Bombs Kill Two In Southern Thailand – Insurgents Suspected

Two Thai rangers have been killed in two bomb attacks in the south of the country.

The latest victims in a separatist insurgency that has claimed the lives of more than 7,000 people since 2004, in the Muslim-majority region, the first reported blast occurred at the entrance of Ban Pakaluesong in Nong Chik district, Pattani, yesterday morning with the second explosion taking place at almost the same time in Narathiwat province.

In the Narathiwat explosion, one ranger was killed with a further six individuals also wounded.

The bombs went off at around 8.20am as ranger teams providing protection for teachers passed a bridge on their way back from Kalisa School where the teachers worked according to police.

One blast killed a Sgt Buengkarn Harnsarn, while volunteer ranger Emlukman Hayeesamae was killed at the second site.

No figures were available for the final numbers of injured at time of typing.

Earlier this year insurgents attacked government offices with bombs as local officials and clerics met to discuss how to best counter the COVID-19 pandemic, injuring 20 in the process.

Thailand’s three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala are the only provinces in the largely Buddhist nation with Muslim majority populations and see the vast majority of insurgency related attacks.

Amy Wu

Amy is a Taiwanese graduate student based in Phoenix, Arizona, currently home in Hsinchu to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic. She has a passion for Hakka culture, and the rights of minorities around the world. She will cover SE Asian news and topics.