Three killed in south Thailand
Monday, October 8, 2007
SUSPECTED separatists killed three people in the Thai south, police said yesterday, as the new army chief vowed to battle ongoing unrest during his first visit to the troubled region.
General Anupong Paojinda, who succeeded coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin on October 1, promised to pursue the current government's policy of trying to end the bloodshed with peaceful negotiation.
"The overall situation in the south has improved but daily killings have yet to decrease," he said as he began a two-day visit to the Muslim region.
"We will continue with our peaceful approach for the insurgency here, with additional measures being added," he told reporters.
He did not go into detail about the new measures, but said a curfew might be needed in some areas.
As Anupong flew into Pattani province early yesterday, police in neighbouring Yala province reported that a 14-year-old Muslim boy had been shot dead by four militants as he was walking to a friend's house.
On Saturday, a 54-year-old Muslim man was killed by gunmen in Pattani province, police said, while in Narathiwat province a 53-year-old Muslim man was shot dead outside his home, also by suspected insurgents.
More than 2,600 people have been killed since a separatist insurgency broke out in the Muslim-majority south in January 2004. Violence has been escalating in the region despite a raft of peace measures introduced by the government
AFP
General Anupong Paojinda, who succeeded coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin on October 1, promised to pursue the current government's policy of trying to end the bloodshed with peaceful negotiation.
"The overall situation in the south has improved but daily killings have yet to decrease," he said as he began a two-day visit to the Muslim region.
"We will continue with our peaceful approach for the insurgency here, with additional measures being added," he told reporters.
He did not go into detail about the new measures, but said a curfew might be needed in some areas.
As Anupong flew into Pattani province early yesterday, police in neighbouring Yala province reported that a 14-year-old Muslim boy had been shot dead by four militants as he was walking to a friend's house.
On Saturday, a 54-year-old Muslim man was killed by gunmen in Pattani province, police said, while in Narathiwat province a 53-year-old Muslim man was shot dead outside his home, also by suspected insurgents.
More than 2,600 people have been killed since a separatist insurgency broke out in the Muslim-majority south in January 2004. Violence has been escalating in the region despite a raft of peace measures introduced by the government
AFP
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