set them on fire before fleeing. Police collected spent M16 bullets from the scene.

In Sungai Padi district, a protest banner and a suspicious item in a black bag were spotted at 6.30am at the Toh Deng train station. A similar item was found in the middle of the railway tracks 50 metres away. Though the bomb squad found them both to be hoax bombs, the train service was still delayed for five hours.

Banners attacking the government were spotted in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok, Rangae, Si Sakhon and Bacho districts as well as in Pattani's Nong Chik, Ma-Yor, Yarang, Thung Yang Daeng, Khok Pho, Yaring and Muang districts.

Colonel Pramote Phrom-in, spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command, said the banners wrongly accused state officials in the course of their duties of violating human rights and disturbing the public as the Ramadan holy month nears an end. Separately, on Wednesday night, villager Sugri Mamu, 38, was shot dead in Pattani's Yarang district in an attack police believe may have been motivated by a personal conflict or maybe part of the ongoing unrest.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/2-Narathiwat-soldiers-killed-anti-govt-banners-rai-30264632.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-17

[Srikcir]

A little different than dealing with college students protesting the Junta.

But the Junta seems more successful at silencing peaceful protests than violent protests.

Time to bring the army in .... oh wait.

[JAG]

I suspect that the troops who picked up the students, and are monitoring their activities are better equipped than these poor so and sos, expected to move around a hostile environment in civvy pick up trucks and motorcycles.

That's two killed and two injured this week through using woefully inadequate vehicles.

Edited July 17, 2015 by JAG

[Yahooka]

Through out history every military seem to be able to find ways to improve their tactics to make gains against guerilla forces or terrorists, but that doesn't seem to be implented in the Deep South. Military, police and village volunters still using tactics and equipment that makes them very vunerable out in the field.The sheer incompetence from the top down is not only mindboggling, but tragic !!

[smutcakes]

This type of insurgency is extremely difficult to stop, and even having every armed soldier and General in the army in the south would not stop it in my opinion. In fact having massive military presence only seems to alienate some people even more although i expect many would feel safer purely from a soldier visibility perspective. The only feasible way that the attacks could be stopped or slowed down is through some type of settlement, negotiation and some give and take on both sides. Yes there would be some extreme elements who still disagree, but just trying to use force i doubt will ever work, which has been shown all over the world.

It would be nice to see some of the high level personnel spend some time down there though if the military way is their preferred option of trying to deal with it. I just get the distinct impression that all Govts including the NCPO have not really got the appetite to actually try to deal with it seriously when they can just periodically issue apologies or new gambits on tactics.

Maybe a special multi disciplined and mixed religion team with full authority of the Government be formed with the sole remit of working on solutions to the issue. I am probably dreaming, but surely history as shown that simply armed force is never going to solve the issue.

[JAG]

You're probably right, this sort of insurgency is very difficult to "win." in a conventional military sense. But properly equipping, training and leading the troops they do have down there, whilst not guaranteeing victory will reduce casualties.

It will also make the insurgents think twice before launching attacks on what are at the moment an easy target. If the troops are capable of rapid and effective counter action then the insurgents will not risk it.

This sort of campaign requires patience, professionalism, good junior leadership at NCO and junior officer level, and thorough training. Together with the right equipment and doctrine it would dramatically reduce casualties and close down the insurgents freedom to strike at will.

Despite its large manpower resources, large budget and expansive command structure they have neither the equipment, training nor doctrines. All are freely available. The Officers Clubs of Bangkok are simply not interested, perhaps not capable.

[BestBitterPhuket]

To all of you who complain about poor equipment. Don't worry. The new submarines are coming. The rag tag Muslim terrorists will flee to malaysia by the meer thought of the subs.