Security tightened as Krue Se
Play
Security in the deep South has been heightened against possible insurgent attacks to mark the eighth anniversary of the Krue Se Mosque incident on April 28. An Organisation of Islamic Conference meeting next month is also a concern, Deputy Prime Minister
He said insurgents had carried out attacks in the past to mark such events. Citing an intelligence tipoff, Yuthasak said insurgents were being offered a reward of Bt500,000 per attack, but he did not say by whom.
Photos of the 37 “mostwanted” insurgent leaders have been distributed among security agencies in the deep South, said Yuthasak. Security officials were looking for five stolen cars amid concern they could be used in bomb attacks.
Yuthasak said that improved safety measures enforced since the deep South carbomb attacks on March 31 had resulted in a drop in insurgent activity.
Yuthasak said he and Army commander General Prayuth Chanocha would visit the region today, and that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had given orders on certain measures, though a new set of strategies for the deep South was still in the pipeline and waiting for the inauguration of a new committee to oversee them.
Islamic scholar and humanrights activist Ahmad Somboonbualuang called on the public to accept negotiations with insurgents as a means to eventual peace.
“It is useless to hold the opinion that those who initiate talks are losers, while those refusing to talk are winners. Those facing daily violence in the South are still losers because they suffer most. Any means which result in [deep South] villagers being able to smile again after the violence ends can be upheld as a victory by all sides,” he said.
