FOLLOWING Monday’s bomb attack on a noodle shop near a night market in Pattani’s Muang district, which led to one death and 18 injuries, messages of encouragement have been posted on social media supporting Mathayom 6 student Narisara Makchuchit, whose leg was amputated due to her injuries.
The student from Demonstration School of Prince of Songkla University’s Pattani campus was transferred from Pattani Hospital to the better-equipped Songkhlanagarind Hospital in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district where she underwent the operation. She was reported yesterday to be in stable condition.
Friends and family reported the girl – described as a studious and well-mannered schoolgirl who dreamed of pursuing a higher-education degree – was supposed to take a university entrance exam in the next few days, Isra News Agency reported yesterday.
Other wounded people were in critical condition yesterday, including noodle shop employee Manocha Pongsao, who also had her leg amputated and an eye injured by shrapnel removed, and a seven-year-old boy, Phrompiriya Phrmnukul, who remained in intensive care following surgery. The boy’s parents and a sibling were also injured in the blast.
The explosion at 7pm on Monday led to the death of one woman identified as Somporn Khunthakaphan, who succumbed to her injuries in hospital.
Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4’s Front Command spokesman Colonel Pramote Prom-in said authorities suspected the bomb attack was launched by assailants linked to previous incidents, particularly the July 3 blast in front of Pattani Central Mosque, which resulted in the death of one police officer and three injuries, according to Isra News Agency.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the Pattani bombing was the insurgents’ attempt to demonstrate their capability to carry out attacks after the government resumed the peace dialogue.
“As long as some people are still eyeing launching attacks, there is bound to be violence taking place while we try the best we can. These people don’t clearly show themselves but are among the public,” he said, urging the media not to play up reports about insurgents, which would heighten fears, but merely report facts.
He added that the government would implement measures to solve the southern unrest and officers would try to prevent attacks with an emphasis on intelligence gathering.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday said a small explosive housed in a can was used in the recent Pattani attack.
Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdech Sitabutr, who leads the newly-established 13-member “front command Cabinet” tasked with tackling issues related to the southern unrest, said yesterday he was concerned about the bombing, adding that he would order officers to improve security measures so development projects could continue.
“Misguided” people were launching attacks, Udomdech said, adding that Isoc Region 4 would handle security details.
When asked if the recent attack was linked to the October 25 anniversary of the 2004 Tak Bai incident, when more than 80 people were killed by authorities after protests in Narathiwat province’s Tak Bai district, Udomdech said authorities had been on guard for a possible attack coinciding with the date.
He also said his team would coordinate with related working groups from tomorrow until Monday to advance seven working plans related to the South, including security and peace-promotion plans.