Attack aimed at discrediting govt

Photo : Charoon Thongnual

The massacre at a mosque in Narathiwat was aimed at creating mistrust in the government and worsening the conflict between Buddhists and Muslims, senior officials said yesterday.

A group of masked assailants stormed into Al Pukon mosque in Joh I Rong sub-district on Monday night and sprayed devotees with gunfire, killing ten people on the spot and injuring a dozen others. A victim also died on the way to the hospital.

Rumours spread rapidly that the attack was conducted by government armed forces wanting to avenge the loss of officials over the past few weeks.

Army Commander-in-Chief General Anupong Paochinda, who rushed to region immediately, denied all claims of soldiers being involved in the massacre.

"I condemn any group that has perpetrated this violence," he said, adding that insurgents were trying to pass the blame onto the authorities for this "barbaric act".

"They simply want to raise this issue to an international level by making it look like state authorities are violently suppressing villagers. They want to create a climate of fear," Anupong said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva voiced his concerns, saying his government would work hard to improve the situation.

"The pattern of the attacks has changed and we need to adjust our tactics," Abhisit told reporters.

The PM's deputy secretary Panitan Wattanayagorn said militants staged this attack to get back at the authorities because they were losing territory in the region.

The zone that state officials cannot access has dropped sharply from 400 villages to 200 villages, he said.

"As a result, the militants are using violence and brutality to keep people fearful and gain media attention," explained Panitan, who is also a security expert.

Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) spokesman Colonel Prinya Chaidilok said the attack was aimed at creating conflicts between Buddhists and Muslims as well as discredit the government.

"They want to make the international community believe that there is a religious conflict between the government and the Muslims," he said. "The insurgents have tried to provoke religious conflict several times before, but it was impossible."

Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam said he would speak with Abhisit and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on whether the government needed to revamp the structure of ground operations in the South, because everything came under the jurisdiction of the military-run Isoc.

The minister said he had laid out a plan for the civilian Southern Border Province Administration Centre (SBPAC) to be given the power to control the unrest.

SBPAC played a crucial role in maintaining peace in the South, but was dissolved by the Thaksin Shinawatra government. Though it was re-established during the military-backed government of General Surayud Chulanont in 2007, it was never given any power because the Isoc had full authority over the region.

Thavorn's idea of civilian supremacy was strongly resisted by the military, even though the armed forces have been unable to contain the violence.

Since 2004, some 3,500 people have been killed in the South so far, with nobody taking responsibility for the attacks.