ID :
93743
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 12:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/93743
The shortlink copeid
THAI AND MALAYSIAN PREMIERS' VISIT TO NARATHIWAT IS STILL ON
By D.Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- There is no immediate plan to cancel the planned visit of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Tun Razak, to the restive southern province of Narathiwat despite the bomb attack and shooting there on Dec 7 which killed three people.
Both Thai and Malaysian officials said they were not asked by their
respective superiors to review the historic visit by the two leaders there
Wednesday.
"I am not aware of any move to cancel the visit. We are going ahead with our
preparation, and many of the Malaysian delegates have already arrived in
Narathiwat," a Malaysian official said.
At about 6pm on Dec 7, a bomb weighing 8kg to 10kg and hidden on a
motorcycle exploded at a market in Narathiwat town, killing a man and his
wife and injuring nine others.
The market is located about 1.5km from a hotel where Malaysian and Thai
officials are staying to prepare the visit of the two prime ministers.
Abhisit had said that his visit to southern Thailand with Najib on Wednesday
was very significant and would send strong signals that both countries wanted to
see peace in the region and an end to the violence there.
A Thai security official played down the incident, saying that it was not
related to the Wednesday visit.
"Our investigation showed that it had nothing to do with the visit. It's the
normal violence that often takes place here...but we have increased our security
measures," he said when contacted in Narathiwat.
About five hours after the bombing, unknown gunmen shot randomly at three
religious students who were resting at a wakaf in Kok Muba Village, Sungai
Golok, about 70km from Narathiwat town.
One of the students died while the otehr two were seriously injured.
The Thai official said the bombing could be an act of revenge over another
shooting incident in Yarang district of Pattani province two days ago where an
Imam was shot dead and two villagers were injured.
More than 3,600 people have died since separatist groups resumed their armed
campaign in January, 2004, to seek independence for the Muslim-majority
provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala bordering Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- There is no immediate plan to cancel the planned visit of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Tun Razak, to the restive southern province of Narathiwat despite the bomb attack and shooting there on Dec 7 which killed three people.
Both Thai and Malaysian officials said they were not asked by their
respective superiors to review the historic visit by the two leaders there
Wednesday.
"I am not aware of any move to cancel the visit. We are going ahead with our
preparation, and many of the Malaysian delegates have already arrived in
Narathiwat," a Malaysian official said.
At about 6pm on Dec 7, a bomb weighing 8kg to 10kg and hidden on a
motorcycle exploded at a market in Narathiwat town, killing a man and his
wife and injuring nine others.
The market is located about 1.5km from a hotel where Malaysian and Thai
officials are staying to prepare the visit of the two prime ministers.
Abhisit had said that his visit to southern Thailand with Najib on Wednesday
was very significant and would send strong signals that both countries wanted to
see peace in the region and an end to the violence there.
A Thai security official played down the incident, saying that it was not
related to the Wednesday visit.
"Our investigation showed that it had nothing to do with the visit. It's the
normal violence that often takes place here...but we have increased our security
measures," he said when contacted in Narathiwat.
About five hours after the bombing, unknown gunmen shot randomly at three
religious students who were resting at a wakaf in Kok Muba Village, Sungai
Golok, about 70km from Narathiwat town.
One of the students died while the otehr two were seriously injured.
The Thai official said the bombing could be an act of revenge over another
shooting incident in Yarang district of Pattani province two days ago where an
Imam was shot dead and two villagers were injured.
More than 3,600 people have died since separatist groups resumed their armed
campaign in January, 2004, to seek independence for the Muslim-majority
provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala bordering Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA
