Holdout Buddhist family attacked for second time in Narathiwat
Security officials yesterday foiled an attack in Narathiwat's Rusoh district, repelling an insurgent commando team's second attempt to destroy the last remaining Buddhist home in a village there.
A hunt is underway for the welltrained, 10member Runda Kumpalan Kecil (RKK) team, with officials tracking blood trails thought to be left by three of the insurgents who were injured during the attack, according to a local Army unit commander. The outpost targeted by the attackers has been assigned to protect the home of a Buddhist family in Village 2 in tambon Rue Soh Ok. They are the only Buddhist family left in the village after the rest relocated.
A previous attempt by insurgents to raid the outpost of 15124th Infantry Company left two attackers dead and five others wounded, said LtColonel Sathiraphong Artharn. The RKK team converged outside the outpost but hesitated to launch the raid, after discovering there was an extra paramilitary ranger company newly stationed there. They withdrew and were faced by an Army patrol team, who engaged them with the support of a relief force.
In Pattani meanwhile, a young woman was killed and her husband wounded by insurgents using assault rifles. The ambush took place in Khok Pho district, when the victims, who were on a motorcycle, were chased and shot by a number of assailants travelling in a pickup truck.
Earlier in Muang district, a retired village head was shot dead. Police said it was too early to decide if it was an insurgent attack, following news that a son of victim Arong Jehmasae is preparing to run in an election to seek a new village head.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said many confidential security plans were underway during the current Islamic holy month of Ramadan to cope with a spike in insurgent activities. She refused to give details or comment on the recent surge in violence in the South, however. She said narcotics suppression activities – which have become a key element in the security measures following the discovery of links between drug deals and insurgent operations – were underway.
Speaking after a meeting with students from the South at a ceremony at Government House, Yingluck said she had not been informed of the death of a young drug addict at a rehabilitation centre in Pattani, when asked by reporters about it. She said she would release a statement on the issue later.
