Thailand

Six killed in attacks by militants in southern provinces

Article published on the 2009-06-13 Latest update 2009-06-13 11:16 TU

The dead body of a Buddhist monk on a road in Thailand's Yala province on 12 June
(Photo: Reuters)

Top government officials from Thailand have flown to the southern region of the country after several attacks took place on Saturday. Six people were killed and a number wounded. The attacks are thought to have been carried out by Islamic militants.

A woman was shot dead in a drive by shooting in the Narathiwat province and several people were also injured after militants threw a bomb into a group of students. Bodies were found by the roadside in the Yala province.

A woman and a Muslim teenager were also killed on Friday night.

Suthep Thaugsuban, Thailand’s deputy Prime Minister, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Army commander General Anupong Paojinda have flown to the troubled region in order to speed up investigations.

Suthep has asked for villagers’ patience as the government tries to calm tensions and said they would eventually arrest the masked gunmen who carried out a shooting in a Mosque during evening prayers last Monday.

Security forces deny locals claims that the attacks were carried out by them, while NGOs have condemned the attacks.

"Whoever was responsible for the June 8 massacre, the government and army have a lot of work to do to rebuild relations with the Muslim community," said Brad Adams from Human Rights Watch. "The widespread suspicion in the Muslim community shows how the failure to hold perpetrators accountable has led to deep distrust of the government," he added.

"Reprisal killings against civilians have absolutely no justification," said Adams. "Separatist insurgents are committing violence against civilians to scare Buddhist Thais away, keep ethnic Malay Muslims under control, discredit the Thai authorities, and provoke heavy-handed reactions from the security forces," the director of HRW's Asia programme said.

More than 3,700 people have died and thousands more have been wounded since violence erupted in January 2004.