GUNMEN KILL TWO TRUCK DRIVERS, TORCH BODIES IN SOUTHERN THAI

By D. Arul Rajoo

HATYAI, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- Unknown gunmen shot dead a truck driver and his
co-driver and torched their bodies after ambushing the vehicle in the restive
Southern Thai province of Pattani, early Monday.

The duo, from Bangkok, were ferrying 60 new motorcycles for delivery to the
border town of Sungai Golok in Narathiwat when they were waylaid by the gunmen.

The deceased were identified as driver Nai Somsak Laitong and co-driver
Naikoi Kiamtong, both 38, from the Surin province.

A police spokesman said the incident occured when the truck was passing by
the Lahan Village of Saiburi district about 6am.

He said that after the gunmen had fired in the direction of the truck and
the two men, the vehicle crashed to a halt.

At that juncture, the gunmen set the truck and the drivers ablaze.

More than 3,500 people have died since separatists resumed their armed
campaign in January, 2001 to seek independence for the Muslim majority provinces
of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.
-- BERNAMA