Dozens of cloth banners attacking the government were seen in insurgency-plagued Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces on Monday morning, and a few small bombs exploded, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha headed to Kuala Lumpur in neighbouring Malaysia for a day of talks on the southern problem, reports said.
Gen Prayut was due to have discussions with the Malaysian prime minister that would include the issue of peace talks with groups of insurgents led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) operating in South Thailand.
Dozens of anti-government banners written in a mixture of English, Thai and the local Yawi Malay dialect were put up overnight in the three southernmost provinces, which border Malaysia.
In Pattani, cloth banners with a message, "Is it appropriate to negotiate with the coup government? There is no guarantee for sincerity" were seen in at least 10 places -- one in Panare district, one in Muang district, two in Khok Pho district, two in Yarang district, two on Highway 42 in tambon Bang Pu of Yaring district, one on Highway 42 in tambon Tuyong, one in front of Khlong Khud market in tambon Bang Khao of Nong Chik district, and one in front a mosque in tambon Karubi of Kapho district.
Also in Kapho district of Pattani, a vehicle carrying a team of district officials led by an assistant district chief was hit by a bomb in the road near Ban Khok Wua in tambon Plong Hoy. The explosion slightly damaged the vehicle but inflicted no casualties.
In Yala, an anti-government banner written in red in the Malayu language was found at Ban Bo Chet Luk in tambon Yupo.
A police bomb disposal unit was dispatched to remove the banner and examine the spot. As the teamwere returning to their vehicle, a bomb planted near where the banner was hung went off. Nobody was hurt. Police said it was a home-made bomb inside a gas cylinder, weighing about 10kg.
More cloth banners were found in Muang district of Yala, on the Na Tham - Ban Niang road in Bannang Sata district, at Tabing Tingi and Ngo Kapo villages in Bannang Sata district, in front of a mosque in Than To district, and at Ban Katong in Yaha district.
Soldiers inspect the area where an anti-government banner was hung and a small pipe bomb later went off in Narathiwat's Waeng district on Monday. (Bangkok Post photo)
In Narathiwat, similar banners were found at 11 spots scattered throughout the province.
In Ruso district, a healthcare centre at tambon Sawo was torched early in the morning.
Militants set fire to a water pump on one side of the building, but the fire was quickly put out by villagers and caused only slight damage.
In Waeng district, a cloth banner was hung on a bridge in tambonn Kayukla. When police removed it with a stick, a small bomb inside a PVC pipe went off, but no one was hurt.
In Sungai Padi district, three banners were hung on the railings of a bridge near Ban Chure in tambon Sako.
In Rangae district, a cloth banner was found in front a mosque at Ban Cheke. One banner was hung near a surveillance camera at Ban Dama Buwo in tambon Tanyong Limo. The camera was set on fire.
Three other banners were found at separate spots in Muang district and another at Ban Dusongyo in Chanae district.
Internal Security Operations Command spokesman Col Banpot Poolpian said the incidents were intended to disrupt Gen Prayut's efforts to resume the peace negotiations, and to attract international attention.
"Movement towards peace talks for the southern border provinces is being demanded by all parties, so they deserve support.
"Today the government has clear guidelines and steps in place to let all parties participate, so that the process will be successful," the spokesman said.