12 more suspects detained in far South

More than 200 troops began their operation at 6am in Ban Blukahuru in Rusoh's Batong subdistrict and searched 100 houses in the villages.

The dozen suspects taken into custody were believed to be involved in the violence that has wracked the deep South for the past three and a half years.

Officials confiscated a pistol, a shotgun, three motorbikes, clothes similar to military uniforms, some fertiliser and an explosive substance.

Four of the suspects were allegedly leaders of operational cells in their areas. They were Sudipali Tanyongpanae, Abdulfuab Tanyongutong, Tamesee Debong and Nurudin Samae, an official said.

The group was sent to a detention centre in a military compound in Pattani province.

Authorities have launched a massive campaign this month, arresting 350 suspects so far.

Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said the arrests were a big achievement that would contain violence in the restive zone, which has seen neardaily killings since the beginning of 2004.

Human right groups have expressed concern over the mass arrests, as the suspects have no right to legal protection. The military has not allowed relatives to visit those detained for their first three days in custody.

A group of lawyers under the Working Group for Justice and Peace issued a statement to express concern and urged the authorities to show sufficient evidence before making arrests.

The military claimed they were authorised by emergency law and martial law to take suspects into detention without charge for up to 30 days.

The law allowed officials to interrogate suspects, who are not allowed to see a lawyer until they have been officially charged, the working group said.

//The Nation