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Six Blasts Rock Hat Yai


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HAT YAI: -- Five people were killed and about 60 injured in a series of six explosions in Hat Yai's business centre last night. The blasts went off at two shopping malls, one of the city's biggest hotels and three other locations.

Witnesses said the bombs went off at roughly five-minute intervals starting at around 9pm, when the area was crowded with tourists and locals going out to dine and for night entertainment.

Two of the dead were foreigners - one Chinese and one Westerner. The injured were sent to nearby hospitals including Raj Yindee Hospital, Krungthep-Hadyai Hospital and Songkhla Nakharin Hospital.

The first bomb to go off was on Thammanoon Withi Road, at the entrance to a pub called Deep Wonder in the basement of the Odean Shopping Mall. The second bomb went off at a junction a few hundred metres down the road, and the third one another few hundred metres on.

The fourth bomb went off in front of the Lee Garden Hotel, destroying tuk-tuks parked there.

The fifth explosion was at the Big C Supercentre and the last was in a restroom of a movie theatre on the fifth floor of Diana Shopping Centre.

The bombs damaged a numbers of cars and motorcycles in the vicinity.

Police said each blast had a radius of 20 metres and that they had found pieces of metal suspected to be part of the bombs.

Officials believe the bomb at the Odean Shopping Mall was planted inside a motorcycle and detonated by mobile phone. Soon after the explosions, all unattended motorcycles nearby were moved away and people were evacuated from the area for fear of more explosions.

Thammanoonwithi Road is one of the most crowded roads in Hat Yai City, with more than 10 hotels along its length. More than 1,000 tourists, both Thais and foreigners, were checked in at the hotels. All were evacuated.

Senior Police Officer Ongkorn Thongprasom said police had received reports that such bomb attacks were likely between September 16 and 20.

"After this bombing, we have to seriously discuss security measures for the area. For sure, the impact on tourism will be large," he said.

Just two weeks ago, intelligence officials predicted stronger, more vigorous attacks by militants in the deep South between September 16 and 20 since this is the week to celebrate the setting up of the Pattani Islamic Mujahideen and Pattani State.

Srisompob Jitpiromsri, an academic who studies trends in the insurgency, said after a spate of bombings in Yala two weeks ago that the insurgents would continue to "show their force" through more coordinated, simultaneous attacks.

- Nation

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UPDATE: Five bombs blast Hat Yai

(dpa) - A series of bombs killed at least three people including a Canadian and wounded up to 65 others Saturday night outside popular tourist spots in Hat Yai, southern Thailand's main commercial hub, officials said Sunday.

"We've confirmed that three people died in the blasts, including a Canadian who was probably working in Hat Yai as an English teacher," said Songkhla Province Governor Somporn Thaibanyong.

Initial media reports said that at least five people had died in the blasts, which wounded scores more. Only 20 people were listed as seriously injured by the blasts and remained hospitalized Sunday morning, said Somporn.

Five bombs were detonated simultaneously at 9 pm Saturday outside two Hat Yai shopping malls, the Lee Garden Hotel, a pub and a cinema, all popular spots among tourists and Hat Yai residents.

Hat Yai, 700 kilometres south of Bangkok, is the largest city in Songkhla province and a major commercial and tourism hub for southern Thailand.

The explosions occurred despite stepped up security in the deep South as of Saturday in preparation for violence to mark the establishment of the Pattani Mujahideen and Pattani State, symbols of the region's long separatist struggle.

An estimated 1,700 people have died in clashes, bombings and revenge killings since January 2004, when the deep South's decades- long separatist struggle turned bloodier.

The deep South comprises Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces, where 80 per cent of the population is Muslim, an anomaly in predominantly Buddhist Thailand. The area was an independent Muslim sultanate called Pattani more than 200 years ago.

Hat Yai is not part of the deep South but has been targeting for bombings in the past as the region's biggest urban and commercial centre and location of many government office.

The last major bombing in Hat Yai occurred on April 3, 2005, when suspected separatists set off bombs at the city's international airport, killing at least one person.

