Gunmen Kill Three In Two Narathiwat Attacks

By Jamaluddin Muhammad BANGKOK, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- About 30 gunmen ambushed a factory in Rusak, Narathiwat, early Friday morning, killing two defence volunteers and injuring three others. Rusak police chief Pol Col Sathanfa Wamasing said five defence volunteers were guarding the factory in Kampung Jalaeboh during the 2.45 am incident. He said the gunmen, armed with M-16 and AK-47 guns, also took the five firearms of the victims. It was a coordinated raid, with some attacking the factory, some blocking the access route to the factory with felled trees so that police assistance could not reach in time and some others attacking a police beat base located about 800 metres from the factory, he said. Police believe the attack was in retaliation for the deaths of some insurgents as well as intensified police operations at their hideouts lately, he said. More than 5,000 people have died since suspected separatists resumed their armed campaign to seek independence for the three provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala eight years ago. Meanwhile, a man was killed and his wife wounded in a drive-by shooting in Sungai Golok, Narathiwat, Friday. Sungai Golok Police chief Pol Col Chakkrapom Thaengthong said Abdul Awae, 51, died at Sungai Golok Hospital while his wife, Rohaya Chetae, 32, a teacher, was injured on the right hand. The couple were travelling in a pickup truck when the attack occurred at about 5 am. -- BERNAMA Malaysia thailand