Wave of attacks across southern Thailand after new constitution signed

[webfact]

Wave of attacks across southern Thailand after new constitution signed

REUTERS

 

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (R) returns the constitution after signing it to Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok, Thailand April 6, 2017. Thailand Royal Household Bureau/Handout via REUTERS

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police on Friday reported 22 attacks, including at least five small bomb blasts, in Muslim-majority southern Thailand only hours after King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed a new constitution on Thursday as a step towards ending military rule.

 

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the attacks in the region where there has been a recent upsurge in a decades-old Muslim separatist insurgency. Parts of the region voted against the new constitution at a referendum last year.

 

"The incidents are to create disturbances. They want to destroy the government's credibility and create fear among people," said Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for local security forces.

 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility and security forces said they did not know who was to blame.

 

Thailand's king signed a military-backed constitution into law on Thursday, an essential step towards an election the junta has promised will restore democracy after the 12th successful coup in little over 80 years.

 

The new constitution is the Southeast Asian country's 20th since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 and critics say it will still give the generals a powerful say over Thai politics for years, if not decades.

 

Voters in the most heavily Muslim parts of Thailand were among the few to reject the draft constitution in last year's referendum.

Security forces said five bombs had exploded on electric poles, causing local power cuts, and there had been a number of tyre-burning incidents.

 

Details were not immediately available of all the attacks. A large number of co-ordinated attacks in the region is unusual.

 

A Malay Muslim separatist insurgency in the provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat has claimed more than 6,500 lives since it escalated in 2004, according to independent monitoring group Deep South Watch.

 

On Monday, police reported what they described as the biggest attack by insurgents in the south in years. They said about 30 insurgents had fired more than 500 shots into a police booth.

 

In February, the government of the Buddhist-majority country struck a deal with MARA Patani, a long-standing umbrella group that claims to speak for the insurgents, but other separatists rejected it.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-07

[webfact]

Explosions black out electricity supply in deep south 

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Almost all districts of Pattani province in the deep south were blacked out after southern militants blew up high voltage electric supply power poles shortly after midnight.

 

Security authorities said the new round of bombing of public utilities occurred simultaneously in four southern provinces but Pattani suffered the most with power supply cut off for several hours.

 

Until this morning power workers are still recovering a dozen of power poles which were pulled down after the southern insurgents blew up a power pole on the highway from Songkhla to Pattani.

 

Authorities said the insurgents burned car tyres, bombed and burned power poles on several main highways to the four southern provinces of Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala almost at the same time after midnight.

 

Thunderous sound of a series of explosions were heard in several southern towns forcing residents to stay inside their homes.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/explosions-black-electricity-supply-deep-south/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-04-07

[webfact]

Seven attacks launched in Yala
By The Nation

 

YALA: -- Muslim insurgents carried out seven coordinated attacks in two districts of Yala late Thursday night and early Friday, the Internal Security Operations Command’s  Region 4 forward command announced.

 

The forward command said three power poles were damaged with homemade bombs in Joh Bantang village in Bannang Sata district. The insurgents also torched a power transformer in front of the Bannang Sata tambon office and burned tyres in two villages.

 

They also burned tyres in three villages and burned a power pole in Thanto district.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30311579

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-07

[webfact]

Nine attacks reported in Narathiwat
By The Nation

 

NARATHIWAT: -- The Internal Security Operations Command’s Region 4 forward command reported that nine attacks were carried out by insurgents in five districts of Narathiwat early Friday.

 

It said two bomb attacks were made in Sungai Kolo district, three attacks in Tak Bai district, two in Ru Soh district, one in Waeng district and another in Bacho district.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30311580

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-07

[webfact]

Three attacks reported in Songkhla
By The Nation

 

SONGKHLA: -- Insurgents carried out three coordinated attacks in two districts of Songkhla early Friday, the Internal Security Operations Commands’ Region 4 forward command announced.

 

It said tyres were torched in front of a rubber plant in Chana district and two arson attacks were carried out against power power poles in two villages of Saba Yoi district.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30311581

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-07

 

 

[webfact]

UPDATE: Insurgents launch 31 coordinated attacks in deep South
By The Nation

 

Power poles in Narathiwat's Bacho district are damaged in a bomb attack early Friday: photo by Charoon Thongnual.

 

BANGKOK: -- Malay Muslim insurgents in four southern provinces carried out 31 coordinated attacks beginning at midnight on Thursday (April 6), according to Region 4 officials of the Internal Security Operations Command.

 

Region 4’s forward command said there were 12 attacks in Pattani, seven in Yala, nine in Narathiwat and three in Songkhla.

 

Pattani was hardest hit, the actions causing electrical blackouts in several parts of the province. Officials said four insurgents riding two motorcycles planted a bomb in front of Ban Pareh School in Mueang district and detonated it soon after, while a second, unexploded bomb was found later.

 

Militants also detonated three bombs and set tyres aflame in front of a college in Nong Chik district and burned tyres and used explosives to damage utility poles in various locations in Yaran and Yarang districts.

 

In Yala, three power poles were damaged with homemade bombs, in the village of Joh Bantang and in Bannang Sata district. A power transformer in front of the Bannang Sata tambon office was torched and tyres and a power pole were set alight in three villages in Thanto district.

