| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Suspected Muslim insurgents shoot Thai government worker |
| 2006-05-23 |
| Suspected Muslim insurgents opened fire on a government employee and then set him on fire Monday in the latest slaying in Thailand's restive south, an official said. Somkiart Prasansilp, 51, a telephone bill collector, was attacked as he was riding his motorcycle to work in Saiburi district of Pattani province, said police Maj. Gen. Korkiat Wongworachat. "The attackers opened fire on him and then set fire to the motorcycle to burn the victim. It was a very cruel act by the insurgents," Korkiat said. In Bangkok, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered his deputy to travel to the south and develop a plan to deal with the separatist movement and improve security in the region. More than 1,300 people have been killed in violence in the south since the separatist movement flared in January 2004. "Thaksin suggested that schools in risk areas move students and teachers to schools in safer areas," Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit told reporters after he briefed Thaksin. Chitchai is acting as caretaker prime minister while Thaksin is taking a break from politics. Thaksin ordered him "to go down south to map out new strategies with officials to tackle the problem," Chitchai said. Thaksin returned to his office Monday, three days after a mob of Muslim villagers held two female teachers hostage and severely beat them in Kujing Ruepa village in Narathiwat province's Rangae district. |
| Posted by:ryuge |