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September 5, 2006

Thailand: Killings Continue In Muslim South

On January 4, 2004, the latest in an ongoing series of insurgencies erupted in the south of Thailand. The three provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, as well as two districts of Songkhla, formerly comprised a separate Muslim nation, the sultanate of Pattani. Following invasion, these territories became annexed into Siam exactly a century ago. The majority of the population here (80%) is ethnic Malay and Muslim, who mainly speak Yawi, a dialect of Malay. The current insurgency has so far claimed 1,400 lives.

The violence shows little sign of abating, despite promises of peace talks from General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, Army commander in chief of the southern region. Following bank explosions at 22 branches on August 31 in Yala province, all the banks save one, the Islamic Bank, reopened for business yesterday. The Islamic Bank opened today, but few customers attended, perhaps because they were unaware it had opened.

Seven suspects have now been arrested, according to the chief of police for Police Region 9. Three of these have admitted to planting bombs at banks. Most of the devices were hidden inside books or hard case folders. The suspects had been apprehended in Yala province, in the districts of Betong, Yaha, Raman, Bannang Sata and Kabang.

The Bangkok Post reported that today, several violent incidents took place in the south, connected with the insurgency.

A 57-year old security guard, Surapong Julbutr, was shot and seriously injured in Muang district inn Pattani province. He was riding his motorbike to the Chao Mae Lim Ko Nieo shrine - a Buddhist place of worship - when two men on motorcycles fired on him. He was hit in his left side and his left arm.

Also in Pattani, an administrator from Nong Chik district, Chakra Promkaewa, was driving when about 50 villagers in tambon Bang Khao forced him to stop, and set fire to his vehicle. He was not hurt. The villagers had spread metal spikes in the road to hamper access by investigators or emergency services.

In Panare district in Narathiwat province, a number of gunmen fired at a house and then set it on fire. A man was killed in the attack, his charred body being recovered later. It is thought that the body was that of the house owner, 61-year old Somnuek Sri-ngernthom.

This afternoon in Rueso district in Narathiwat province, a 49-year old irrigation office worker, Channarong Nunue, was in a teashop when a motorcycle gunman shot at him. Mr Channarong was killed.

In Bacho district, Narathiwat, leaflets were distributed which bore "hostile messages" against non-Muslims.

In Cho Airong (Cho-I-Rong) district of the same province, two individuals, 56-year old Jehloh Niya and 20-year old Muttagi Niya were shot and injured by unknown attackers.

In Than To district in Yala province, a 58-year old woman, Mareeyoh Satae was killed in her home by gunmen who fired into the house. Her 38-year old son, Ahhama Lateh, and another member of her family, 29-year old Sitinurison Vachi, were also wounded.

UPDATE: With a hat-tip to Charles at Little Green Footballs, an academic has been quoted in the Guardian as saying that the currently accepted figure for the death toll in the current insurgency is a gross under-estimation. According to Professor Srisomphop Chitpiromsri, who is based at the Pattani campus of the Prince of Songkhla University, the real death toll is at least 1,730, with 2,510 peope injured.

The professor states: "The number of bomb attacks is increasing significantly, with at least 166 attacks in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat since June. Individual violent incidents amount to 5,460, with Narathiwat leading with 2,074. Pattani is next with 1,656 incidents and Yala has had 1,412 incidents. Songkhla was last with 318 events.'

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 5, 2006 5:15 PM

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