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June 19, 2006

Thailand: Muslim Bomber Blows Himself Up

News from the Nation reports that a Muslim suspected insurgent killed himself earlier this evening in his home, as he was assembling a homemade bomb in Aejeh village, Chanae district, in Narathiwat. The bomber, Asman Yusoh, was not alone in the house, say police. It is believed that two others were with him when the blast happened, and they were injured before fleeing the scene.

The explosion happened about 6 pm local time, and caused bomb components to be strewn inside the house. Traces of blood from two people were found. Police are trying to locate the two injured individuals.

According to another story in the Nation, a 29-year old paramilitary trooper, based in Narathiwat, was arrested near Bangkok train station, carrying 12 homemade bombs.

The trooper, Veerapong Lamdee, a native of Lampang, was arrested near Hua Lampong station following a police bag check at noon today local time. He was already on a train, which was waiting to travel to Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat province in the Muslim south. A bomb had been discovered in the gents lavatory at Sungai Kolok train station and was successfully defused on Friday.

After being asked to show the contents of his bag, the man said that only military police were entitled to search his baggage. Police ordered him off the train, and on the platform, Veerapong produced a stick and claimed it was a bomb. He warned police not to follow him and ran, but was caught not far from the station.

He insisted he had made the bombs for his "self-defence" while working with his paramilitary squad in Narathiwat. Police found gunpowder and fuses in his possession.

In other news, the Nation reports that the governor of Pattani province, Phanu Uthairat, announced today that nine suspects have been arrested in the province, suspected in taking part in the multiple bombings which happened on Friday June 16 and Saturday June 17, He said that authorities had issued warrants for several more individuals. Phanu stated that intelligence sources claimed 48 people had been involved in directing terrorist operations in Pattani.

The Bangkok Post reports that in Yala province, 100 soldiers and defence volunteers raided eight locations and found bomb-making components at the house in Muang district. This was the house of Yunu Joh-ning, and a bag of potassium nitrate, digital watches, mobile hones and electric wires were found there. Yunu stated that they belonged to his brother Abubaga Joh-ning, who already has a warrant issued for bombing activity.

At about 6 am local time, a patrol volunteer was killed by a drive-by shooting in Yaring district, Pattani province. 35-year old Utaiwut Raksanak was driving his wife to work on a motorcycle when he was shot. His wife was unhurt.

The acting Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, today gave full authority to the army chief Sonthi Boonyarataglin to quell the current unrest in the south. The immediate responsibility for the task was given to General Sonthi, who said: "If the army is in sole control, the army is certain to turn the tide in one year." AT present, Sonthi is in Malaysia, and will assume the powers currently held by Chidchai Wannasathit, the police general and caretaker Deputy Prime Minister.

A security source claims that Yagareeya Yuerapae, a militant leader, had travelled from Malaysia's border to Bannang Sata district in Yala province. He is said to have at least 100 low-yield bombs ready to use.

Yagareeya is a former Islamic teacher at the Thamma Wittaya (Thammawitthaya) Islamic school (pondok) in Yala city. We reported on March 28 that 19 teachers from this school were arrested on suspicion of plotting terror attacks. They were subsequently released in April.

Yagareeya Yuerapae is a close associate of Sapaeing Bazo. Sapaeing is currently a fugitive, with a bounty of 10 million baht ($256,227 US) upon his head. Currently he is in hiding across the border in Malaysia.

The Thamma Wittaya school was founded by Sapaeing Bazo, who is now the head of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Coordinate (BRN), which controls youth forces in the deep south. We recently mentioned that the BRN had gathered 50 million baht ($1,298,267) to direct a bombing campaign from now until the end of the year, and were planning attacks on police headquarters in Yala province.

Since January 4, 2004, there has been an armed insurgency in the provinces of the south, which has cost 1,300 lives. Insurgents are said to wish for the three provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to secede from Thailand. Formerly, these provinces, as well as two districts of Songhkla province comprised an independent Muslim sultanate called Pattani. A century ago, this sultanate's territory became annexed into Thailand.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at June 19, 2006 9:03 PM

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