Eight soldiers escorting teachers in southern Thailand were slightly injured by a roadside bomb in Yala province yesterday, the first attack since the beginning of Ramadan. The blast occurred about 7:50 a.m. as the soldiers were traveling along a country road in a military truck in Raman district.Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok, who is in charge of internal security, said the bombing was an attempt to make trouble and not a serious attempt to cause large-scale destruction.
Lt Gen Paradorn said there was no guarantee that unrest would stop during Ramadan despite a reduction in violence during the period being a key condition of the peace negotiations.
Officials will inform the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group via the Malaysian government within 48 hours of any violent attack which occurs during the fasting period.