YALA, April 5 – Yala deputy governor Isra Thongthawat succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead in hospital following a roadside bombing by presumed insurgents which immediately killed a senior security official in this southern border province.
Deputy Governor Isara Thongthawat and prevention and security provincial chief Chavalit Chaireuk were on their way to attend a social event in Betong district when a roadside bomb was detonated as their car moved along the Yala-Betong Road in Bannang Star district this afternoon.
The driver was also seriously injured in the incident.
in 2004. erupted in the Muslim-predominant southern border region
Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said he was sad to hear about the loss, but said the peace talks between the Thai government and insurgent groups would continue as it is the only possible solution to end the continuing violence.
Reacting to the latest violence in the troubled region, National Security Council secretary general Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanathabut said the incident could not be viewed as a failure of the peace dialogue between the Thai government and the insurgent groups. Those militants who are against the peace talks could launch more attacks to demonstrate their opposition as the dialogue is going on.
Gen Paradorn said he reported the latest violence to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra via her secretary general
