Tighter security measures ordered in Thai Far South

PATTANI, THAILAND, June 27 (TNA) - Commanding General of the 4th Army Area Command Lieutenant General Wiwat Pathomphak has ordered stricter security measures in the violence-plagued Thai Far South during the ongoing Ramadan fasting month of Muslims. Colonel Pramote Phrom-in, Spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), Southern Branch, told journalists in Pattani Province on Monday that the order was in response to insurgents' applying various forms of violent incidents recently, including ambushes and bombings in the troubled southern border region. The spokesman reported that on June 26, a car bomb was detonated on Thes Pathom Road in the Sungai Golok Municipality of Narathiwat Province in the Thai Deep South, while an ATM booth was bombed in Yarang District of Pattani Province, where a religious leader was also ambushed. Besides, another bomb exploded in Bannang Sata District of Yala Province. In response, the spokesman stated, the 4th army area commander has, thus, ordered not only subordinates to hunt for bombers as soon as possible, but also stricter security measures as Thai Muslims are observing their month of fasting. Regarding the car bomb in Sungai Golok, local security forces have, meanwhile, identified bombers via surveillance camera footage and were about to issue arrest warrants against suspects. (TNA)