Thailand: Two insurgents killed in Pattani April 10

Event

On Tuesday, April 10, police officers killed at least two Muslim separatist insurgents in Pattani province. According to a police spokesperson, the gunmen had ambushed police officers in Yarang district. As of April 10, it is unclear if this attack was linked to the April 9 bombings in Narathiwat and Pattani provinces.

Context

On April 9, several explosive devices detonated in Narathiwat and Pattani provinces. In Narathiwat, three bombs exploded in the Sungai Kolok district, wounding at least three people. One device went off near the Plaza Hotel and two others on Parachawiwat Road. In Pattani province, an under-vehicle improvised explosive device (UVIED) detonated in Yaring district; one local security volunteer was wounded in the blast.

A separatist insurgency in Thailand's three Muslim-majority southern provinces - Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat - has claimed more than 6800 lives since it first began 14 years ago, with both militants and Thailand's military accused of human rights abuses. Low-intensity bombings and assassinations often occur in the region, which is heavily patrolled by soldiers and police.

Advice

Individuals in Pattani are advised to monitor developments to the situation, remain vigilant for potential militant activity, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. As a reminder, most Western governments advise against nonessential travel to Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as the province of Songkhla and areas along the Cambodia and Myanmar borders due to the presence of armed militias.