The recent spike in violence in the far South was driven by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)'s determination to demonstrate its capacity under its new leadership, according to a source from the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4.
Unrest in the deep South flared late last year and shows no signs of abating after Friday's attack on a temple in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district killed two monks and wounded two others.
The BRN is reported to have appointed secretary-general Sama-ae Kho Zari, 60, as its new leader late last year.
The former Islamic teacher from Pattani's Sai Buri district replaced Dulloh Waemanor, a source said.
Mr Sama-ae is believed to be living in the northern part of Kelantan, Malaysia.
"This seems like a customary practice when a new leader assumes the post. A demonstration of what they are capable of was carried out to gain trust from members," the source said.
According to the source, there are no outstanding arrest warrants against Mr Sama-ae.
The recent violence, the source said, underlines that he has no intention of holding talks with a new Thai negotiation team, led by Gen Udomchai Thammasaroraj, the former 4th army commander.
The team has been assigned to negotiate with the Mara Patani, an umbrella organisation of the insurgent groups in the deep South, which includes the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), the Gerakan Mujahedin Islam Patani (GMIP) and the BRN.
The BRN currently has a 6,000-strong membership, most of whom are unwilling to negotiate and want to fight, the source insisted.
The group also recruits child soldiers, aged 12-15, the source said, adding that they are indoctrinated with a sense of separatism and hatred towards the Thai authorities.
Monks and Muslim village leaders sit together to express sympathy and support following the attack.
The source said that army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong had instructed officers to collect intelligence in relation to the BRN and find ways to hold informal talks with the group.
According to the source, the BRN is appointing leaders in all districts, tambons and villages in the deep South so that they can help recruit more members to carry out operations in the region.
The source spoke to the Bangkok Post on Saturday, after the deadly attack at Wat Rattananuparb in Sungai Padi district at 8.30pm on Friday.
Phra Kru Prachote Rattananurak, the district's chief monk and abbot of the temple, and his assistant, Phra Samu Attapon Khun-ampai, were shot dead. Another two monks were wounded.
According to local officers, five or six assailants came to the temple on motorcycles.
Phra Kru Prachote: Killed in attack
Phra Kru Prachote was said to have asked the group why they had come to the temple at night without an appointment, but they drew firearms and shot at the monks.
The assailants also opened fire at the living quarters of Phra Prawet Suk-kaew, wounding the monk inside, according to local officers.
Shortly after the shooting, the attackers fled but encountered local defence volunteers who had heard the gunfire. A gunfight ensued but the assailants managed to escape the scene.
After an inspection at the temple on Saturday morning, officers said they believed at least 10 people were involved in the attack.
Pol Lt Gen Ronnasilp Phusara, the commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9 which oversees the southernmost border provinces, said the assailants were likely to be from the group that recently carried out bomb attacks in Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat.
The group was also behind the murder of two village defence volunteers, who were shot dead on a road in tambon To Deng of Sungai Padi district on Aug 7 last year, according to the commissioner.
Pol Lt Gen Ronnasilp said the perpetrators had returned from a neighbouring country to launch the attack at the temple and aimed to fuel division between Buddhists and Muslims.
Narathiwat governor Ekkarat Leesen said representatives of the Sheikhul Islam Office of Thailand and leaders of the Islamic committees in the three southernmost provinces will visit the two injured monks -- Phra Prawet and Phra Thanachot Choomlert.
Talks will be held among the religious leaders about the violence, he said.
The governor also presented flowers and hampers bestowed by the King to the wounded monks at a hospital on Saturday.
Fourth army region commander Pornsak Poonsawat, who also visited the injured monks, insisted there is no order preventing monks in the far South from going out to collect morning alms from people.
"All the monks can still conduct monkhood practices as usual. But more officers will be deployed to provide security for monks collecting alms," said Lt Gen Pornsak.
Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, said executives from the National Office of Buddhism will hold a meeting today to follow up the situation and iron out measures to protect monks in the far South.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha condemned the attack and urged officers to expedite efforts to track down the perpetrators.
Government spokesman Buddhipongse Punnakanta said the premier had extended moral support to civilians and officers in the far South and people should "have confidence in the government and join hands to create peace".
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday condemned the temple attack as well as the killing of Dolo Sarai, an imam of Ban Pu Po mosque in Rueso district of Narathiwat on Jan 11.
"The attacks were committed inhumanly, illegally and without concerns about human right principles.
"The government must expedite efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice quickly," the commission said. The Sheikhul Islam Office also condemned both attacks, saying that they were detrimental to the peace process.
A monk looks at belongings next to a metal alms bowl seen in the centre with bullet holes following an attack on Rattananuparb temple by gunmen on Friday night.