Despite the recent wave of violence, peace talks with southern insurgents continue. No evidence has yet been found for the suspicion that the travel route of the deputy governor of Yala, who was killed in a bomb attack on Friday, was leaked by 'moles'. This says Paradorn Pattanatabut, Secretary General of the National Security Council.
The second talk with the rebels is scheduled for April 29. Thailand is talking to representatives of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). The talks are at an exploratory stage; their primary purpose is to build mutual trust and gauge the position of the BRN.
Opposition leader Abhisit is concerned about the wave of southern violence. He urges Prime Minister Yingluck to take the lead himself and to relieve Vice Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung of his duties, because he - although responsible for policy in the South - has so far not taken the trouble to manage the area. visits.
Meanwhile, the violence continued again yesterday. In Rangae (Narathiwat), Najmuddin Uma's home was bombarded with two grenades. They punched big holes in the roof and a ceiling. The windshield of a car parked nearby was damaged. Najmuddin is a member of the so-called Wadah group, a group of influential Muslims who once dominated the provincial councils of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. Chalerm takes advice from nine members of the group, including Najmuddin.
Outside the Technical College in Yala, bomb experts defused two bombs yesterday morning, which were spotted by a cleaner. They should have exploded Sunday evening, but the wiring was not working.
During a raid on a home in tambon Yupo (Yala), police arrested a 24-year-old man. He is suspected of being involved in the four bomb attacks in Yala on Sunday night. Two residents were injured. Those attacks took place shortly after Prime Minister Yingluck visited Yala hospital, where victims of attacks are treated, during a lightning visit to the South.
Deputy Governor Issara Thongthawat of Yala and an assistant governor were killed in a bomb blast in Bannang Sata district. They were in a private car, escorted by security forces, on their way to a trade fair in Betong when a roadside bomb exploded. The force of the explosion threw the assistant from the car. The driver was seriously injured.
(Source: Bangkok Post, Apr 9, 2013)