COORDINATED ATTACKS IN YALA; NEW SECURITY LAW TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004596

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER TH
SUBJECT: COORDINATED ATTACKS IN YALA; NEW SECURITY LAW TO
BE ANNOUNCED


Classified By: DCM Alex A. Arvizu. Reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: On July 14, suspected Muslim separatist
insurgents launched a series of coordinated attacks in the
far southern Thai province of Yala. The militants targeted
Thai security forces, power transformers and public buildings
with bombing, shooting and arson attacks. Two police were
killed and 22 people (including three suspected militants)
were reportedly injured. The highly organized assaults are
another escalation in the ongoing violence afflicting
Thailand's Muslim majority provinces. Separately, the
cabinet has reportedly approved a new emergency security law
giving additional powers to Thai security forces in areas
already under martial law. While the new law has been in the
works for several months, Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon told
Ambassador the recent attacks are the impetus behind their
likely imminent approval. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On July 14, a series of apparently well
coordinated bombing, shooting and arson attacks occurred in
the far southern province of Yala. Yala Deputy Governor for
Security Winyu Thongsakul told Emboffs that there were as
many as 18 separate attacks in the province beginning around
7:00 p.m. local. Two police were killed and least 22 people
were injured (including two additional police and three of
the suspected militants) in the attacks. Five separate bombs
were reported, including at least one targeting an electrical
transformer - which knocked out power to large parts of the
province. A school, warehouse and retail shop were also
struck. The attackers left five separate fake bombs in
various locations as an indication of the unusual degree of
planning, and scattered road spikes on main roads to deter
pursuit by authorities. Deputy Governor Winyu called this
was the most coordinated attack seen this year, and a blatant
challenge to authority. Police have reportedly arrested at
least three of the perpetrators. In a separate incident on
July 15, two teachers were gunned down while on their way to
school in the neighboring province of Narathiwat by
unidentified gunmen.


3. (C) Only July 15, Prime Minister Thaksin convened an
emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the previous day's
incidents. In a meeting with the Ambassador immediately
following the cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon
Chaisaeng (meeting will be reported septel) told the
Ambassador that the cabinet had approved an emergency act to
replace the selective martial law already in place in parts
of the South. Chaturon indicated that the new law had been
in the works for several months, but the overnight incidents
in Yala provided the impetus to move them forward. Chaturon
said the laws would be issued by "Royal Proclamation" and
thus not require parliamentary approval. Chaturon
characterized the new laws as an effort to actually "soften"
the harsh image of martial law, and indicated that the powers
granted would not be greater than those under martial law.
(NOTE: It will be difficult for the government to overcome
the impression that any such law is anything but a strong
countermeasure designed to give authorities more leeway to
combat the militants, however. END NOTE) The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs will give a briefing on July 18 to the
diplomatic community to explain the new emergency laws in
detail.


4. (C) COMMENT: The highly organized attacks in Yala
represent another escalation in the long history of violence
in Thailand's troubled South. The attacks are especially
disturbing given the coordination and discipline evidenced in
the series of simultaneous attacks. END COMM