"Since April, we have been trying to improve Hat Yai's reputation as a safe tourist destination, and the tourists were starting to come back," Somporn said.

Hat Yai is especially popular among tourists from neighbouring Malaysia, who are drawn to the city for shopping and entertainment.

www.bangkokpost.com

Edited by bonsaimax
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UPDATE: Five bombs blast Hat Yai

"We've confirmed that three people died in the blasts, including a Canadian who was probably working in Hat Yai as an English teacher," said Songkhla Province Governor Somporn Thaibanyong.

www.bangkokpost.com

Is this the first foreigner killed because of the violence in the south?

And a teacher?? As if it's not bad enough for farang teachers in Thailand at the moment. RIP

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Isn't it wonderful.

The Pope says that Islam is evil and humane.

The moderate Muslims object, but the radical ones react by setting off bombs in Thailand and attacking churches in Palestine.............

Sad to say it rather goes to prove the Pope's point.

The Muslims need to get their act together if they are to be respected.

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If all this is in the name of "freedom" and and independent "Pattani State" just give it to them. Let them have their independence.

Then we'll see if the bombing stops. I think we all know the answer to that one! It's just brain washed education in the south that all non-muslims are evil and need to be wiped out. These people have nothing to live for without a "cause".

Give them their new state and see then how confused they get. What would be their "cause" then?

The same situation in Northern Ireland. If Ireland was "given back" the North would the terrorism stop and the IRA disband...???

Would it b0ll0cks!

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If all this is in the name of "freedom" and and independent "Pattani State" just give it to them. Let them have their independence.

Then we'll see if the bombing stops. I think we all know the answer to that one! It's just brain washed education in the south that all non-muslims are evil and need to be wiped out. These people have nothing to live for without a "cause".

Give them their new state and see then how confused they get. What would be their "cause" then?

The same situation in Northern Ireland. If Ireland was "given back" the North would the terrorism stop and the IRA disband...???

Would it b0ll0cks!

I agree on that one!! The Thai govt CANNOT give in to these animals. Give them those three provinces and tomorrow they'll want the whole country...then the whole world. They will never be satisfied unless every person in the world becomes a twisted, disgusting fanatic like themselves. Their whole mentality is us vs. "them"....they simply cannot coexist with other people.

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yeah, let me get a moderate point in before they do.....these guys are like the mafia was in italy. they are nothing but two-bit thugs and low-life gangsters. they use "muslim" as a convenient cover. they do not follow the teachngs of the Koran. It's too bad because it brings problems down on the 99.9% of the rest of the people there who just want a decent life in peace. and for those who ask "Well how come the others don't do anything?" the anwser is FEAR. these thugs are highly organized. speak out against them and you die.

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yeah, let me get a moderate point in before they do.....these guys are like the mafia was in italy. they are nothing but two-bit thugs and low-life gangsters. they use "muslim" as a convenient cover. they do not follow the teachngs of the Koran. It's too bad because it brings problems down on the 99.9% of the rest of the people there who just want a decent life in peace. and for those who ask "Well how come the others don't do anything?" the anwser is FEAR. these thugs are highly organized. speak out against them and you die.

This is my understanding of the situation as I have heard it from Muslims who come from this area but have left because of the violence. That it isn't necessarily religion based, but rather money based with religion as an excuse.

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Hunt for bombers after explosions rock Hat Yai

SONGKHLA: -- Senior police officers in the deep South met Sunday to assess Saturday night’s incidents in which five bombs exploded in central Hat Yai city in this southern province, killing four people and injuring 59 others.

The four ill-fated bomb victims were identified as Miss Nichapa Samee from Chiang Mai, Mr. Thawat Lohatanont, Miss Joranin Sriprom and Mr. Jesse Lee Daniel, a 34-year-old Canadian teacher at Phol Vidhya School in Hat Yai, said Pol.Maj Gen. Thani Thawisri, Deputy Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 9.

Police officers discussed the incidents and ways to hunt the bombers.

Hat Yai is a key commercial and tourist centre in Songkhla province near the Thai-Malaysian border.

