Sonthi: Army winning the fight

Outgoing army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin claims the army is winning the struggle against insurgency in the deep South through community relations and military means.

During his announcement in Bangkok of the army's one-year achievement yesterday, Gen Sonthi said the army's work in the restive region was progressing according to plans.

The army has launched more offensives against the insurgents. On the political front, soldiers have forged better understanding with local people, he said.

The locals no longer staged protests against state authorities and were providing soldiers with useful information on insurgent movements, he said.

On the military front, Gen Sonthi said, soldiers have arrested over 500 suspected insurgents and seized more than 100 firearms in raids on various locations, which sometimes led to clashes with separatist rebels.

Local residents were now satisfied with the army's performance in the deep South, he added.

Gen Sonthi, who retires as army chief at the end of the month, also said he is confident his successor Gen Anupong Paochinda will keep the pace of progress in efforts to put an end to the southern insurgency.

Meanwhile, security troops arrested 17 suspected insurgents in a coordinated raid in Narathiwat's Rueso district yesterday.

A 150-strong combined force raided three villages believed to be hideouts for insurgents who were preparing to launch attacks during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

During the five-hour operation, 17 suspects were arrested and 10 pieces of evidence were seized ranging from propaganda compact discs to weapons.

Eight of the 17 were wanted on arrest warrants while the rest were identified as sympathisers. They were all taken to Ingkhayuthboriharn military camp in Pattani for questioning.

Elsewhere in Narathiwat, a woman was shot and wounded in a drive-by shooting some 50 metres from a police outpost in tambon Maruebotok in Rangae district yesterday.

In Yala, eight soldiers on patrol were wounded in a roadside bomb explosion followed by an ambush in Yaha district on Thursday.

A 15kg explosive device buried in the road went off as the patrol unit travelled past in a pickup truck.

The blast overturned the a truck. Gunmen then emerged from a roadside thicket and sprayed bullets at the soldiers. A 20-minute gunfire exchange followed before the ambushers retreated.

In Pattani, a teenager on a motorcycle was shot dead while on his way home on Thursday in Nong Chik district.

Later, a barber was seriously wounded in a gun attack while waiting for customers in his shop.

In Mayo district, a school security guard was shot dead while heading home after prayers at a village mosque yesterday.