SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: MORE BOMBS IN NARATHIWAT

UNCLAS BANGKOK 006904 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, S/CT PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL TH SUBJECT: SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: MORE BOMBS IN NARATHIWAT REF: A. BANGKOK 6853 ¶B. BANGKOK 6764 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On November 2 another series of bombs were set off in the far southern province of Narathiwat, temporarily knocking out power in the city. The attacks follow the series of raids on October 26 and the October 27 bombing of a rail-line in Narathiwat (reftels). On November 3 a series of hoax bombs in Songkhla province was the impetus for the extension of Martial Law in that province. These latest coordinated attacks -- while causing minimal causalities -- reinforce the perception (true or false) that the insurgents can strike with impunity in certain areas of the deep South without interference from Thai security forces. END SUMMARY ¶2. (SBU) On November 2, between 1900-2030, a series of bombs were set off at seven separate locations in the far southern province of Narathiwat. Local police and Ministry of Interior sources reported to emboffs that five improvised explosive devices knocked down electrical poles and transformers in four separate locations, causing a blackout in four districts of the city. During this same period a gas storage facility was firebombed and another bomb exploded near the Tak Bai Customs house. Security officials were able to defuse a bomb set in front of a Sino-Thai owned restaurant and a pair of bombs set at a separate gas storage. Narathiwat Governor Pracha Therat confirmed that one suspected militant was apparently killed by one of the blasts. ¶3. (SBU) Separately, on November 3, security forces responded to seven fake bombs which were planted at various locations in the Chana, The Pha, and Saba Yoi districts of Songkhla province. In response, 4th Army area commander Lt. Gen. Khwanchat Klahan added Chana and The Pha to those districts in Songkhla under Marshal Law. (NOTE: The Saba Yoi, Sadao, and Nathawi districts of Songkhla were already under Martial Law. The Emergency Decree, which replaced Martial Law in the three southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani in July 2005, does not apply to Songkhla province. END NOTE) The November 2 and 3 incidents come immediately on the heels of the series of weapons raids across the far South on October 26 and the bombing of a rail-line in Narathiwat on October 27. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: These latest series of events -- which caused few, in any, casualties -- are part of a steady drumbeat of violence seen in the South since January 2004. The incidents reinforce the public image of a Thai government unable to deal with the situation while encouraging the belief -- true or not -- that the militants can strike with impunity in certain parts of the far South. END COMMENT BOYCE