Ranger dies in blast ahead of peace talks

Ranger dies in blast ahead of peace talks

An army ranger was killed and another wounded in a bomb explosion in Pattani's Yarang district yesterday, police said.

The attack took place about 11am on a road in tambon Prado where an eight-man unit was patrolling the area.

The blast wounded Pvt 1st Class Chanchote Phetpong, 23, and volunteer ranger Anurak Sukri.

Pvt 1st Class Chanchote was critically injured after the attack and was later pronounced dead at Yarang Hospital. Mr Anurak was reportedly out of danger.

The bomb, weighing about four kilogrammes, was buried in the road and detonated as the foot patrol from Rangers Company 2212 passed by.

Hours later, a combined taskforce sealed off Moo 2 village near the blast site and rounded up 20 people for questioning.

Authorities collected their fingerprints and DNA samples for examination before releasing them.

In Narathiwat, a 50-strong taskforce yesterday seized a number of what they believed to be bomb-making materials during a raid on a village in Rueso district.

The unit found fertiliser, a cooking gas cylinder, thick wires and power cables in a house belonging to Mado-si Sama-ae. According to bomb experts, the seized materials could have been turned into a 25kg bomb.

Mr Mado-si, 35, was detained for questioning. He admitted he owned the cooking gas cylinder, but said he had no knowledge of the rest of the materials.

National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut said yesterday the Thai delegation in the peace talks with insurgents will submit a civic group proposal seeking ''suspension of violence'' during the month of Ramadan.

Lt Gen Paradorn said the proposal will be raised during the next round of talks with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group on Thursday.

He said the proposal will test the BRN's sincerity in solving the violence.

The NSC chief said the agency is working with civic groups and locals in the deep South to prepare a plan for peace.

He said more discussions are needed to iron out differences.

Several locals do not see eye to eye with the BRN regarding the separatist group's list of five demands, he added.

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