FAMILY OF THREE SHOT DEAD IN SOUTHERN THAI

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Suspected insurgents stormed a house and shot
dead a couple and their teenage son who were having dinner on Dec 3, in the
restive southern Thailand.

In a separate incident this morning, another group of suspected insurgents
detonated a bomb near a stall, injuring two women and two soldiers.

In the first incident at the Tebak Village of Tungyangdeang district in
Pattani, several gunmen shot dead the couple identified only as Abdulllah, 45,
and his wife, Hah Sahak, 40, and their son, Abdullaateh, 18.

The victims died on the spot.

At the Muang district of Pattani, suspected insurgents detonated a bomb
hidden
in a motorcycle parked near a stall selling pork, injuring two women and two
soldiers.

A police spokesman said the bomb was detonated using mobile phone and
targeted
at soldiers who came to buy breakfast at the market.

Meanwhile, a long-standing separatist group has welcomed the planned
visit by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Malaysian counterpart,
Najib Tun Razak to Narathiwat on Wednesday.

Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) vice-president Kasturi
Mahkota
said they hoped the historic meeting would generate a more conducive atmosphere
for continuing dialogue between the Thai Government and separatist groups.

He said Pulo was encouraged by Abhisit's recent statements regarding a
lasting solution to the conflict, adding that allowing the people of Pattani to
elect their own representatives to govern the southern provinces would pave way
for that.

"This will provide a good basis for an agreement that could lead to a laying
down of arms and lasting peace in the Pattani region," he said in a statement
posted on Pulo website.

More than 3,600 people have been killed in daily violence since separatist
groups resumed an armed campaign in January, 2004, seeking independence for
Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, bordering Malaysia.

Bangkok, which has despatched more than 60,000 troops to the area, said that
while the violence had decreased as compared to previous years, bombings and
shootings still occured.

-- BERNAMA