25 held over Yala murders
Security officials have detained 25 suspected Muslim insurgents in Yala and Narathiwat in connection with last week's slaying of eight Buddhists travelling in a passenger van.
The police, Army and Interior Ministry worked together to identify and arrest the suspects between Friday and Saturday. Fourth Army Area Commander Lt-General Wiroj Boacharoon and Narathiwat police chief Maj-General Yongyuth Charoenwanit announced the arrests yesterday at a news conference. Security personnel have stepped up crackdowns on insurgents in the South following the execution-style killings of the eight commuter-van passengers in Yala's Yaha district on Wednesday. The Army has imposed curfews in Yaha and Rusoh districts. Manhunts in 22 areas of Yaha on Friday and Saturday resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects. They also turned up maps marking the location where the van was ambushed. Sixty kilograms of fertiliser were seized. No arrests were made in Rusoh but officials confiscated an M16 assault rifle and bomb-making materials. Officials arrested 12 suspects in Sungai Padi district of Narathiwat. Wiroj noted residents' cooperation.
The Nation NARATHIWAT
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