Initially, authorities believed the explosions were planted by militants with an aim to create chaos in Hat Yai, said Somporn Chaibangyang, provincial governor, admitting that it was difficult to prevent violence in the district because it was a big city and a tourist destination.

The first explosion went off slightly after 9.30 pm.

Saturday’s incidents will definitely affect tourism in the area as confidence of foreign tourists, especially Malaysians and Singaporeans who usually visit the district, will diminish , he said.

Police believed that bombs planters belonged to the same group that has been instigating unrest in the three southernmost provinces – Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat – since January 2004.

Plans have been mapped out to assign police to provide protection at places frequently visited by tourists and at government offices in the area.

The last time the city was hit by explosion was on April 3, 2005 at the Hat Yai airport, leaving one person dead and several injured.

Last night’s incidents occurred after security officers sent a warning earlier that militant attacks could take place in the deep South between yesterday and Sept 20 as the period falls on the anniversary of the

formation of the southern militant group Gerakan Mujahidin Pattani.

They also took place after more than 1,000 Thai Muslims, including former insurgent leaders and their supporters, gathered at Yala Central Mosque in Yala province earlier in the day to attend the military-sponsored ‘Peace Project.’ The programme was organised with an objective to end the southern insurgency.

--TNA 2006-09-17

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Malaysians, Singapore tourists evacuate Hat Yai after bomb blasts

SONGKHLA: -- Tourism will definitely be impacted in Hat Yai district in this southern province, a popular holiday and shopping destination among tourists from Thailand's neighbouring countries of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and as far distant as Brunei, following Saturday night's bomb blasts which rocked five prime locations, all of them in business areas.

Local business leaders are expecting revenues to fall in the wake of tourists going home--and deciding to go elsewhere--after the blasts.

The powerful explosions killed four persons and wounded 59 others, according to local police. The victims were sent to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The general atmosphere in Hat Yai Sunday morning was quite subdued as many Malaysian tourists who came to this city for weekend holidays were seen to be checking out from their hotels and returning home.

Songkhla Hotel Association president Somchart Pimtanapoonporn said the incidents would immediately have an impact on tourism as about 80 per cent of hotel rooms in the district were occupied by tourists.

And as tourists gradually checked out from their hotels early this morning and decided to return home out of concern for their safety, it is expected that tourism activities in the district will be affected for not less than three months, Mr. Somchart said.

Many tourists are expected to visit Hat Yai and nearby areas during the annual Chinese vegetarian festival and the fasting month of Ramadan for Muslims late next month.

Saturday's incidents will cause the city to lose several hundred million baht, Mr. Somchart said.

Hat Yai, 45 kilometres from the Thai-Malaysian border was last hit by explosions on April 3 last year, when bombs were exploded at the its airport.

The airport bombing caused tourists to stay away from the town on fears of safety.

--TNA 2006-09-17

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Isn't it wonderful.

The Pope says that Islam is evil and humane.

The moderate Muslims object, but the radical ones react by setting off bombs in Thailand and attacking churches in Palestine.............

Sad to say it rather goes to prove the Pope's point.

The Muslims need to get their act together if they are to be respected.

Time to bring back the crusades and covert the poor bastards. :o

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I see the whole world is starting to split along Muslim and non-Muslim lines. I think any faith that breeds such fanatics, as other faiths do not treat women poorly or require conversion to a Muslim world that excludes all others, deserves the bad press and condemnation most people apply to it. Muslim extremists cannot co-exist and we should wake up to the fact that we should not be so liberal and tolerant in the West.

We allow freedom of expression and hospitality and this is all abused by some hard line fanatics to take our generosity and then blow us up! We need to have harder laws to close down bad mosques, to deport and/or refuse entry to preachers etc. We are a Christian and multi cultural country and too much freedom is given to minority groups who don't give a ###### about our culture, way of life or respecting the values of the country who provides them with freedom, safety and social provision.

