BOMBINGS IN FAR SOUTH
Militants 'seek to widen divide'
A military detail bears the coffin of Private Pramote Wannasuk for transport to his hometown. He was killed in a bombing on Sunday in Narathiwat while guarding monks collecting alms.
|
|
|
PM to strive for reconciliation but vows to deal with attackers
Militants in the South continue to escalate divisiveness as the state attempts to build bridges, the prime minister said yesterday. General Surayud Chulanont slammed a weekend attack that killed one soldier and injured monks and civilians. The Sunday strike in Narathiwat was designed to widen divisiveness in society, he said yesterday. "The incident makes us realise there are those who try to create divisiveness in this society even though we have tried to build reconciliation and understanding," Surayud said. "We will try to tolerate and continue our work. However, these attackers will have to be dealt with according to the law," he added. Surayud insisted the government would continue to employ peaceful methods to solve the southern crisis although it would be some time before peace was restored. The bomb is believed to have been detonated by mobile telephone as five monks and their army guards went about their morning alms rounds. The device killed Private Pramote Wannasuk, 22. The injured included three soldiers, five monks and three civilians. A monk and two soldiers remain in critical condition after being transferred to Prince of Songkhla Hospital. Today's Cabinet meeting would debate the structure of the revived Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, Surayud said. The multi-departmental, civilian-led agency was dissolved by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration in mid-2001. As well as maintaining security, the body promoted reconciliation and played a crucial role in maintaining peace. Surayud said the revived centre was ready for action but its exact date of commission depended on a joint decision of the Defence and Interior Ministers. The prime minister planned a visit to the South but its timing and duration were undecided. He would meet local religious leaders. Meanwhile, late on Sunday, a bomb detonated by mobile telephone exploded outside a school at Narathiwat's Joh I Rong district as 10 soldiers passed, leaving one critically injured. Separately, in Pattani's Panare district former Islamic teacher Ruyaning Sa-i was killed by an assailant armed with an AK-47 assault rifle. More than 1,700 people have lost their lives since violence escalated in the deep South in January 2004.
|
