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October 27, 2006
Thailand: Soldier Shot In Market In Muslim South
Early on Friday (7.30 am local time) a soldier was shot dead in a market in southern Thailand, states the Bangkok Post, TNA English News, the Nation and Xinhua via Malaysia's Bernama news agency.
The shooting took place in a morning market in tambon Ban Klang in Panare district, Pattani province. 38-year old Master Sergeant (second class) Wichai Khamhom was shot once in the head after four suspected Muslim insurgents arrived at the market on two motorcycles. They shot the soldier at close range, and then stole his M16 rifle.
A bullet wounded another soldier, Private Mongkol Sridee, and a stray bullet also hit one of the market vendors, who was slightly injured. As the gunmen fled, they scattered spikes on the road, to prevent them being followed.
The assailants fled on their motorcycles after taking the sergeant's rifle. The market was busy with people buying fresh goods, and the shooting caused chaos for some time.
Witnesses at the village market assisted police in providing information.
Pattani province is one of the provinces which formerly compromised an independent sultanate of the same name. The other regions which comprised the sultanate are Narathiwat and Yala provinces, and two districts of Songkhla province. In these regions, 80% of the population are Muslim, who speak Yawi, a dialect of Malay.
The sultanate of Pattani was invaded by Siam (Thailand) in 1786, and was formally annexed in 1902. The current insurgency has been raging since January 4, 2004, when an army base in Narathiwat was invaded and four soldiers were killed. 300 weapons were seized in the raid, and at least twenty schools in the south were set alight.
So far, 1,700 people have died in the violence. Since the bloodless coup of September 19 which was led by a Muslim army commander, General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, there were hopes that a peace process for the south could be brought about. Recently, the former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, and his Perdana Global Peace Organisation have been involved in supervising peace talks between Thai representatives and leaders of separatist groups.
However, as peace talks appeared to progress smoothly, other insurgents have intensified their attacks. During the week from Sunday October 15 to October 22, at least 28 people were killed by suspected insurgents.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 27, 2006 7:15 AM
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