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Terrorists escalate attacks during OIC visit
Muslim separatists on Tuesday killed a Buddhist man, shot a child and set off bombs injuring two policemen in the deep South in attacks that coincided with a visit by the Organisation of Islamic Conference.In Pattani province in the troubled deep South, 21-year-old Phanthong Sae Lasri died Tuesday in hospital from injuries sustained in a bomb blast at a market Monday night. Another bomb exploded Tuesday morning at a Pattani bus stop, injuring two policemen. The attacks appeared to draw the attention of the visit of the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu who was meeting with Thai officials and religious leaders in Bangkok on Tuesday. Two unidentified assailants sitting on a motorcycle sprayed villagers in Klong Penang district of Yala province, 800 kilometres south of Bangkok, with automatic rifle fire at 7 am Tuesday, killing Aeb Buasri and injuring four others, including a two-year-old, said Klong Penang Police Sub-Lieutenant Wanawudh Sensiang. "The attack may have been an act of revenge for the burning of Ban Nang Satar, a nearby Muslim village in Yala, last night," said Wanawudh. OIC's Ihsanoglu, after a meeting with Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsongkram, expressed his concerns for the innocent victims of the violence. Ihsanoglu was scheduled to meet with Islamic leaders from the southern provinces Tuesday morning and afterwards hold talks with Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. Plus: Insurgents opened fire at villagers at a gas station in Yala province Tuesday morning, killing one, as the secretary-general of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference visited the country to discuss solutions to unrest. Police said the shooting took place at 8.30 a.m., when a 35-year-old rubber tapper was filling his pick-up. Four other people, including his two children, were injured in the attack. The insurgents, who came on motorcycle, then opened fire on his pick-up, killing instantly the man. The others all were hit and wounded. Other than the family members, a 19-year-old man who worked at the station also was wounded. In Pattani, two patrol police were critically wounded when insurgents detonated a bomb in the morning. The police were on a break at a resting point in Mai Kaen district when insurgents detonated a bomb hidden there, severely wounding the two officers. They were rushed to Mai Kaen district hospital. In Nong Chik district, about 100 Muslim women and children blocked a road in front of Nong Chik police station, demanding the release of suspects arrested on Monday night. Nong Chik police superintendent Thawal Nakatrawong negotiated with the protesters, saying police would release the suspects if they are innocent. But wait, there's more: Muslim insurgents attacked and severely injured a policeman at a road checkpoint near a police station Tuesday afternoon. The attack against the checkpoint near the Yingor district police station took place at 1:20 pm. Pol Sgt Maj Chanatip Jaruvej, 39, who was manning the checkpoint alone was attacked by two gunmen who arrived on a motorcycle. A bullet pieced through his neck and he was rushed to the provincial hospital. The insurgents left immediately after opening fire at him. Posted by: ryuge 2007-05-01 |
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