Motorcade bomb suspect arrested after 'DNA find'
The Nation

YALA: -- Security officers Saturday captured an alleged key bomb-maker in Songkhla's Thepha district who is linked to the bomb attack on a Defence Ministry motorcade in Yala on Monday that wounded five rangers.

Yala native Mahadi Malee, 26, was arrested at the home of his wife, whom he married only two weeks ago.

It is understood his DNA was found at the scene of the attack in Muang district.

Mahadi, previously detained on suspicions of involvement in the unrest in the deep South, has maintained his innocence.

Officers sent him to be interrogated at the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre's Pitak Santi Centre in Songkhla, as it is believed he can provide information implicating others in the attack.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Motorcade-bomb-suspect-arrested-after-DNA-find-30269146.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-19

Motorcade 'bombmaker' suspect held after 'DNA find'; Pulo man freed
SANTIPARP RAMASUT,
JESSADA SIRIYOTHAI,
PARES LOHASAN
THE SUNDAY NATION

YALA: -- SECURITY officers yesterday captured an alleged key bomb-maker in Songkhla's Thepha district who is linked to the bomb attack on a Defence Ministry motorcade in Yala on Monday that wounded five rangers.

Yala native Mahadi Malee, 26, was arrested at the home of his wife, whom he married only two weeks ago.

It is understood his DNA was found at the scene of the attack in Muang district.

Mahadi, previously detained on suspicions of involvement in the unrest in the deep South, has maintained his innocence.

Officers sent him to be interrogated at the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre's Pitak Santi Centre in Songkhla, as it is believed he can provide information implicating others in the attack.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the deep South following the eight bomb attacks in Narathiwat's Rangae district on Thursday night. Three people were killed and 13 wounded in one of the bomb attacks.

Yala's Betong police set up checkpoints and sent patrol teams to screen for suspicious people or items in various areas, while military rangers from Unit 3308 scanned the Yala-Betong road for hidden bombs and set up checkpoints along the road.

In related news, Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre chief Panu Uthairat and Pattani Deputy Governor Leuchai Charoensap yesterday presided over a ceremony at Pattani Prison in which a second former militant of the Patani United Liberation Organisation, Da-oh Maseng, or Da-oh Thanam, was paroled.

Four national security convicts and three gun-related crime convicts were also released.

Da-oh, 57, was sentenced to life in prison in 1998 along with fellow militant Sama-ae Thanam, who was released on parole on July 17 after serving almost two decades in Yala Prison.

Releasing the two men is said to be part of the government's policy of showing its sincerity in restoring peace in the restive region.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Motorcade-bombmaker-suspect-held-after-DNA-find;-P-30269151.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-20

Yet another one of the worlds conflicts that's hard to see when it will end.

Enforcement is a real blunt instrument in these situations. As the British Government found with the Irish situation, still not entirely resolved, the only policy that works is discussion and understanding of what both sides need to come to a compromise, or eventually a solution. You will not break an opponent's spirit by banging his head against a wall, only his body, and he will hate you more than he did before.

Swallow your pride, Thailand, risk losing face and call in the UN to negotiate between the "terrorists" (or freedom fighters) and the Government, and give the three provinces, one of which is my wife's home province, a chance for a peaceful and productive future, whether that is as part of Malaysia, as a self-governing region of Thailand, or as an independent country. Whatever makes the bombings and shootings stop will work.

How many generations have to be tainted by terrorism before face is satisfied with blood?

General Prayuth, ensure you go down in history as the man who enabled this madness to stop.

"It is understood his DNA was found at the scene of the attack in Muang district"

This represents either a very sophisticated investigation by "security officers" (are these police or independent contractors?) or it's imaginary.

To know that you have found someone's DNA at a crime scene requires a verified match. DNA is like a fingerprint. There is no information of how "security officers" accomplished such a match.

There further is no witness information placing the suspect at the crime scene. More likely the suspect was selected for other than scientific reasons. Perhaps with the claim of DNA the security officers hoped to get a confession reminiscent of the Koh Tao murders.

An [unverified by independent observers'] DNA match is the new PR mantra for the Thai police.

It beats the previous mantra which has been used for decades, "The suspect has confessed his guilt."

Indeed the two can now be used in tandem. Might as well chuck in a re-enactment while you're at it and it's a nailed-on conviction.