Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Thailand

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 28 June 2009
SECURITY forces stormed a suspected rebel hideout in Thailand's restive south yesterday, sparking a gun battle that left a police officer, a soldier and the only person inside the house dead.
About 30 police and soldiers surrounded the house in Yala Province after receiving a tip that the owner was sheltering Muslim insurgents. Police Colonel Sompien Eksomya said shots were fired from the house as police tried to raid it. After the standoff ended, it emerged there was just one man inside, who had been shot dead when he tried to flee.

More than 3,500 people have been killed in Thailand's three southernmost provinces since a Muslim separatist insurgency flared up in 2004. At least 36 people have been killed this month.





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 27 June 2009 8:05 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
 
1

Roy,

28/06/2009 10:53:58
From Bangkok Post:

Two police officers and an insurgent were killed yesterday when a police-military force raided a rented house in Yala's Bannang Sata district.

The raid in the district's municipality area was carried out after a tip-off from an informant that leading insurgents were hiding there.

The militants opened fire from inside the house and forced the approaching officers to retreat. The two sides then exchanged fire for around 20 minutes.

The body of only one dead militant was found lying next to an automatic rifle when a team of special commandos was later called in and forced their way in, police said.

The slain militant, identified as Supien Buenae, 26, was being sought on an arrest warrant for his role in many violent attacks in the restive region.

The two officers who lost their lives were Sgt Maj 1st Class Pongsathorn Nilapai, 47, and Pol Sgt Maj Rangsan Kalong, 40. Cpl Kamron Jommas, 24, was in serious condition after receiving gunshot wounds in the head. He was rushed to Bannang Sata Hospital for treatment.

Eight gas cylinders and three 15kg gas tanks believed to be for use as bomb-making materials were also found in the house when the commandos moved in to arrest the other occupants who had already fled.

The landowner and Supien's younger sister have been taken in for questioning.

Fourth Army Region commander Pichet Visaijorn said every officer involved tried his best to avoid spilling blood, but the clash became unavoidable.

Asked about the protection given to judges and judicial officials, Lt Col Pichet said there was no doubt that security had improved following recent intelligence showing a shift in the pattern of attacks.

There were reports that southern insurgents were threatening to attack judges in the South in response to a recent court ruling to clear officials of wrongdoing in the Tak Bai incident in Narathiwat in 2004, which led to 78 deaths.

Lt Col Pichet said authorities could not "over enforce"

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.