Five Thai police officers killed in the south
Gunmen suspected to be Islamic militants shot dead five Thai police officers in the country's restive south on September 11.
The attack took place in Thung Yang Daeng district, Pattani province. Gunmen in a pickup truck opened fire on a police vehicle. Local police officials said the officers in the vehicle were part of an anti-smuggling unit that was conducting an investigation.
An attack in southern Thailand. Illustrative photo. (Source: Reuters)
The shootings came a day after two Thai police officers were killed in an attack on a school in Yala province, also in the restive south. Police officials said the attacks were aimed at inciting violence and disrupting peace talks between the government and several rebel groups.
More than 5,700 people have been killed in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces since violence erupted in 2004. Talks between the government and the main rebel group, the Burmese National Revolutionary Front (BRN), held in Malaysia in late March had raised hopes of peace being restored in southern Thailand. However, the peace process is in danger of collapsing after dozens of people were killed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan alone.
After the attack, Secretary General of the National Security Council of Thailand (NSC) Paradorn Pattanathabut affirmed that peace negotiations must continue and a new round of negotiations with BRN could be held in Malaysia next October./.
According to (TTXVN) - DT
