Car bombs in South wreck cars, wound 5

Published on November 09, 2005 - A fresh outbreak of violence erupted in Yala yesterday as two separate car bombs rocked the main town, wounding five people and destroying 14 vehicles. The first blast went off at about 8.40am at a car-park for the provincial education office. Eight vehicles were ablaze when police rushed to the scene. Fire-fighters spent 10 minutes putting out the flames.

An initial inquiry found that bombs put in a red pickup truck reduced it to a burnt-out shell. The driver of the pickup, Suriya Wongsawat, 57, a provincial educational chief, suffered injuries to his hands, face and body. He was in stable condition at a hospital yesterday.

About an hour later, a second explosion ripped through the parking lot at Yala City Hall, destroying six vehicles. The bomb was planted under a car belonging to Surasit Suwankota, a provincial chief.

Wannakit Boonwisut, a driver for the provincial prosecutor’s office, and three other local villagers were injured in the blast. Suriya and Wannakit are neighbours, police said.

The bombings came just hours after suspected militants launched coordinated attacks in the province against 20 government targets on Monday night.

Dozens of militants raided police stations, checkpoints and government schools across the province. Five people, including two suspected militants, were killed and two others injured in the attacks.

Fourth Region Army Commander Lt Gen Kwanchart Klaharn said yesterday that one of the slain militants, Asumi Jarong, had been a wanted man with a Bt1-million bounty on his head. Some 17 people had been arrested in connection with the overnight raids, he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the government in Bangkok would keep up offensives against militants. Referring to Monday night’s attacks, Thaksin said he was satisfied with security authorities’ response and pledged further crackdowns.

“I am absolutely satisfied with the authorities’ handling of the incidents last night,” Thaksin said. “Many [suspected insurgents] were arrested. We must continue our efforts. Next time it’ll be our turn to be on the offensive.”

Thaksin said security authorities were able to respond quickly to Monday’s attacks thanks to tip-offs from local villagers.

“Yes, officials had learnt of some attacks in advance from cooperative villagers,” he explained, adding that the government would issue more arrest warrants for suspected militants.

Meanwhile, Roongchai Baikwang, a district chief of Bannang Sata in Yala, recounted to the press how he and his colleagues managed to escape unhurt after suspected militants had surrounded his house on Monday.

“I was working when about 30 militants tried to force their way into my house,” he said. “They fired at us from the back of the house, forcing three defence volunteers there to retreat into the house. We then separated into two groups with members of one group providing cover for those of the other.”

He said they engaged in a half-hour shootout with the militants before managing to sneak out of the house and link up with the soldiers sent to rescue them.