Tight Security For 8th Anniversary Of Krue Se Incident

BANGKOK, April 26 (TNA) - Deputy National Police Chief Police General Suwat Chan-itthikul is visiting Thailand's deep South Thursday to supervise tight security measures, in preparation for the 8th anniversary of a crackdown at the Krue Se Mosque in Pattani province against people allegedly involving in insurgency. Upon his arrival in Yala province Thursday morning, Police General Suwat convened a meeting with parties concerned to check the security measures and local police’s readiness to ensure public safety in the lead-up to the 8th anniversary of the Krue Se incident on April 28. The deputy national police chief assured people of the well-placed security measures, urging the public to also cooperate with authorities to restore peace in the troubled Thai far South. In Songkhla province, security authorities have operated checkpoints in Hat Yai and in four other districts adjacent to Thailand's three southernmost border provinces, including Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, to guarantee public safety in the lead-up to the Krue Se crackdown anniversary. Meanwhile, local police have been hunting for Seri Waemamu, a suspect in a car bombing at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai on March 31; while Songkhla police chief Police Major General Suwit Chernsiri said he believes that the suspect has been hiding in Pattani. According to the provincial police chief, the bombing was an act by the same group which had attacked a paramilitary ranger base in Baan Koh Lae Nang of Songkhla's Thepha district last August, and that investigators have made much progress from recordings of local surveillance cameras and accounts from over 200 witnesses. (TNA)