Two killed, three injured in Narathiwat attack
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Two volunteers were killed and three others injured when insurgents ambushed their outpost in Narathiwat's Rue Soh district early Friday morning.
The insurgents escaped after snatching five assault rifles from the outpost, which is on Rusoh-Taroe road.
Initial investigations revealed that the insurgents broke into the outpost by cutting through the barbed wire in the backyard at about 2.30am.
The slain volunteers were Borohheng Yusoh and Asran Abu. Their bullet-ridden bodies were found under a bed. Three other volunteers with gunshot wounds were rushed to a nearby hospital.
More than 100 shell casings from several assault rifles, among them M-16s, AK-47s and Uzis as well as handguns were found at the scene.
It is reported that about 30 heavily armed insurgents, divided into two groups, joined the ambush. The first group cut the barbed wire, sprayed the volunteers and buildings and snatched one M-16 rifle, four AK-47 rifles and ammunition.
The second group cut trees to block the road leading to the attack site and set fire to tyres to block support forces from reaching the site.
Police believe that the attack was very well prepared and planned, and was implemented as a counterattack to two raids by the forces on the insurgents’ arsenal last month. Officers confiscated weapons during the raids.
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Couple shot in Sungai Kolok; business conflict suspected
Meanwhile, in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district, a couple was attacked by gunmen while driving their pickup truck. Both were seriously wounded and the husband later died.
Joint forces inspected the scene. The pickup’s window on the driver’s side was shattered.
Police said that the attack took place on Prachawiwat Road, Soi 21 in Su-ngai Kolok municipality this morning.
Lohaya Jehda, a 32-year-old school teacher at Ban Lalae School, and her husband, Abdul-Awae, 51, were driving to the municipality when two men on a motorcycle approached their vehicle and shot them five times with an 11mm handgun, before fleeing the scene.
Lohaya was shot in her right arm but her husband, who was driving, took the bullets in his chest and torso.
Police believe the attack may have involved a business conflict.
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Party leaders attend reconciliation lunchoen
Matubhum Party leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin on Friday hosted a lunchoen for party leaders to sound out their opinions on mending fences
Sonthi, in his capacity as chairman of the House committee on reconciliation, invited all leaders whose parties won House seats in the July 3 elections.
Leaders at the lunchoen included Democrat Abhisit Vejjajiva, Yongyuth Wichaidit from Pheu Thai, Chumpol Silapa-archa from Chart Thai Pattana, Chaovarat Chanweerakul from Bhum Jai Thai, Purachai Piumsombun from Rak Santi, Chuwit Kamolvisit from Rak Prathet Thai and Apirat Sirinawin from Mahachon.
Chart Pattana Puea Pandin MP Prasert Boonchaisuk was present in lieu of his party leader and Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul who had a prior engagement at the BOI Fair.
Palang Chon MP Santsak Ngampichet attended the luncheon on his party leader’s behalf. Although Chao Maneewong is the party leader, the de facto head of Palang Chon is actually barred party executive Sonthaya Kunplome. Santsak is one of Sonthaya’s in-laws.
Sonthi voiced optimism that the gathering of party leaders would bode well for bringing about reconciliation.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declined the invitation because she was not a party leader although she said she was willing to join the reconciliation process at a later date.
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Gov’t should appoint charter writers: NRLC
The Independent National Rule of Law Commission (NRLC), led by Ukrit Mongkolnavin, has issued a statement on charter change, suggesting a government-appointed panel of 34 charter writers.
The NRLC, handpicked and appointed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, argues against the mainstream idea of forming the Constitution Drafting Assembly to take charge of rewriting.
Instead, it has unveiled a suggested list of 34 writers. The 34 include former charter writers in charge of the 2007 Constitution and the suspended 1997 charter.
The other prominent figures on the list are academics seen as pro-Pheu Thai , such as Chusak Sirinil, plus well-known journalists like Kanchai Boonparn of the Matichon Group and Suthichai Yoon of the Nation Multimedia Group, publisher of The Nation.
The panel will include supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, such as Parthep Pourpongpan but the Democrats would be excluded.
Legal scholars on the list are Bowornsak Uwanno of King Prajadhipok’s Institute who drafted the suspended people’s charter and Somkid Lertpaitoon of Thammasat University who drafted the 2007 Constitution.
The prominent figures, including those in the red and yellow camps, include Wissanu Kreangarm, Vorachet Pakeerat of the Nitirat Group, Somkiart Onwimol, Sak Korsaengreang, Surranand Vejjajiva, Pansak Vinyaratn, Parnpree Bahiddhanukara, Pongthep Thepkanchana, Prommin Lertsuridej and Chaturon Chaisang.
The gist of the NRLC’s road map to amend the charter is to entrust the panel to take charge of the charter draft in lieu of the CDA.
The government should sponsor the charter draft for legislative deliberation. The draft should undergo the three readings by Parliament. In the second reading, a public hearing should be held for each draft provision.
The referendum vote should be organised after the passage of the charter draft and before enactment.
