South

HM the King expresses concern for people affected by unrest in the Deep South

Published

1 month ago

January 22, 2019

The Thaiger

(Quoted directly from the Government’s Public Relations Department)

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun has been deeply concerned about the people and officials affected by unrest in the southern border provinces.

His Majesty on January 21, 2019 assigned Privy Councilor General Paiboon Koomchaya to present baskets of various items given by His Majesty to relatives of the monks killed in the recent temple shooting, as well as a number of bags with royal gifts to other affected people, officials and volunteers.

The Commanding-General of the Fourth Army Area Command has instructed the inspection of 388 temples and Buddhist centers in the deep South. Security measures have been stepped up to ensure safety in various local communities and temples.

He stressed that at least a group of security officials and forces of the people’s sector must be posted to take care of each temple. Following the violent incident at a temple in Narathiwat, monks of all the 388 temples still go out to receive food offerings as usual.

Meanwhile, Special Representative of the Government Major General Nipon Rongsawas on January 21, 2019 chaired a meeting in Songkhla province to discuss concerted cooperation of all relevant agencies in creating better understanding about the southern situation among local people, in accordance with the royal advice to understand, reach out, and develop.

Other issues of discussion included safety measures, the revitalisation of a multicultural society, narcotics control, public participation, human rights promotion, and peacebuilding. Public relations campaigns for the southern situation are said to be necessary in order to prevent local people from falling prey to perpetrators of violence.

Related Topics:insurgency Malaysia south Terrorism Thailand

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South

Southern insurgency: Ranger shot dead in Songkhla house

Published

6 days ago

February 18, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

Southern insurgency: Ranger shot dead in Songkhla house | The Thaiger

FILE PHOTO: The latest shooting in a spate of recent violence in the southern provinces – The Nation

A ranger based in Yala has been shot dead at his home in Songkhla’s Muang district.

Pol Capt Adirek Burintrapibal, the deputy inspector of Muang Songkhla police station, was alerted at 8.30pm last night of the shooting at a house in Moo 10 village in Tambon Pawong.

The Nation reports that 43 year old Charoen Moraphan died when a bullet hit him in the left side of his chest.

His wife, Khiew, says she was at the back of the house while Charoen was watching TV in the living room facing towards the front door. She says her husband was on leave from his Yala ranger base for two weeks.

Police claim a gunman inserted a gun barrel through the front door and opened fire at Charoen, hitting him once in the chest.

Police are yet to identify the motive for the killing, the latest in a spate of violence in the southern provinces.

South

50+ motorbike taxi drivers blockade southern border

Published

6 days ago

February 18, 2019

The Thaiger

50 Thai motorcycle taxi drivers have set up a blockade at the Thai-Malaysian border checkpoint to protest what they allege are unworkable, stricter immigration checks now imposed by Malaysian immigration officials.

The taxi drivers say they have been bringing Thai tourists across the border in Songkhla’s Sadao district to the duty-free shops in Malaysia’s Padang Besar for years.

Yesterday morning’s temporary blockade delayed several buses and cars carrying dozens of Malaysian tourists heading to Hat Yai.

Thai immigration police, army troops and local administration officials intervened and persuaded the taxi drivers to move their 50+ bikes blocking the road.

Drivers initially refused, demanding that Thai immigration officials negotiate with their Malaysian counterparts to ease the border crossing restrictions.

The border crossing process has been tightened in recent months by requiring production of a valid passport instead of border passes as was the case in the past. But many Thai motorcycle taxi drivers do not have passports and say the new restrictions are overly restrictive and an alternative solution should be accommodated.

South

Four rangers escape unharmed after insurgents’ attack in Narathiwat

Published

1 week ago

February 14, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

Four rangers escape unharmed after insurgents’ attack in Narathiwat | The Thaiger

MAP: Narathiwat’s Ra Ngae district

Four rangers have escaped unhurt after southern insurgents detonated a roadside bomb in an attack in Narathiwat’s Ra Ngae district this morning.

Police say the attack happened at 8.10am on a main road in Ban Pa Phai village in Tambon Tanyong.

The bomb damaged a makeshift shelter for vendors to buy rubber latex from local villagers.

Police say the patrol of four rangers was approaching the area when the homemade bomb was detonated. But the timing was not right and the blast didn’t harm the rangers.

SOURCE: The Nation