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National Security Council chief says South violence now 'under control'

A three-year-old was among three people injured Saturday when a 7-Eleven store in Narathiwat was rocked by two explosions.



The wounded were identified as Muhammadsorbri Marong, 34, a village defence volunteer, military ranger Thanuthan Mareh, 27, and three-year-old Afhal Jehnae.

Police said insurgents detonated the first bomb inside a rubbish bin in front of the store in tambon Tanyongmas, Rangae district at about 4.20pm.

Minutes later they set off a second bomb, planted inside a motorcycle. The victims were all nearby when the explosions took place.

A pickup truck and four motorcycles parked in the area were also damaged.

Police said footage from a nearby CCTV camera showed that two teenagers riding a motorcycle had planted the two bombs. The convenience store is located close to a military base.

Mr Muhammadsorbri's right leg was injured in the incident, while Mr Thanuthan suffered a facial injury. Afhal suffered a serious chest wound and ear damage.

Another blast occurred in tambon Anohru in Pattani's Muang district. Police said militants planted a bomb inside a trash bin in Na Klua Road Soi 2. Nobody was injured.

Militants also burned tyres, motorcycles, and telephone poles in Sai Buri, Nong Chik, Mayo and Muang districts of Pattani.

Telephone and mobile phone signals in Pattani were disrupted by the attacks.

Meanwhile, two people were seriously injured in a drive-by motorcycle shooting in Pattani Saturday. The shooting took place at about 4.50pm on Pattani Sai 42-Hat Yai Road in tambon Donrak of Nong Chik district. The victims were Harn Ratcharoen, 52, and Supannee Watkaew, 41.

Police said Ms Supannee, a vegetable vendor in Pattani municipality market, had hired Mr Harn, a motorcycle taxi driver, to take her to her home in Nong Chik district.

The pair were shot in the back by an assailant riding pillion on another motorcycle. The attackers drove away after the shooting. Both victims are being treated at Pattani Hospital.

In Yala, militants set off a bomb at a telephone booth on the side of Yala-Betong Road Saturday morning. Nobody was injured.

Security measures were beefed up Saturday in Songkhla's Hat Yai shopping district after intelligence reports warned of possible attacks.

Many shopowners are on high alert and have installed CCTV cameras both inside and outside their shops.

In response to the reports, authorities will perform a drill on Tuesday in front of the Lee Garden Hotel on Nipat Uthis 1 Road in Hat Yai district to prepare for any attacks.

Despite the reports and Saturday's attacks, the National Security Council's secretary-general said soldiers and security officials have managed to bring violence in the deep South under control.

Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr said recent attacks were mostly cases of insurgents being forced to carry out daily strikes in a limited number of areas as soldiers and security officials were in control of most other spots. As a result the violence was limited in its impact and would not spread, he said.

Lt Gen Paradorn made the comments Saturday on the weekly Yingluck Government Meets the People television programme. He said he had been assigned by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to keep the public informed about the South after a series of attacks took place in Pattani and Narathiwat last week.

The attacks are seen as retaliation against the government after marines killed 16 militants during a failed insurgent raid on their base in Narathiwat's Bacho district on Feb 13.

Lt Gen Paradorn said he would send his staff to talk to relatives of victims of the southern violence, especially the relatives of the 16 militants killed on Feb 13.

http://www.bangko...uble-blast

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Bare rolig regeringen har kontrol og styr på oprøret i syd :TUP

Pattani burning

A wave of 29 terrorist attacks swept Pattani on Saturday night. Many of them were minor incidents and involved burning car tyres. An assistant district chief and six defence volunteers were also hurt in a bomb attack.

Militants wreak havoc in Pattani

A wave of terrorist attacks swept Pattani on Saturday night which security authorities said was a concerted attempt by terrorists to disrupt the province. The attacks were widespread, but many were minor incidents.

The headquarters of Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command said militants set fire to car tyres at four spots in Muang district - the bus terminal on Highway 42 near Ban Pupo in tambon Taluban, at Ban Baero Saning on Highway 410 in tambon Baraho, on Highway 42 in tambon Talubo and at a bridge near Ban Pare in tambon Barahome.

A mobile signal post in front of Ban Pare School in tambon Barahome was set ablaze.


Photo by Pares Lohasan

At 8.55pm in Muang district, a bomb planted at the U-turn in front of Had Thip Co in tambon Talubo was detonated. The explosion hurt Ekasit Songmuang, an assistant district chief, and six defence volunteers.

In Nong Chik district, car tyres were set on fire at four spots - at Ban Don Rak in tambon Don Rak, on Highway 42 near a PTT petrol station at Ban Don Yang in tambon Bo Thong, on Highway 42 in tambon Tuyong, and on Highway 42 in tambon Tha Kacha.

In Sai Buri district, car tyres were set ablaze at six spots - at Ban Balo in tambon Lahan, at the bridge of Ban Lakho in tambon Tabing, at Joh Kuyae junction in tambon Tabing, at Ban Kalapho in tambon Trobon, at Ban Lubo Sulong in tambon Trobon, and in front of the highway office at Ban Kalapho Ok in tambon Trobon.

In Yaring district, car tyres were set on fire at Ban Bangpu in tambon Bangpu and in front of Songsermsart School in tambon Tanyong Lado. A power transformer in front of Ban Takae School in tambon Takae was shot at and slightly damaged.

Also in Yaring district, the Tanyong Lado tambon administration organisation (TAO) office and a fire truck parked inside the TAO compound were set on fire, causing damage to about 40% of the property. An abandoned house near Ban Thadan School in tambon Talo Kapore and the school were torched, causing damage to about 10% of the school building.

In Yarang district, the militants set fire to a trash can and car tyres at six spots - at Ban Phongsata in tambon Yarang, Ban Nae Batae in tambon Yarang, in front of Yarang hospital in tambon Pitumudi, at Ban Po Chan in tambon Pitumudi, at Ban Ton Prai in tambon Mowawi, and at Ban Makham in tambon Mowawi.

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