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September 16, 2006

Thailand: Muslim Bombs Kill Five, Wound Seventy

Since January 4, 2004, the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, as well as two districts of Songkhla province, have been involved in an insurgency which has killed at least 1,400 people. One Thai academic estimates there have been more than 1,700 killings. The southern provinces had formerly been an independent Sultanate, but in 1906 this became annexed within Siam. The inhabitants of the three provinces of the south are predominantly Muslims, who make up 80% of the demographic and are ethnic Malays.

The latest atrocity in the south happened earlier, in the evening, around 9 pm local time, in Hat Yai City in Hat Yai district of Songkhla province. At least four people have died, and seventy are reported injured. Six bombs went off at locations known to be popular with tourists. Devices were detonated outside the Big C department store, Lee Gardens Hotel, the Monkey Pub, Odian Shopping Mall, a cinema toilet and also on the Thammanoonvithee road.

News comes from the Bangkok Post, Associated Press via Canada.com, the Nation, Deutsche Press-Agentur via Monsters and Critics and the BBC. One Westerner, believed to be a 35-year old Canadian, was killed.

According to the Nation, the first bomb went off at the entrance of the "This Wonder" pub (bar) in the Odion Mall, followed by the second bomb at the Odion car park. The third bomb happened at the entrance of a massage parlour, and it is here that five people were reported to be killed. Those who died were walking into the massage parlour when the bomb went off, police said.

Hat Yai is popular with tourists who come from the West, as well as Malaysia and SIngapore. Military spokesman Lt.-Gen. Palangoon Klaharn said "We do believe that the insurgents are responsible for the bombs attacked."

The southern provinces have been on high alert since Wednesday, as the militant group Gerakan Mujahidin Islam Pattani (GMIP) was about to mark its anniversary of being founded.

The injured were taken to Prince of Songkhla hospital and Rajyindee hospital, where five were said to be in a serious condition. Local television showed the Odion Mall in flames, as well as the Lee Gardens hotel.

Soldiers were sent to the Kuan Lung area near Hat Yai to round up 12 suspects believed to be linked to the insurgency in the restive South and to these bombings.

Earlier in the day at Yala, where bombs hit 22 banks on August 31, there was a peace conference atended by at least 1,500 Muslims, who were in discussions with military officials on how to resolve the ongoin gproblems in the south. The event was held at Yala central mosque.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 16, 2006 11:25 PM

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