PATTANI, 9 April 2014 – Mr. Srisompob Jitpiromsri, an academic from Pattani Campus of the Prince of Songkla University, has indicated 3 major factors contributing to the recently intensified southern violence.
Mr. Srisompob, who is also the Director of the Deep South Watch Center, elaborated that April is one of months that fall into the separatists’ seasonal attacks. According the center’s data, assailants tend to carry out more assaults during the month of April to June each year.
The second reason, Mr. Srisompob speculated, is the 10th anniversary of the beginning of violence in the region. He said the separatists might have intensified their attacks in order to symbolize the anniversary. He also pointed out the pattern of the attacks, which are focused on vulnerable targets such as innocent citizens, teachers, and monks. The latest incident saw attacks launched at a business center in the central district of Yala Province.
The academic said the final factor is the fact that the peace talks between the government and the separatists are being put on hold due to the political turmoil. He said the absence of the talks has led to the assailants’ negligence to honor the agreement to subside attacks.
