YALA -- A rubber-wood factory was torched, a military base hit with M79 grenades, and public facilities set ablaze in this southernmost province early on Monday, police said.
In Bannang Sata district, a fire razed a warehouse owned by Sam Dao Parawood Co on Highway 410 at Cho Bantang village in tambon Bannang Sata.
The blaze began about 1am and destroyed the warehouse and the wood stored inside, along with a 10-wheel truck and stacks of wood surrounding it. It was not brought under control until about 8.30am. Damage was initially estimated at 50 million baht.
Kittisak Mahithimontri, the factory owner, said he believed arsonists had scaled over the wall and set the building on fire.
Police were investigating. It was not known if the fire was related to the insurgency.
About the same time in Krong Pinang district, militants fired three M79 grenades at the operations base of the 12th Yala Task Force at Ban Sakae in tambon Krong Pinang. Two of the grenades exploded, wounding three soldiers -- Cpl Sirote Thoopsawang, Pvt Veerayut Majurin and Pvt Anan Khumpai. They were admitted to Yala Hospital.
Shortly afterward, a mobile telephone signal tower opposite a petrol station in tambon Krong Pinang was set on fire. A nearby power pole was also set ablaze.
In Raman district, four closed-circuit surveillance cameras were set a on fire - one in front of the mosque of Ban Kho village, two overlooking the road to Talolo village, and one the road to tambon Kota Baru Municipality office. All the cameras were put out of action.
The trouble came ahead of a security meeting on the situation in the soutnermost provinces called on Monday by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
National Security Council secretary-general Thawip Netniyom said after the meeting the violence in the border region was continuing to ease this year.
The government was trying to improve the situation, especially in Nong Chik district in Pattani, Betong district in Yala and Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat.
The three districts were chosen by the government to be an economic model to attract currently reluctant investors to the region.
Soldiers examine the damage caused by an exploding M79 grenade at the 12th Yala Task Force base at Ban Sakae in tambon Krong Pinangat, Yala, on Monday. (Photo by Maluding Tito)