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Massive manhunt in southern Thailand as violence continues
It's been a Ramadan to remember already in southern Thailand.
Hundreds of police, soldiers and civilian officials have been deployed to hunt down 13 armed terrorists militants who remain at large after unleashing a hail of bullets at six soldiers on motorcycle patrol in Pattani's Mayo district on Saturday morning.

Most of the terrorists militants were natives of the district and further investigations found they were still hiding in Mayo.

Mayo police chief Pol Col Gong-aut Suwannakham said witnesses called in for questioning yesterday confirmed they could help identify many of the attackers from footage captured on a concealed security camera installed near the scene of the shootout. The police chief said, "We want more villagers who witnessed the crime scene and also knew these militants to help provide us with information that could lead to more arrests soon."

Pol Col Gong-aut believes the three suspects already arrested in connection with the killings were involved in Saturday's infamous attack, which killed four soldiers and injured two others. He insisted the suspects were not arrested as scapegoats for the incident.

The three were caught after a combined force of 50 military, police and civilian officials raided their homes in Pattani's Mayo district.

The sting operation came just hours after 16 well-armed terrorists militants opened fire on the six soldiers, who were patrolling on Saturday morning. Surveillance camera footage from a video recording of the incident aired on several TV channels soon after.

The three suspects in custody were spotted on security cameras in various locations. They were identified as Ismael Daong, 31, Rosuedee Jeurae, 28, and Mr Rosuedee's younger brother Samael Jeurae, 25.

Mr Ismael was spotted before the attacks talking on a cell phone as he rode on his motorcycle past a hospital on his way out of Mayo district. He is said to have monitored the army patrol unit and pointed them out to the terrorists militants.

The Jeurae brothers were caught on cameras at the shooting scene allegedly firing at the soldiers. One of the brothers has a limp, which allowed officials to easily identify the suspect.

Security checks on the way to Pattani municipality have been beefed up after authorities received tips that terrorists militants might try to plant two pickup trucks loaded with explosives in the city.

Three pickup trucks had been stolen from Songkhla's Thepa district and Yala's Muang district. The terrorists militants had also killed the owner of one of the vehicles stolen from Yala. Police suspect all three pickup trucks are still hidden in Pattani province.

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha called the assault a barbaric act. He said, "The act was inhuman by any means and the public should condemn such attacks."

He also called on people posting video clips of the violence in the southern provinces on the internet to stop doing so as it served no purpose. He asked, "Do they want the international community to get involved in this issue?"

Meanwhile, violence in the deep South continued yesterday.

Yutthana Meechamnan, 19, was found gunned down near his motorcycle, while Peerawat Pijkit, 24, was found killed in a rubber plantation nearby. In the province's Yarang district, Sakareeya Sasu, 45, was gunned down in a local village.

In Yala's Yaha district, Aleeya Jintra, 26, was gunned down in a rubber plantation. In Muang Yala, Suhairee Badong, 33, was killed by a gunshot to his head while praying in a mosque.
Posted by: ryuge 2012-07-30
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=349287