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THAILAND-DEEP-SOUTH-MONKS-ATTACK
Two monks shot dead as violence flares in Thailand’s deep south
BANGKOK, Jan 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Gunmen in Thailand’s deep south shot dead
two Buddhist monks and wounded two others inside a temple, police said
Saturday, capping a week of deadly violence as the prime minister vowed to
“punish” those responsible.
Black-clad assailants carrying rifles crept into Rattanaupap temple in
Narathiwat province near Malaysia’s border on Friday evening and started
firing, local superintendant Pakdi Preechachon told AFP.
“The attack took place around 7:30 pm (1230 GMT) when an unknown number of
gunmen dressed in black entered the temple through a rear area via a creek,”
Pakdi said.
“Two monks were shot dead at the temple while two others were wounded.”
Since 2004 clashes between ethnic Malay-Muslim rebels and the Buddhist-
majority Thai state that annexed the region a century ago have killed nearly
7,000 people, mostly civilians of both faiths.
The death toll in the south dropped to a record low last year as Thailand’s
junta tightened its security web but violence has boiled over in recent days,
raising concerns about soft targets at schools and religious institutions.
In the past, Buddhist monks have rarely been targeted.
But they have been told to suspend morning alms collection starting from
Saturday in three southern provinces and the southern army commander has
instructed security officials to step up safeguards of Islamic leaders who
could also be at risk.
Junta leader and prime minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha condemned the temple
shootings.
“The prime Minister denounced such a brazen attack and instructed officials
to investigate and find the assailants to punish them,” said government
spokesman Buddhipongse Punnakanta.
Human Rights Watch said the “ghastly” assault on civilians in a place of
worship amounted to a war crime.
Last week, an imam in the same province was shot dead but it was unclear if
the temple attack was related.
Friday’s shooting came the same day as four security officials were wounded
by two separate roadside bombs and an insurgent was shot dead in a clash near
a school that sent students home for the day.
Four civil defence volunteers were also killed in a drive-by shooting
outside a school on January 10 in the south’s Pattani province, with security
forces injuring a boy as they gunned down rebels believed to be responsible.
In a rare public statement dated January 4 the main Malay-Muslim rebel
group — the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) — which has command and control
over most of the insurgent foot soldiers, swore to “keep fighting”.
“Siam (Thailand) can’t hold out,” the BRN wrote, signing off with a
warning: “Do not help and support Siam.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/1122 hrs