Pattani hit by 35 attacks in one night
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Pattani was rocked by a series of insurgent attacks on Wednesday night that resulted in the deaths of two Army paramilitary rangers.
It was one of the most violent simultaneous attacks in recent years, with 35 incidents in total, and included the setting fire to public property throughout the province.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, after his widely known reluctance to visit the deep South despite repeat calls from the media and a direct instruction by the prime minister, yesterday paid a visit to Pattani, during which he paid homage to the two dead rangers.
He was subject to heavy protection throughout the visit.
Chalerm was scheduled to visit the Sirindhorn barracks in the province to be briefed about the situation, and was expected to stay overnight at an undisclosed location.
The first attack on Wednesday started at about 8pm at a rangers’ outpost at a school in Kapho district, and was followed by an attack on a local centre in Panare district.
An armoured personnel carrier transporting nine rangers was on its way to the scene of the attack in Panare when explosives hidden on a road went off, killing Ruengrit Phoesa, the commander of 4412nd Ranger Company, and Sanchai Sophawang.
The other seven rangers were injured in the blast.
Military ordnance personnel said later that the bomb, comprised of 90 kilograms of homemade explosives, had been detonated by a battery via 250-metre-long electrical wiring.
Two other explosions later went off on a boat and a raft docked in Muang district. The blast on the boat sank the vessel and damaged another boat anchored nearby.
There were 35 incidents in total across eight districts late Wednesday night, mostly involving tyres set ablaze on roads and arson attacks on public properties and mobile-phone signal towers.
In two incidents, insurgents opened fire on a military outpost in Panare district with automatic weapons, but caused no injuries, and raided a local electricity office, setting fire to two vehicles.
In Khok Pho and Yarang districts, insurgents set fire to tyres laid on a number of streets. One of the fires caused a telephone booth in front of a post office in Panare district to explode.
Later, in Sai Buri district, insurgents burnt down a vocational centre and destroyed a fishing boat.
They also set fire to two signal poles in Khok Pho district, and to a vehicle belonging to the electricity office in Mayo district.
The head of the provincial fishery business, Phoobes Janthanimi, said it was the first time the industry had suffered from the nine-year insurgency violence.
Talks to go ahead
Meanwhile, National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabutr said the dialogue between the Thai authorities and insurgents’ representatives set for April 29 in Malaysia would proceed as scheduled.
Malaysia’s recent House dissolution and general election set for May 5 will not affect the peace efforts, he said.
“Malaysia has confirmed that the talks on April 29 are still on, and its House dissolution and the general election will not have any impact on the arrangement,” he added.
The peace dialogue between the government and the separatist Barisan Revolusi Nasional delegation at an undisclosed location in Malaysia will mark the second round of talks between the two sides. The first talks were held on March 28.
He was speaking after insurgents launched their attacks on Pattani on Wednesday night. The attacks happened hours after Army commander in chief General Prayuth Chanocha had visited the adjacent province of Yala.
Paradorn said the attacks were continuing even though dialogue had started. “However, if we look at the general picture, the attacks are less violent. The targets of the insurgents are now government officials,” he added.
Prayuth said during his visit to Yala that officials should now be more alert while working in the southern provinces.
In Yala, security has been heightened to guard against possible insurgent attacks, with security personnel stationed in train compartments, and at all 27 rail stations in the province.
Patrols will also be conducted on railroads, especially at 12 locations considered most vulnerable to attack, said a senior State Railways of Thailand official.
Violent incidents in nine districts of Pattani from 8pm to 10pm Wednesday:
1. Muang district: two fishing boats bombed
2. Khok Pho district: one tyre and two telephone poles burned
3. Panare district: security-volunteer base at Halal Food Industrial Estate attacked; roadside bomb kills two rangers, wounds six others; two telephone booths burned
4. Kapho district: security-volunteer base in front of Ban Karubi School attacked; arson attacks on two former bases; arson attack on a convenience store; telephone pole burned
5. Yarang district: nine tyres burned
6. Sai Buri district: Molotov cocktail thrown at a residence; Molotov cocktail thrown at a fishing boat; two telephone poles burned; arson attack on a vocational training centre; Molotov cocktail thrown at a highway booth; spikes planted on a road
7. Ma-Yor district: arson attacks on two cars belonging to the provincial electricity generating authority
8. Thung Yang Daeng district: one tyre burned
9. Mai Kaen district: arson attack on the Sai Thong Agricultural Co-op office; two CCTV cameras and one tyre burned
