Security measures boosted in Thai South

SURAT THANI, THAILAND, April 11 (TNA) - Combined government forces have boosted security measures on Koh Samui in Surat Thani Province in the Thai South and its provincial seat, following a bomb explosion at a shopping mall and a fire at a cooperative store on Friday (Apr 10) night. Colonel Winthai Suvaree, Spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) told journalists on Saturday (Apr 11) morning that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, who is also NCPO Chief, and Deputy Defence Minister and Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr had been informed of both incidents and had ordered local army and police personnel to help solve the violence, to take care of affected people and to boost security measures, especially at night. The spokesman said ill-intentioned people are trying to create unrest in the society by using violence, but authorities are trying to find out the culprits so that punishment can be made. Both incidents took place on Friday (Apr 10) night, as people and holidaymakers have started leaving Bangkok and heading for home for a family reunion or enjoying themselves during the Songkran or the Traditional Thai New Year Festival, which officially starts from next Monday (Apr 13). The bomb explosion at the car park of the Central Festival shopping mall on Koh Samui took place at about 10:30pm, injuring about five people, while the fire hit a goods warehouse of Surat Thani Cooperative Store in Phunphin District with no casualties reported. It was still unknown whether the blaze was resulted from electric short circuit or by sabotage. Surat Thani Deputy Governor Auychai In-nark said he still could not confirm that both incidents were related to an ongoing violence in the Thai deep South, but insisting that both incidents would not affect tourism in his province. Meanwhile, security measures in Songkhla Province in the Thai far South have been boosted, following Friday night’s violent incidents in Surat Thani, with police and defence volunteers having set up more checkpoints on highways leading to Hat Yai and Sadao Districts and suspicious vehicles and people having been searched. People and business operators in Songkhla are asked to provide tip-offs for police to help prevent any untoward incident. (TNA)