ID :
66508
Fri, 06/19/2009 - 07:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/66508
The shortlink copeid
SITUATION IN SOUTHERN THAILAND UNDER CONTROL, SAY THAI ARMY
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, June 18 (Bernama) -- The situation in the restive Southern Thailand is under control and the number of violent incidents has dropped in recent months, but insurgents are attacking more sensitive targets like teachers and monks, a Thai army spokesman said Thursday.
Col Parinya Chaidilok, spokesman of the Yala-based Internal Security
Operations Command Region 4, said there had been more attacks on teachers and
monks in recent weeks as insurgents wanted to capture the attention of the media
and civilians.
"Actually, the situation is not getting worse as speculated by many. But
most of the targets are sensitive to the media and civilians. When a monk or
teacher is killed, people get worried as this gets wide coverage," he said when
contacted.
At least four teachers and a monk were shot dead in the past two weeks in
the restive southern provinces. According to officials, more than 120 teachers
were killed since separatist groups resumed their armed campaign in January,
2004, to seek independence for the three Muslim-majority provinces of Yala,
Pattani and Narathiwat.
Col Parinya said about 60,000 troops were currently providing security in
the three provinces and four districts in Songkhla, which includes escorting
teachers to and from schools, as well monks collecting alms every morning.
On the June 8 massacre at a mosque in Cha-airong district in Narathiwat, he
said police had found several clues, including spent shells that were similar to
weapons used during insurgent attacks in Bannang Sata area in Yala.
We are conducting further investigation on this. But so far, we have not
identified any suspects," he said.
According to the Deep South Watch, a think thank at the Prince of Songkhla
University in Pattani, 3,471 people died and 5,470 were injured in a total of
8,908 violent incidents between January 2004 to May 2009.
It said an average of 100 incidents of shootings, bombings and arson took
place in the first five months of 2009.
Col Parinya said the army would be able to reach out more to the local
population once they received a budget from the Government in the coming months.
"More and more people are cooperating with the authorities, although some
are afraid of retaliation from the insurgents.
"But once we get the budget, we will be able to implement development
projects and help the local people," he added.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, June 18 (Bernama) -- The situation in the restive Southern Thailand is under control and the number of violent incidents has dropped in recent months, but insurgents are attacking more sensitive targets like teachers and monks, a Thai army spokesman said Thursday.
Col Parinya Chaidilok, spokesman of the Yala-based Internal Security
Operations Command Region 4, said there had been more attacks on teachers and
monks in recent weeks as insurgents wanted to capture the attention of the media
and civilians.
"Actually, the situation is not getting worse as speculated by many. But
most of the targets are sensitive to the media and civilians. When a monk or
teacher is killed, people get worried as this gets wide coverage," he said when
contacted.
At least four teachers and a monk were shot dead in the past two weeks in
the restive southern provinces. According to officials, more than 120 teachers
were killed since separatist groups resumed their armed campaign in January,
2004, to seek independence for the three Muslim-majority provinces of Yala,
Pattani and Narathiwat.
Col Parinya said about 60,000 troops were currently providing security in
the three provinces and four districts in Songkhla, which includes escorting
teachers to and from schools, as well monks collecting alms every morning.
On the June 8 massacre at a mosque in Cha-airong district in Narathiwat, he
said police had found several clues, including spent shells that were similar to
weapons used during insurgent attacks in Bannang Sata area in Yala.
We are conducting further investigation on this. But so far, we have not
identified any suspects," he said.
According to the Deep South Watch, a think thank at the Prince of Songkhla
University in Pattani, 3,471 people died and 5,470 were injured in a total of
8,908 violent incidents between January 2004 to May 2009.
It said an average of 100 incidents of shootings, bombings and arson took
place in the first five months of 2009.
Col Parinya said the army would be able to reach out more to the local
population once they received a budget from the Government in the coming months.
"More and more people are cooperating with the authorities, although some
are afraid of retaliation from the insurgents.
"But once we get the budget, we will be able to implement development
projects and help the local people," he added.
-- BERNAMA
