HAT YAI, THAILAND (AP) – A wave of arson and bombing attacks overnight hit Thailand’s southernmost provinces, which for almost two decades have been the scene of an active separatist insurgency, officials said yesterday.
At least 17 attacks occurred on Tuesday night in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces, mostly at convenience stores and gas stations, military spokesperson Pramote Promin said.
Three civilians were reported injured. There have been no claims of responsibility.
More than 7,300 people have been killed since the insurgency began in 2004 in the three provinces. Attacks have also taken place in neighbouring Songkhla province.
The attacks are the most high-profile ones since early April. In other violence since then, two Thai army ordnance experts on duty were killed by a bomb later that month.
Pramote said the attackers on Tuesday night “dressed up as women, using motorcycles and in many cases using petrol bombs, throwing them into the target sites”.
“It is clear that the insurgents remain committed to using violence on people, damaging confidence in the economy, creating uncertainty and undermining the government system,” he said.
Police Captain Sarayuth Kotchawong said he received a report shortly before midnight that a suspect had entered a convenience store at a gas station in Yala’s Yaha district, placed a black bag inside and warned employees to leave if they “do not want die”.
The workers left before the bag exploded 10 minutes later.
The various southern insurgent groups have not issued a consensus demand.
They are a shadowy mix of veteran separatists and often loosely led groups of violent young militants.
Their goals range from greater autonomy to independence, with little indication they are related to extremist movements in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
Peace talks have been ongoing for several years under the auspices of the Malaysian government between Thai officials and Mara Patani, an umbrella body representing several insurgent groups.
In January 2020, Thai officials held their first formal meeting in years with BRN representatives.
