Report says rebels have readied bike, car bombs

Security officers in the deep South have been instructed to be on high alert during the Eid Al-Adha Islamic festival.

Insurgents are thought to have been planning car bomb attacks during the festival, which starts Thursday and ends on Friday.

A southern security intelligence agency has received a report that insurgent groups have prepared 11 car bombs and 11 motorcycle bombs to carry out attacks this month.

Two of the 11 car bombs were used in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district on Oct 8.

Chaiyong Maneerungsakul, a member of the Southern Border Provinces Development and Management Advisory Council, said the car bombs used by insurgents were becoming increasingly powerful. He said stolen vehicles were mostly used in the attacks. After stealing the vehicles, insurgents spray-paint the exteriors and replace the licence plates.

A former insurgent suspect yesterday called on authorities to remove the names of suspects who had already reported to security forces from the official list of known separatists and insurgents who remain at large.

Arleeya Binmasalae, 31, a former insurgent suspect, made the plea after being rounded up by police in Narathiwat yesterday despite having previously reported to security authorities.

Mr Arleeya was detained yesterday as he and a friend were about to board a train to Sungai Kolok to celebrate Eid.

He was earlier wanted on suspicion of involvement in insurgent attacks in Narathiwat.

Pol Lt Col Thaweesak Thongsongsri, deputy chief of Sungai Kolok police, said he had contacted the 4th Army to check Mr Arleeya’s criminal record after a computerised system showed he was the subject of an arrest warrant.

The checks later found the man had already reported to the military, but officers had not yet removed him from the security blacklist.

Mr Arleeya yesterday said confusion among security officers may arise if the names of former insurgent suspects are not delisted.

In Pattani, a railway official was killed in a drive-by shooting in Khok Pho district yesterday morning. Likhit Insing, 41, was riding his motorcycle to work when he was attacked by a pillion-riding gunman on another motorcycle.

Meanwhile, a group of Muslim overseas graduates will meet Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa and army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha today to discuss the southern situation.

Gen Yutthasak and Gen Prayuth are due to arrive at Ingkhayuthaboriharn camp in Pattani today, where they will be briefed about the situation in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, said Lt Gen Udomchai Thammasarorach, commander of the 4th Army.

During their visit, some 20 Muslim graduates, mostly from schools in countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, will seek a meeting with the two generals to discuss measures that have been put in place to tackle the violence, he said.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/318003/security-on-high-alert-for-eid-attacks-in-south