Security was beefed up in Thailand’s Muslim majority restive southern provinces after a series of blasts hit the region during past two days in an apparent bid to scare away tourists ahead of spring festival.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday expressed concern over the violence after a spate of bombings in Yala province killed one person and wounded 30 others, besides causing a loss of at least 300 million baht. As the caretaker Defence Minister, Yingluck said she has instructed the armed forces chiefs to seek measures to protect the general public as well as economic zones.
She told the agencies concerned to urgently help those who were affected by the bombings. Caretaker Deputy Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha said he believed the attacks by insurgent groups in Yala were aimed at challenging the army after the reshuffle of commanders. National Security Council Secretary General Paradorn Pattanatabut said the insurgents normally intensify their attacks during April, calling attention to the anniversary of the Krue Se mosque incident.
32 militants were killed inside the mosque on April 28, 2004 in southern Thailand. The incident happened during an uprising in three southern provinces that left 108 rebels dead. Yala Governor Dejrat Simsiri said the bombings in the province on Monday and on Sunday were carried out by the same group judging from evidence found by investigators. He said the attacks involved car and motorcycle bombs and were obviously well planned and aimed at undermining the local economy ahead of the spring festival.