If terrorists are caught and found guilty we should strap a bomb belt to them and let them have their wish in a big deserted field. (of course I don't really think so, but it is just as ridiculous allowing them to preach hate, enter and leave at will etc. The risk is defined as Muslims and not Christians, Mormons, Buddhists etc etc, so we should target the risk. The risk of a dirty bomb in the future or worse is just too great and unimaginable to allow Muslims total freedom any more, so I advocate much harder laws to be applied generally, but targetted in truth as Muslims. If they want to leave then good - Pi55 off )

Many of us in our hearts know that we are wary and avoid Muslim looking people unless we know them well. I would be happy if we took the cautious approach and banned any more from entering. Simply we do not need them and they are too great a risk to security as even a law abiding family man can be hiding the truth of his terror thoughts and surprisingly planning to throw his life away with as many others as he can find. God is great and what man does in the name of Muslims is slowly alienate the whole world to the vast majority of good and peace loving Muslims along with the hate filled scum.

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This is dreadfully sad - real, moderate Muslims the world over are horrified by the way the fanatics have twisted the interpretations of the Holy Koran to "support" their greed and hate of anyone who does not think and act like them.

No right thinking person could consider them to be real Muslims, they are criminals - pure and simple - filled with hate and loathing of everything.

I lived and worked in the Middle East for a number of years, many of my friends are Muslims, I currently live in a predominantly Muslim area now with a mosque just down the road.

These are normal, happy people, living their lives and following their religion - as is their right.

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I think if you read my post I agree with you as I am clear to stress the majority are perfectly fine and it is just the few hate filled scum. However, I think the risk is too great to allow such freedom and tolerance as has been granted to date. The world has changed and the threat of dirty bombs etc and the fanatics wish to do the worst imaginable, means we now have to wake up and fight fire with fire just to stay alive and safe. We know that another attack will come and it will get worse, so we have to take previously unthought of measures and we have to target the sector of the population mainly (if not completely) responsible.

This is dreadfully sad - real, moderate Muslims the world over are horrified by the way the fanatics have twisted the interpretations of the Holy Koran to "support" their greed and hate of anyone who does not think and act like them.

No right thinking person could consider them to be real Muslims, they are criminals - pure and simple - filled with hate and loathing of everything.

I lived and worked in the Middle East for a number of years, many of my friends are Muslims, I currently live in a predominantly Muslim area now with a mosque just down the road.

These are normal, happy people, living their lives and following their religion - as is their right.

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Twix38, yes I agree absolutely. I did take your point, in fact I was in the process of editing my post to include some mention of the problems that are being faced in the UK because of the separation along ethnic lines.

It was reported recently in a paper there (don't recall which one) that there were growing fears that the situation that breeds this sort of fanatical thinking was actually allowed to occur because the government did not encourage proper (or at least better) integration of the immigrant families of various ethnic backgrounds into the British society.

My point was really to say that we now seem to face a similar problem here in that the southern fanatics obvioulsy do not consider themselves to be a part of Thai society, so destroying it means nothing to them in their quest to grab power.

As the southern provinces were originally part of Malaya, and were Muslim, I am almost inclined to say that they should be given back, but give the moderates a chance to get out first, then hand it over, close the border, and establish a 10Km "no go" zone between those areas and the Thai border.

I know it's too simplistic to really do it, and maybe it's being petulant in the extreme, but I think many are starting to think this way... unfortunately so I guess...

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It certainly does not take an expert to tell a real bomb from a fake bomb in Bangkok.

Interesting statement John, unfortunately it WAS a real bomb in Bangkok a very real one, only the detonator was questionable because it was very old. Being sarcastic is fine, not having your facts right is wrong!

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I see the whole world is starting to split along Muslim and non-Muslim lines. I think any faith that breeds such fanatics, as other faiths do not treat women poorly or require conversion to a Muslim world that excludes all others, deserves the bad press and condemnation most people apply to it. Muslim extremists cannot co-exist and we should wake up to the fact that we should not be so liberal and tolerant in the West.

We allow freedom of expression and hospitality and this is all abused by some hard line fanatics to take our generosity and then blow us up! We need to have harder laws to close down bad mosques, to deport and/or refuse entry to preachers etc. We are a Christian and multi cultural country and too much freedom is given to minority groups who don't give a ###### about our culture, way of life or respecting the values of the country who provides them with freedom, safety and social provision.

