Coordinated Arson Attacks Strike Southern Thailand Amid Ongoing Unrest
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Thai military officials have reported that over 50 coordinated arson and explosive attacks aimed at spreading unrest took place across the insurgency-affected southern region of Thailand.
These attacks resulted in two injuries and involved setting fire to local government offices, shops, and stolen vehicles.
According to a statement from the military’s Internal Security Operations Command, these incidents occurred from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday across the border provinces in southern Thailand.
Most of the events took place in Narathiwat province, with neighboring provinces Yala and Pattani also experiencing such attacks.
According to the Bangkok Post, two women were injured in a bomb blast in Mueang district of Narathiwat province.
Telecommunication towers were set ablaze at various locations, and security forces have warned local residents not to touch any suspicious objects.
Authorities imposed a curfew throughout the night in Narathiwat province, which was lifted on Sunday morning. No further attacks have been reported since.
Who Is Responsible?
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
No group has claimed responsibility for the arson attacks so far.
Since 2004, southern Thai provinces, predominantly Buddhist, have been the site of a low-level conflict driven by Muslim-majority insurgent groups demanding greater autonomy.
This conflict has claimed over 7,000 lives to date.
The main insurgent leadership is under the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) group.
Despite peace talks beginning in 2013 with Malaysian mediation, frequent government changes and internal disagreements in Bangkok have repeatedly stalled the peace process.
Authorities suspended the dialogue process after an attack involving gunfire and a bomb on a checkpoint in Narathiwat province last July resulted in the deaths of five soldiers.
According to Thai media, insurgents frequently target security forces and government buildings, often carrying out attacks when officials are scheduled to visit the affected areas.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and cabinet members are scheduled for a two-day visit next week to Hat Yai city in Songkhla province to discuss investment projects, flood control, and security issues in the south.