The surge of attacks in the far South despite the government's peace talks overture to the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) is a concern, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat says.
Police officers inspect damage at Kolam tambon administration organisation office in Pattani’s Yarang district. It is one of nine local administration offices that were torched by suspected militants on Sunday night. Police found bloodstains at the scene which they believe came from an arsonist who was shot by a security guard. PAREZ LOHASANT
Suspected insurgents staged arson attacks in 15 spots in Pattani late on Sunday night.
The assailants targeted mostly local administration offices in Yarang, Nong Chik, Mayo and Mae Laen districts.
ACM Sukumpol said the violence in the Muslim-dominated provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani shows no signs of easing despite the peace talks between the government and the BRN.
Critics say the peace talks may never result in an end to the violence.
However, ACM Sukumpol insisted yesterday it was necessary to continue the meetings.
The peace talks and the surge of attacks are separate issues and the government should not allow the violence to derail the talks, he said.
The BRN is a key separatist group, but other militant groups are carrying out daily attacks that include drive-by shootings, bombings and arson, he said.
Nine local administration offices in Pattani were torched on Sunday night.
The attacks were carried out around the same time by various insurgent groups in the province's four districts.
In Yarang district, insurgents set fire to the tambon Yarang municipality headquarters and three other tambon administration organisation (TAO) offices.
A civil defence volunteer said he shot and wounded two suspected arsonists as they were trying to set fire to Kolam TAO, in Yarang district.
The suspects managed to escape, and the TAO building was slightly damaged. Two other TAO buildings in Prachan and Khlong Mai were burnt to the ground.
The insurgents scattered spikes across several roads and set fire to tyres to prevent firefighters from reaching the buildings.
They set two more fires in Nong Chik district, damaging the Dato and Kolotanyong TAOs. In Mayo district, arsonists set fire to three TAO offices in Sako Bon and Pado, and to the Sako Tai administration office.
The insurgents also torched two Dtac mobile phone signal towers in Mae Laen district.
In Narathiwat, military officers yesterday questioned Matsawan Longsa, 26, who is suspected of being involved in five bombings in Yala's Muang district on April 7 and 8. The Narathiwat resident denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, the chief of Kapho police station in Pattani shot himself yesterday while he was waiting for his wife in his car parked on Sirorot Road in Yala.
Pol Col Adun Pinaeba-ngo, 54, shot himself in the head about 4pm. He later died in hospital.
His driver Pol Cpl Tawan Saikhirin said he did not observe any unusual signs from his boss on their way to the clinic. However, he suspected the suicide might have resulted from stress because Pol Col Adun was always serious at work.