NARATHIWAT, June 13 — The confidence of the Muslim community in southern Thailand will continue to erode if problems in the region remain unsolved.
The residents, when interviewed, said they wanted the government to investigate those responsible for the death of 10 people who were shot at while praying in a mosque at Kampung Air Tempayang, in the Choi-Airong district here last Tuesday.

Some claimed that it was the act of the Thai security forces, based on the attire worn by the attackers, although the government had denied it, said a resident, only known as Mat.

The attack at the mosque happened while a congregation of 26 people was performing the Isyak prayer. Ten people were killed and 14 were injured in the attack. Two others were unhurt.

“Witnesses all said they (attackers) were from the army,” he added.

Another resident, only known as Man, said since the mass killing of Muslim youths in Kampung Chehir, Tak Bai, four years ago, the Muslim community had been under threats.

He said that in 2006, four youths in Kampung Tanjung Delima, Tanjung Mas, were shot while having a drink at the shop near their houses.

“A few months later, nine people from a family in Kampung Ketong, Tanjung Mas, were shot,” he added.

A villager, known as Mah, whose 60-year-old husband was among those killed in the mosque on Tuesday, said her husband had no enemy.

“There is no separatist group here as claimed by the government,” he added.

– BERNAMA

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NARATHIWAT 13 Jun – Selatan Thailand terus tegang apabila kumpulan pemisah disyaki membunuh enam orang dalam serangan berasingan ketika pasukan pegawai tinggi kerajaan diterbangkan ke sini.

Polis menemui mayat seorang lelaki berusia 36 tahun dan seorang wanita di tepi sebatang jalan raya di Yala pada pukul 12.40 petang (pukul 1.40 petang waktu Malaysia).

Sementara itu di Narathiwat, seorang wanita berusia 31 tahun mati ditembak dan seorang lagi cedera dalam serangan bersenjata oleh militan yang kemudiannya melontarkan sebutir bom ke arah sekumpulan pelajar menyebabkan enam orang cedera.

Dalam satu lagi serangan, pihak polis menjelaskan, seorang wanita berusia 56 tahun maut sementara 13 yang lain cedera apabila seorang lelaki yang membonceng motosikal melontar bom tangan ke dalam bas mini di wilayah Yala pada pukul 1 tengah hari ini.

Kesemua yang cedera telah dibawa ke hospital berdekatan.

Sebelum tengah malam tadi (pukul 1 pagi waktu Malaysia), wanita berusia 42 tahun yang merupakan isteri kepada seorang ketua kampung, ditembak mati dalam satu serang hendap di Narathiwat ketika dia menunggang motosikal bersama anak gadisnya yang berusia 22 tahun.

Remaja perempuan itu selamat namun mengalami luka akibat ditembak.

Tiga jam sebelum itu di Yala, seorang remaja lelaki berusia 19 tahun juga maut ditembak di rumahnya.

[Sumber: Utusan Online]