6,500 dead over 12 years of unrest
AS security tightened for the anniversary of an insurgent-led raid on an Army camp in Narathiwat province in 2004, the Prince of Songkla University Pattani Campus’ Deep South Watch (DSW) Centre yesterday said last year saw the lowest rate of attacks in th
The 12 years of deep South unrest saw a total of 15,374 attacks killing 6,543 persons – at the rate of 545 deaths per year – and wounding 11,919 others – at 993 injuries per year, the centre said.
It said violent attacks took place at the rate of about 1,281 incidents per year over the past 12 years. The two key phases were between 2004 and 2007 and between 2008 and 2015.
The former phase saw the most frequency – at about 1,926 attacks a year – while the later phase recorded about 960 incidents per year.
The good news was that the year 2015 saw 674 attacks, the lowest in 12 years, the centre added. A further breakdown by month found that attacks peaked in May at 119, followed by October at 114 incidents and July at 73, the centre said.
In May, 48 bomb attacks occurred and anti-Thai State signs were found at 27 locations from May 10 until May 15.
June was the month with the lowest number of attacks at 30 incidents killing 24 people and wounding 39 others, the centre said.
Since 2013, deaths and injuries from unrest seemed to have reduced gradually, according to the centre’s report. Deaths declined from 456 cases in 2013 to 314 in 2014 and 244 last year. Injuries also dropped, from 978 victims in 2013 to 672 in 2014 and 544 last year.
The raid on the Army camp in Joh I Rong district took place on January 4, 2004. Insurgents stole 413 guns and killed four soldiers, and it was counted as the beginning of unrest in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla.