14.06.09 South fixed 'in three years'
Source: Bangkok Post
Government reacts to security criticism, bomb on bus kills woman
The government has set a three-year deadline to
root out insurgency in the deep South following a stepped-up campaign
of violence in the region.
TRAUMATIC: Doctors help passengers wounded in a bomb attack in Muang
district of Yala on Saturday. Two men on a motorcycle huled the bomb
into a songtaew (baht bus). During a visit to the predominantly Muslim Ai Payae village in Cho
Airong district of Narathiwat, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban
said the government has every intention of bringing permanent peace to
the deep South.
The village was the scene of last Monday's shooting spree at the
al-Furqan mosque in which 10 people were killed and 12 injured. The
shooting has put the spotlight back on the security problem. The
government has been criticised for tackling the unrest at a leisurely
pace.
Some security observers said the Democrat-led coalition allocated
too much time and resources pursuing a political agenda in Bangkok and
too little to solving the deep South's woes.
Mr Suthep did not elaborate on how the government planned to meet the insurgency eradication deadline.
"I ask for your restraint and tolerance," he said. "We must get
through this together." Mr Suthep was accompanied by Defence Minister
Prawit Wongsuwon, army chief Anupong Paojinda and army chief of staff
Prayuth Chan-ocha. It was the first visit in many months by a senior
cabinet minister to Cho Airong district which is heavily infiltrated by
insurgents.
Mr Suthep assured villagers the police had evidence to arrest those involved in the mosque massacre.
The deputy premier said the attackers were not state officials.
Insurgents have circulated leaflets accusing state authorities in disguise of carrying out the mosque attack.
"I appeal to you not to be swayed by rumours, hearsay and
provocation against the government. Please have faith in us," he said.
He added that in a few months, a budget will be disbursed to the
villages in the deep South that will help generate jobs. The budget
will be worked out in consultation with local leaders to reflect the
real needs of people on the ground.
In Bangkok yesterday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said
anti-insurgent operations must be revamped because attacks were
constantly changing. He denied Mr Suthep's visit would raise the
insurgents' ire and admitted some security objectives have not been
met.
Mr Abhisit also stressed the necessity to allocate a budget to
improve the lives of people in the deep South within the next fiscal
year.
Speaking at a seminar at parliament, Mr Abhisit said the southern violence was a sensitive problem for everyone.
"The insurgents are doing everything in their power to make us go
back to using force to deal with the security strife. But we will stay
the course," he said, drawing a reference to previous governments'
policies deemed forceful and which were blamed for aggravating the
unrest.
Violence continued yesterday in Narathiwat as Mr Suthep's visit was
being wrapped up. One villager was killed and seven others wounded in
two separate attacks in Bacho district.
The first attack was a bomb blast at a grocery shop.
Six people sustained minor shrapnel wounds in the explosion, which almost destroyed the premises.
Police said two teenagers pretending to be customers placed a home-made bomb inside a refrigerator at the shop.
Elsewhere in Bacho district, the wife of a village headman was killed in a drive-by shooting yesterday on her way to market.
In neighbouring Yala, a bomb was hurled into a songtaew truck in
Muang district. The blast killed an elderly woman, seriously wounded a
12-year-old girl and slightly injured 14 other passengers.
It was reported that gas cylinders had disappeared from rural
villages in the southern border provinces. Some were stolen while
others were "donated" to people who are plotting to attack Songkhla,
with the focus on Hat Yai, according to a security source. The source
added that plotters were also believed to be collecting motorcycle
engine chains and nails to use in bombs.
| 
