Terrorists Suspected Islamic militants have killed four more people in southern Thailand, police said Tuesday, as a string of attacks in the restive region prompts warnings of escalating violence.
The spate of bomb and shooting incidents across three Muslim-majority southern provinces -- which also left 11 wounded -- included a roadside explosion outside a school that killed a 26-year-old army corporal on patrol. Twelve people have been killed so far this month by terrorists suspected Islamic insurgents in southern Thailand -- almost one a day -- after a relative lull in attacks in May, when 20 people died, according to police figures.
Experts said the jihadis militants appeared to be trying to boost their profile again after being overshadowed by two months of anti-government protests in Bangkok that ended on May 19. "The insurgents are trying to show that they remain relevant, that they are still capable of carrying out attacks," said Sunai Phasuk, an analyst at Human Rights Watch. "There also seems to be an ongoing campaign of radicalisation using allegations of human rights abuses to justify attacks."
He added that the terrorists insurgents appeared to have stepped up their campaign in response to the death in custody of 25-year-old Sulaiman Naesa, found hanged at Ingkhayuth military camp on May 30. "We fear that there will be a cover up and this will play into the hands of insurgents who use it to justify attacks," Sunai said. |