BANGKOK, April 8 – Thailand’s national security council chief said Monday that the M79 grenade attack at the home of Wadah group member in the restive south province of Narathiwat may be motivated by either politics or the insurgency.
National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut made his remarks regarding assailants firing M79 grenades at the home of Najmuddin Uma, a member of the Wadah group, who was recently appointed as advisor to Deputy Premier Chalerm Yurambung on the issue of the restive south.
Gen Paradorn said an investigation is now underway. As Mr Najmuddin is also a politician, he said the attack could be both linked to both the southern violence and politics.
The security chief said the number of insurgent attacks in the southern border provinces is not as high as in the past, but the public could feel that the situation is more intense as seniors officials have become targets.
Gen Paradorn, who played a major role in the recent peace dialogue with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), reaffirmed that the frequent attacks during this period has nothing to do with the peace talk process which will proceed despite continued violence.
The NSC chief said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed, when she visited Yala yesterday, the Fourth Army Region commander and the national police chief to ensure safety for important figures who work in the violence-plague provinces. She also told local hospitals to be on alert for rapid medical treatment to reduce possible losses.
Following concerns of intelligence report leaks to insurgents, the NSC chief said he must investigate the issue first, but as of now there is no report on the matter.
Gen Paradorn added state officials will have to work harder and more cautiously as they have become targets of the attack
Regarding the planned peace dialogue between Thai government and the BRN representatives April 29, Gen Paradorn said the talk will continue and the government will wait and see the stance of the BRN as this period is trust-building period.
Meanwhile, police have detained a 24-year-old man suspected of involvement in four bombings in Yala last night for questioning in a today’s raid in the provincial seat.
The authorities have searched for more evidence at his home and his DNA will be collected for a test.
Three persons were wounded in the bombings which occurred after the Prime Minister’s visit to the province to convene a meeting on adjustment of security plans with local authorities
