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Militants attacks 50 phone towers in restive Thai south
YALA, Thailand : Some 200 militants set dozens of telephone towers ablaze overnight in Thailand's Muslim-majority south, in attacks officials said Thursday could be reprisals for government restrictions on cell phones in the region. "There were more than 50 arson attacks in four provinces, but no one died," the regional police commander, Lieutenent General Adul Seangsingkaeo told reporters. "The attacks involve more than 200 teenaged militants," he added. The militants threw petrol bombs at mobile phone relay towers and phone booths, causing some interruptions to cell phone service. Seven of the militants have been arrested, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters in northeastern Thailand. He said the attacks could have been reprisals for government restrictions on cell phone use in the south, where users must register their lines so that authorities can try to track phones used to detonate bombs in the region. "Last night's attacks aimed to incite more unrest and to show that the militants are still capable" of staging coordinated raids, Thaksin said. "The attacks may have been to retaliate against government registration of SIM cards, because now they cannot use mobile phones to detonate bombs," he said. Justice Minister Chidchai Vanasathidya urged security forces to step up precautions against further attacks. "We cannot be complacent. The militants can strike back at us at any time," he said. Posted by: phil_b 2006-01-19 |
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