5 killed by suspected Muslim militants in southern Thailand

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/03/asia/AS-GEN-Thailand-Southern-Violence.php

BANGKOK, Thailand: Three policemen died in a gunbattle with suspected Muslim militants in southern Thailand on Tuesday in the latest violence to hit the troubled region.

Two suspected insurgents were also killed in the 30-minute gunfight in Pattani province, according to the area's Police Radio Center, which coordinates information about security.

Two bystanders and two suspected insurgents were also wounded in the crossfire, which was a rare example of open combat between the authorities and the rebels. Suspected insurgents usually engage in hit-and-run attacks, such as drive-by shootings and small bombings, as well as ambushes from which they quickly flee.

The attack came on the same day the military said it is considering a ban on unauthorized possession of 3-to-5-inch (7.5-to-12.5-centimeter) carpentry nails in the country's three southernmost provinces, where Islamic insurgents strew them on roads to puncture car tires before staging attacks.

Applying such a restriction would depend upon it not affecting construction projects, said Maj.-Gen. Chamlong Khunsong, the deputy commander of the army's southern region.

The new rules will be applied under the provisions of martial law, imposed in the strife-ridden southern provinces, he said.

More than 2,000 people have died since January 2004 in the provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani as a result of the separatist insurgency. Government measures to quell the violence have failed to make any headway.

"These nails are often spread across the roads to distract and slow down police and military authorities who are rushing to shooting or bombing scenes," Chamlong said.

Civilian drivers become very vulnerable to attack when they have to stop after their tires are punctured, he said.

Chamlong also said that a plan to impose restrictions on motorcycle riders in southern Thailand, where insurgents riding pillion often carry out drive-by shootings, will likely be implemented this week. The measure bans male riders accompanying motorcycle drivers.

"This will likely be implemented first and the ban on the nails will follow later," he said.

Female motorcycle passengers will be allowed, Chamlong said, explaining that a proposal to allow them only if their faces were not covered by Islamic headgear had been dropped.

"That exception makes it problematic, so we will allow women, with one condition — that they cooperate with the authorities when stopped," Chamlong said.

The authorities have been broadcasting news of the pending motorcycle restrictions over local radio stations and will make them official once the public is well-informed, he said.

Earlier Tuesday, suspected insurgents shot and killed a Muslim man in Narathiwat province in a drive-by shooting before fleeing on a motorcycle, police said.


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