Published on Dec 15, 2006 -The Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) - a long standing separatist organisation fighting for autonomy in the Malay-speaking South - accused security forces and the village defence volunteers yesterday of carrying out targeted killings in the restive region.

In a statement to The Nation, Pulo said the organisation and local Malay Muslim villagers were aware that government informants had been planted in their communities and pledged "all forms of uprisings" against these measures.

Thai security units on the ground had been quietly assisting units of village defence volunteers to kill "innocent" local Malay Muslim residents, Pulo said in the statement. The organisation claimed to have dispatched its own investigation team, known as Black Diamond, to look into these incidents.

Pulo accused the security officials of discriminating against ethnic Malay villagers by arming their Buddhist neighbours. It said Malay Muslim villagers did not trust the security forces to be an honest broker, and thus there was a growing call for them to pull out of their villages.

Meanwhile, violence continued yesterday with three people killed and two injured in separate attacks in the three southernmost provinces, police said.

Two employees were killed and one injured at Yala's Krong Pinang Tambon Administration Organisation after a fierce attack by six gunmen on motorbikes, who fired into the office where the three were working.

Lek Boonthong, 58, and Suchin Songphom, 28, died instantly, while Patthama Sakrin 25, was seriously injured, police said.

In Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district, Kecha Loh - a former village headman, aged 46 - was shot dead while riding his motorbike home from downtown. His body, riddled with AK-47 bullets, was found on the road.

Meanwhile in Pattani province, Yusoh Sana, 30, was shot while riding a motorbike on a rural road in Khok Pho district. Yusoh was admitted to a local hospital with wounds in his body and shoulder.