SOUTHERN THAILAND BLOWS UP AGAIN - BOMB ATTACKS SHOOTINGS AT SIX PLACES. SEASONAL GREETINGS??

 

Incidents of violence hit three Southern Thailand train stations

• PATTANI - 3 train stations simultaneously Friday night in South Thai
• bomb violence hit 3 railway stations in 3 Southern Thai provinces
• In Yala two men threw pipe bomb target policemen 8pm (local time).
• two men on motorcycle had thrown pipe bomb
• indiscriminate firing at Wat Chang Hai and Pattani Stations - both in Khok Pho 
• 8.20pm gunmen fired indiscriminately at two railway stations
• Police found 13 M16 bullet casings at the scene
• Narathiwat, exchange of fire between police, armed men at Chok Irong Station
• 8.30pm 10 armed men surrounded Chok Irong Station, opened fire
• exchange of fire between police, armed men lasted 10 minutes
• attack to create panic among local population - BERNAMA

My Comments :  attack to create panic among local population?? Why? What is going on?

I sense money problems. This is always about money. 

 

The Narathiwat fire fight that lasted 10 minutes is scary. 10 fellows stood their ground for 10 minutes and exchanged gunfire with the Thai police?

According to the Bangkok Post there were actually SIX places that were attacked. 

They wanted to frighten the local rail travellers from visiting some festival or temples.

These were simultaneous attacks at six locations.  Not only did they have the logistics for pipe bombs and high powered M16 rifles but there was obvious command, control and coordination to organise so many fellows for such a mass attack.

Why now? What is going on?

The GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP IN THAILAND SOON - ON MAY 14 2023. NEXT MONTH.

BANGKOK: Thailand will hold its general election on May 14. Its parliament was dissolved last month, paving the way for what could be a bitterly fought election between rival parties.

The main opposition – the Pheu Thai Party which is controlled by the billionaire Shinawatra family - is expected to go up against parties aligned with the Thai establishment.

Well that means money of course.  Elections present great opportunities to make money. Especially when you have guns and bombs.

The south has been relatively quiet for a while. The Thais have not been breaking anyone's legs or noses lately. The south is also moving along. Malays in south Thailand are slowly but surely becoming more prosperous than Malays in Kedah and Kelantan. The trend started some years ago with greater economic development in south Thailand.

But obviously there are some who still resort to other means to make money. No one was killed at those six locations. It was a warning. Give us some money.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.