The Senate Committee on Military and National Security has raised alarm over the surge in violent incidents across the southern border provinces, allegedly orchestrated by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) militant group.
Committee spokesman Chaiyong Maneerungsakul on Sunday highlighted the latest string of attacks across Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, which he said suggested an escalation of violence across the nation’s southernmost provinces.
He cited a bombing at Ban Palas strategic checkpoint in Pattani’s Mayo district, which damaged guard posts at the checkpoint and 17 homes nearby, along with several motorcycles, as an example.
Separately, insurgents killed a ranger in Cho Airong district in Narathiwat, attacked the operation base of a police tactical unit in tambon Dusongyo in Narathiwat’s Chanae district, and set fire to a construction company vehicle in tambon Juab in Cho Airong.
There were also assaults on a security checkpoint at Ban Nam Dam in Pattani’s Thung Yang Daeng district and widespread destruction of CCTV cameras across Narathiwat and Pattani.
Senator Chaiyong called on Lt Gen Narathip Phoi-nok, commander of the Fourth Army and director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 Forward Command, to urgently reassess the security situation and come up with measures to curb the violence.
He said the latest intelligence suggested the BRN is planning to carry out daily attacks from October until December, which would be carried out by new recruits.
“The BRN leadership has ordered its forces to target government personnel travelling alone, local civilian informants assisting the government, and drug users accused of harming local communities — operations which are aimed at winning popular support,” he said.
He said young women are being used as informants, told to monitor the movements of state officials and collect monthly membership fees in place of young men, who are increasingly pursued by authorities, he said.
Sen Chaiyong said Lt Gen Narathip’s first month in command has not produced new approaches.
He questioned recent reshuffles that promoted allies over experienced specialists.