 

In Pattani, forward command said, there were two bomb attacks in Sungai Kolo district, three in Tak Bai, two in Ru Soh and one each in Waeng and Bacho districts.

 

In Songkhla the assailants torched tyres in front of a rubber plant in Chana district and burned down utility poles in two Saba Yoi district villages.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30311587

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-07

[tukkytuktuk]

I wish there could be more detail than just the word bomb. What type of bomb?
Gas cylinder?
Nail bomb?
Pipe bomb?
Petrol bomb?
Atomic bomb?

[55Jay]

Only detail I saw in linked articles was "home made" bomb.  Doesn't really matter though, does it? 

 

In the ME, Shi'ites used gas cylinders quite a bit.  Bomb the electrical sub-station in their neighborhood and torch the large, communal rubbish bins.  Then complain because they have no power, and rubbish is piled on sidewalks.   

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"The incidents are to create disturbances. They want to destroy the government's credibility and create fear among people," said Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for local security forces.

Sorry you have already destroyed your credibility and you have caused us to fear you. No need to put words in other peoples mouths. 

[tukkytuktuk]

Only detail I saw in linked articles was "home made" bomb.  Doesn't really matter though, does it? 
 
In the ME, Shi'ites used gas cylinders quite a bit.  Bomb the electrical sub-station in their neighborhood and torch the large, communal rubbish bins.  Then complain because they have no power, and rubbish is piled on sidewalks.   

Does anything matter when they hear about the troubled South? So long as its not in Bangkok it's just another Southern violence news article. A bit like hearing about Syria. This lack of interest just makes these terrible events normal news. Less people are surprised. Maybe its time for the terrorists that continue these evil acts to give up and stop as no one is listening to them. Or would some diplomatic solution to end this be a good idea now as this constant terror doesn't work. Come on PM talk to them find a solution. Then you will be truly popular.

[55Jay]

1 minute ago, tukkytuktuk said:

Does anything matter when they hear about the troubled South? So long as its not in Bangkok it's just another Southern violence news article. A bit like hearing about Syria. This lack of interest just makes these terrible events normal news. Less people are surprised. Maybe its time for the terrorists that continue these evil acts to give up and stop as no one is listening to them. Or would some diplomatic solution to end this be a good idea now as this constant terror doesn't work. Come on PM talk to them find a solution. Then you will be truly popular.

The solution is one the Thai Government will never agree to. 

[tukkytuktuk]

The solution is one the Thai Government will never agree to. 

A Separate state?

[55Jay]

It's been some time since I read up on this, and haven't followed very much ~ as you say, it's a steady drum beat that fades into the news cycle except for the occasional "burst" of activity. 

 

But if I understood their core issue, even in my humble opinion, a separate state with autonomous government, is a trojan hose proposal.  Once they get that inch, they'll take a mile.  Because that's what they really want. 

[thhMan]

Didnt we recently get told this?

 

"It's not an act of terrorism or an act to stir unrest," Bangkok police chief Chaktip Chaijinda told Reuters.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/small-explosion-in-bangkok-on-eve-of-new-constitution/3655446.html

 

I wish they would stop with the BS... They are doing just as much harm as the idiot terrorists

 

 

[williamgeorgeallen]

did the general wave the 44 wand over the south a while back and if so why didnt it work?

[Elkski]

It's not a nail or gas bomb.   It takes quite a bit of concentrated and directed power to blow apart a cement post.   Unless they are drilling and placing the charges inside.  Then  1/2 stick dynamite would do it.      Quite scary situation ib the South.  I don't see how the ostrich approach is going to work. 

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, tukkytuktuk said:

Does anything matter when they hear about the troubled South? So long as its not in Bangkok it's just another Southern violence news article. A bit like hearing about Syria. This lack of interest just makes these terrible events normal news. Less people are surprised. Maybe its time for the terrorists that continue these evil acts to give up and stop as no one is listening to them. Or would some diplomatic solution to end this be a good idea now as this constant terror doesn't work. Come on PM talk to them find a solution. Then you will be truly popular.

Sounds like your asking the PM to do a U turn. Do you think he is familiar with the term.??

[Enoon]

 

 

 "A foreshock is an earthquake that occurs before a larger seismic event (the mainshock) and is related to it in both time and space. The designation of an earthquake as foreshock, mainshock or aftershock is only possible after the full sequence of events has happened".

 

 

 

 

[Srikcir]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

step towards ending military rule

No.

That would be instead steps toward "enshrining" covert military rule into perpetuity.

 

In fact even now with the newly endorsed 2017 Constitution in place, NCPO does not automatically dissolve and thereby retains Article 44 by shear brute physical force to give the junta absolute power despite the termination of the Interim Constitution that provides for Article 44 .

 

The military continues to demonstrate its extra-constitutional authority over the Thai people not matter the content of the so-called People's Constitution. That has never changed since overthrow of the King's absolute power in 1932 by the military. Any future steps towards ending military rule are more likely big steps to permanently place the Thai people under authoritarian rule. Full democracy for the Thai People is not the end game of the Prayut government.

[daveAustin]

Of the attacks; bored, lazy idiots with no prospects and nothing else to do. Why not hang themselves and be done with it, save putting everyone else through strife. If they really want to make noise, go to the city. Thought not. Too much effort and brains needed.