Five held for Cho Airong attack blitz

Five held for Cho Airong attack blitz

Cho Airong hospital, Narathiwat. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
Cho Airong hospital, Narathiwat. (Photo by Waedao Harai)

Five men suspected of being involved in the coordinated attacks in Cho Airong district of Narathiwat on Sunday were taken in for questioning Tuesday following a raid on several villages.

The operation was carried out after authorities learned that several men, suspected of being behind the three attacks, had taken cover in Lapae village and Ban Bo Ngo in Rangae district.

Authorities on Tuesday cordoned off five targeted locations in the villages. Some suspects managed to escape to hills behind the villages before the raid. However, five people found at the scene were taken in for questioning. Authorities say they also found a motorcycle fuel tank and a refrigerator compressor which they say can be used to make a bomb.

About 30 armed assailants stormed Cho Airong hospital after bombarding three public areas and authorities with heavy weapons on Sunday evening, leaving seven security volunteers and soldiers injured.

The attacks are thought to have been orchestrated by Arsuemee Putae, a key leader of a local insurgency network, as a symbolic gesture to mark the 56th anniversary of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgent group.

According to authorities, Mr Arsuemee's insurgent base, with more than 30 separatists, is along the Tawe mountain range in tambon Bo Ngo.

Residents of Cho Airong on Tuesday held a spontaneous protest and prayers for peace against the insurgent attacks. (AFP photo)

Meanwhile, a resident was injured and two houses were damaged Tuesday in a bomb attack on Rueso-Srisakorn road in Rueso district.

An initial investigation indicated the device was planted inside the rubbish bin in front of the houses and detonated with a timer an hour later. 

Sommai Boonkliang, a chief of the Narathiwat Public Health Office, said staff at Cho Airong hospital were generally in good spirits and performing duties as normal after the raid. However, he said those too upset to carry on were allowed to take leave without it being counted as annual leave.

Dr Sommai said he also planned to ask the government for a security budget for hospitals across the province.

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