Far South violence continues, but reduced
Dissidents struck again in the southern border province of Pattani late Sunday night, bombing and burning a municipal office, in the wake of a storm of violence in the far South on Saturday night.
Late Sunday night, a further bout of violence erupted in the far southern province of Pattani, as dissidents targeted a municipal office through bomb and arson attacks. The incident occurred in the early hours of the day, around 9:10pm, causing extensive damage to the office and surrounding vehicles. No casualties were reported.
This violence follows a series of coordinated attacks on Saturday night across the southern border provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, where two women were injured. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that the motive behind the renewed violence remains unclear, as the perpetrators have yet to be identified.
Mr. Sihasak admitted to being concerned about the frequency of the attacks currently taking place. Intelligence officials believe that the attackers may be attempting to leverage their negotiating power ahead of planned peace talks set to resume in late October. They also speculate that the attacks could be symbolic, given the targets are primarily government offices and properties.
Furthermore, the intelligence community suggests that the dissidents might be attempting to deplete their stock of ammunition and explosives before the wet season, as these resources could deteriorate during the rainy months. The government's efforts to suppress illicit goods may also have contributed to the attacks. While intelligence officials are aware of the individuals behind the attacks, they are bound by national security protocols and cannot disclose their identities.
Written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