If terrorists are caught and found guilty we should strap a bomb belt to them and let them have their wish in a big deserted field. (of course I don't really think so, but it is just as ridiculous allowing them to preach hate, enter and leave at will etc. The risk is defined as Muslims and not Christians, Mormons, Buddhists etc etc, so we should target the risk. The risk of a dirty bomb in the future or worse is just too great and unimaginable to allow Muslims total freedom any more, so I advocate much harder laws to be applied generally, but targetted in truth as Muslims. If they want to leave then good - Pi55 off )

Many of us in our hearts know that we are wary and avoid Muslim looking people unless we know them well. I would be happy if we took the cautious approach and banned any more from entering. Simply we do not need them and they are too great a risk to security as even a law abiding family man can be hiding the truth of his terror thoughts and surprisingly planning to throw his life away with as many others as he can find. God is great and what man does in the name of Muslims is slowly alienate the whole world to the vast majority of good and peace loving Muslims along with the hate filled scum.

Right on Bro!

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Witnesses said the bombs went off at roughly five-minute intervals starting at around 9pm, when the area was crowded with tourists and locals going out to dine and for night entertainment.

The first bomb to go off was on Thammanoon Withi Road, at the entrance to a pub called Deep Wonder in the basement of the Odean Shopping Mall. The second bomb went off at a junction a few hundred metres down the road, and the third one another few hundred metres on.

Thammanoonwithi Road is one of the most crowded roads in Hat Yai City, with more than 10 hotels along its length. More than 1,000 tourists, both Thais and foreigners, were checked in at the hotels. All were evacuated.

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Thailand violence

http://www.alertnet.org/printable.htm?URL=...iles/TH_INS.htm

Thaksin get out !! :o

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This is dreadfully sad - real, moderate Muslims the world over are horrified by the way the fanatics have twisted the interpretations of the Holy Koran to "support" their greed and hate of anyone who does not think and act like them.

I'm fed up with this non sense : there is NO MODERATE ISLAM.

Only a few intellectuals are.

But consider the whole 1.3 billion muslims around the world. Look at what you see on TV, the image of pure violence everywhere, during mass rallies : Pakistan, Irak, Libanon, Palestine, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Iran, burning flags.

The same images all around the world, among different cultures, differents races. And only one common point : islam.

Are these people "moderate" ?

The day after 9/11, we saw images of muslims enjoying the news in the street of Karachi, Palestine.

And what about the massive support from the people during elections that "islamists" manage to gather ?

They are able to win election. They win election because they have support among the population : Palestine with Hamas, Algeria with the FIS. Egypt too ! And if you remove dictactureship from Saudi Arabia, and the whole middle east actually, islamist will win elections everywhere.

Because they have large support from the population.

So, are we, are you, are they still "moderate" ?

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Isn't it wonderful.

The Pope says that Islam is evil and humane.

The moderate Muslims object, but the radical ones react by setting off bombs in Thailand and attacking churches in Palestine.............

Sad to say it rather goes to prove the Pope's point.

The Muslims need to get their act together if they are to be respected.

Do you even know the bombers were Muslim?

If they were, does this mean all Muslims are terrorists?

Maybe they were men, does this mean all men are also terrorists?

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Shocking to see that you separate between locals and foreigners. As if the death of so many REAL teachers in the South is very unimportant! And no numerous foreigners were already killed mainly Malay.

While you definitely have a point in that deaths are deaths irrespective of nationality and in an ideal world should be awarded the same importance, you should also note that the article quoted was from the Nation and not written by Thaivisa.

Also, unless you are at the scene, you have no knowledge of a.) Whether the Canadian *actually* was a teacher or not b.) whether he was a qualified, "real" teacher or not.

And lastly, even if he wasn't, is he then automatically less important?

It's good to be astute to inequalities, but we should always be careful before throwing the first stone. :o

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The lives of the one or two foreigners killed in this latest atrocity are certainly no more or less valuable than that of a local Thai or Malay. But given their nationalities as citizens of desirable tourism market nations, this bombing could touch off any number of different chains of events.

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