Twelve arson attacks in South; peace talks continue
The insurgents in southern Thailand have shown once again that they do not care about the agreed ceasefire during Ramadan.
On Thursday night, they set fires at XNUMX locations in Yala, Songkhla and Pattani. There were no injuries. Authorities expect violence to increase over the next five days until the end of Ramadan on Thursday.
According to Banpot Phupian, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command, some insurgents "falsely" believe that attacks during the Islamic month of fasting earn more money than outside of that month.
The arson attacks and previous bomb attacks have no consequences for the progress of the peace talks between Thailand and the BRN resistance group. They will continue, says Jaroon Amoha, an adviser to the National Security Council, the body that conducts the talks.
Point by point the arson attacks:
- Warehouse with rubber blocks of Teck Bee Hang Co rubber factory, Thasarb (Yala). It took firefighters 3 hours to get the fire under control. (Photo homepage)
- Mobile phone transmission tower, Thasarb.
- P. Parawood Co, Sateng (Yala). The fire was contained within half an hour.
- Rubber Factory Yala Tharnthong Co, Budi. Light damage.
- Forklift truck and trucks in a factory where rubber inner tubes are made, Lam Mai.
- Union Plastic LP, Lam Mai. Light damage.
- Two furniture stores in Thepha and one store in Saba Yoi, Nong Chick (Photo, Pattani).
Bombs also exploded in Yala and Narathiwat. In Yala, a ranger was killed while patrolling Ban Bangosinae with seven others to protect teachers. Ten minutes earlier, a bomb exploded in Ban Jekae (Narathiwat). A ranger was injured.
Finally, a ranger was seriously injured and three others were slightly injured when their pickup truck was blown over by a bomb blast in Ban Khan Makham (Pattani).
(Source: Bangkok Post, August 3, 2013)