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Thai bombers bolstered by drugs and amulets
The three men arrested for involvement in Sunday night's southern terror offensive say they took drugs and carried good-luck amulets to boost their courage. The attackers admitted they had received training from the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK), a shadowy group which has ties to extremists in Indonesia.Lt Gen Viroj Buajaroon, the Fourth Army (southern region) commander, said the three arrested men carried amulets and charms on their bodies. One suspect was found in Thepa district of Songkhla province, while the other two were apprehended in Bacho district of Narathiwat province. They told army officers they took narcotics - apparently marijuana - and cough syrup before the attacks to bolster their courage.
Lt Gen Viroj said the three arrested men confessed they were involved in the Sunday night attacks which killed eight and wounded more than 60 people, at least four seriously. He did not provide details but said they were in their 20s, had blaimed their recruitment and the Sunday violence to an Islamic militant group, and gave information about others involved. Despite the arrests and increased security, suspected insurgents carried out more attacks Tuesday, including at least two bombings, and a third, unsuccessful attempt to bomb a Yala 7-Eleven convenience store. No casualties were reported. The attacks occurred as thousands were celebrating Lunar New Year, and an army spokesman said the insurgents were trying to frighten ethnic Chinese who celebrate the holiday into fleeing the predominantly Muslim region. Three people of Chinese descent were shot and killed that same night. Ethnic Chinese in southern Thailand are mostly Buddhists and Taoists. Sunday's attacks took place simultaneously in all four southern provinces - Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani and Songkhla. There were 29 bombings within 45 minutes. The bombs weighed 6.5kg (11 pounds) each, and the targets included karaoke lounges, hotels, schools, gasoline stations and power grids. Posted by: ryuge 2007-02-21 |
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