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Seven more slain in southern Thailand
Seven people, including two military rangers, have been killed in separate incidents in the country's southernmost provinces. The spate of fatal attacks on security officers and civilians occurred just after three defense volunteers were gunned down in Pattani on their way back from a security meeting on Monday.Of the latest seven victims, five were were killed in Pattani, while the two rangers were killed in Narathiwat. The first of the latest series of attacks took place late on Monday night in Pattani province when a couple were gunned down on a local road. The victims - Supachai Chuaysen, 27, and Sirikwan Saengthong, 24 - were riding a motorcycle from their village to the downtown area. Witnesses said that a gunman riding pillion on a motorcycle shot the woman first before firing at the man. After the man fell from the motorcycle, the attacker walked up to him and shot him again in the head. At 4:20 a.m. yesterday, two rubber tappers were gunned down in an ambush on a road near a rubber plantation. They were identified as Phon Phetsorn and his wife Nit, both 65. Witnesses said the couple were traveling on a motorcycle to their rubber plantation when gunmen hiding in a roadside forest fired on them with an assault rifle and a handgun. The attackers then fled. The victims were hit several times in the head and torso and died on the spot. At 11:20 a.m., a 30-year-old female employee of a gas station was gunned down. Her 22-year-old colleague was seriously wounded. Police said two assailants drove the motorcycle to the pump to buy gas. After the victim, Prapaporn Suwanno, filled the vehicle with gas, the pillion rider pulled out a gun and fatally shot her and injured her co-worker Leelawadee Boonlert. Prapaporn died at the scene, while Ms Leelawadee was taken to the hospital. The gunmen also took some money from the gas station's cash box. In Narathiwat province yesterday, military rangers Chanakorn Kanchong, 26, and Piyarat Romphruek, 29, were gunned about 2 p.m. as they were riding a motorcycle to a nearby market. Their bodies were riddled with bullet wounds. Police found more than 10 spent AK rifle bullets at the scene. The shooters also took away one .38 pistol from a ranger. The rangers were assigned to provide protection at a fruit orchard of some Buddhists in the village. Posted by: ryuge 2012-10-10 |
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