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November 3, 2005
Thailand: Military Rule After More Islamist Bomb Attacks
South Africa's Mail and Guardian reports that on Wednesday night 14 bombs were set off in Narathiwat the capital of the eponymous province in Thailand's south. One person was killed, and the city was plunged into darkness for several hours.
The first bombs happened at the bases of three poles carrying electricity, causing the blackout. Then 11 more attacks were aimed at public buildings, including the prison, a customs checkpoint, a gas plant and a food house. One Islamist was found blown up at the base of the power pole he had attacked. Seven of the bombs at public buildings were discovered and defused.
The bomb attacks were reminiscent of an attack in Yala city, Yala province, on July 14, where power lines were destroyed, and houses and Buddhists were attacked in the ensuing darkness. The Yala attacks prompted Thaksin Shinawatra to introduce emergency rule to the three southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani. The three provinces once comprised an Islamic nation called Pattani, which was annexed a century ago.
The Hong Kong Standard has announced that in response to last night's Narathiwat attack, some areas are to be placed under martial law. The areas are two regions of Songkhla province, Chana and Thepha. Songkhla province lies nest to the provinces which used to comprise Pattani nation.
General Khwanchart Klaharn, main security official in the south of Thailand has said: "The insurgents have used the districts of Chana and Thepha in Songkhla to hide weapons used to instigate violence and also extend violent attacks to the area".
Other attacks also took place last night in Pattani and in Yala. More disturbingly perhaps was a gruesome discovery in Pattani. A severed head was found in a bag, which also contained a note. The note read "You arrest innocent people, we continue killing innocent people."
The severed head is believed to belong to a Buddhist monk, as the eyebrows and scalp had been shaven, a custom inured by Buddhist monks of the country.
Also today a number of bombs were found in five districts of Pattani province, according to a police spokesman. The bombs had been placed near effigies of the Prime Minister, with the message "This person has caused a catastrophe for society".
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 3, 2005 6:37 PM
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