SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: FIRST WESTERNER KILLED IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005747

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV CASC PINR PTER ASEC TH
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: FIRST WESTERNER KILLED IN
WEEKEND BOMBING

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON. REASON 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary. Six bombs exploded in the southern city of
Hat Yai on the night of September 16, wounding at least sixty
people and killing four--including a Canadian-American. This
is the first Western-fatality linked to the ongoing
separatist violence in Thailand's southern provinces.
Although not located in the three provinces currently subject
to special emergency law, Hat Yai has been the target of
separatist violence before; most recently in the April 2005
attack on the local airport. Still, the relatively large
casualty toll in a Buddhist-majority city that is a key
commercial hub has prompted widespread media attention and a
flurry of senior government official statements. End Summary.

FIRST WESTERNER KILLED
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2. (C) Six bombs exploded at approximately 2100 hours on
September 16 in Hat Yai city, Songkhla province. In three
cases bombs--reports differ whether they were set off by
mobile phones or timers--were placed on motorcycles and
parked in front of a popular pub , a massage parlour, and a
shopping mall car park on the same road. In three other
cases bombs were placed inside separate stores, but caused no
injuries. All of the targets were in the city's bustling
center. At least 60 people were injured by the first three
bombs, including one U.S. citizen, six Malaysians, three
Singaporeans, one Indian, and three U.K. citizens. Four
people died, including a Canadian-American resident of Hat
Yai--the first Western death connected to the upsurge in
separatist violence that began in 2004.

HAT YAI NO STRANGER TO VIOLENCE
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3. (C) Although Buddhist-majority Hat Yai does not lie
within the three restive provinces of Yala, Pattani and
Narathiwat, as a close neighbor it has been the target of
separatist violence before, most recently in April 2005 when
a series of bombs targeted the airport and a large department
store (Note. Two Americans were injured in that attack. End
Note). Hat Yai is the southern region's economic hub and one
of Thailand's largest municipalities. Tourism is a key
element of the local economy--nearly 1.3 million Malaysians
visit every year--and government officials are extremely
concerned that these latest attacks will drive away visitors
ahead of the upcoming vegetarian festival.


4. (C) Local press has reported rumors in the last few weeks
that the separatists would launch attacks on September 16 to
commemorate the founding of one of the old-generation
separatist groups--the Gerakan Mujahidin Islam Pattani
(GMIP). Authorities had reportedly increased security in
Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat as a result, leading some people
to speculate that the separatists found it easier to pursue
attacks in Hat Yai.

RTG RESPONSE
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5. (C) Prime Minister Thaksin, currently attending the NAM
summit in Havana, reportedly ordered Royal Thai Army (RTA)
commander Sonthi Boonyaratglin and Royal Thai Police (RTP)
Chief Kowit Wattana to travel to Hat Yai to manage the
situation. Since the attacks, a gaggle of senior officials
and notables have descended on the city to hold security
consultations, including GENs Sonthi and Kowit, Defense
Minister Thammarak, and even Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn, who met with victims the day after the blasts
(Note. The Crown Prince had recently completed his annual
trip to the South. End Note). Local press is reporting that
the RTG is considering expanding the emergency decree (which
grants security officials wider latitude in the three
southern provinces and several districts in Songkhla) to Hat
Yai as well.
BOYCE