Gunmen Kill Buddhist Novice in Southern Thailand Ambush
SONGKHLA, April 23 (TNA) - Authorities in southern Thailand are hunting for three suspects following a deadly ambush on Tuesday that killed a 16-year-old Buddhist novice and injured another as they were collecting alms.
The attack occurred in Songkhla province's Sabayoi district when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a pickup truck carrying six monks and novices. The vehicle was driven by a police officer, Pol.Lt. Wattana Chumaphan, who is the father of the deceased novice, Pongkorn. Another novice, aged 12, sustained injuries in the attack.
Pol.Lt. Wattana returned fire before driving the injured novice to a hospital.
Following the incident, the commander of Provincial Police Region 9, Pol.Lt.Gen. Piyawat Chalermsri, held an urgent meeting with security and administrative officials in Sabayoi to coordinate the search for the three perpetrators.
While attacks specifically targeting Buddhist clergy have been rare in the diverse southern border provinces, authorities believe the attack was the work of insurgents active in the area.
Bomb disposal experts who examined the scene found spent 7.62mm rifle cartridges, commonly used in AK-47 assault rifles.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai acknowledged the recent increase in violent incidents, noting that several targeted events appeared to involve the Buddhist community. He described the matter as urgent and unusual, adding that security advisors had convened and further discussions were scheduled with security officials to assess the situation and adjust security plans.
Lamai Manakan, chairman of the Southern Border Civil Society Council and a parliamentary peace commissioner with 34 years of experience in the region, stressed the immediate need to reduce violence. He attributed the ongoing incidents to a lack of continuity in peace negotiations.
