Two volunteers from the Thai Army Rangers were hurt in a bomb explosion in Narathiwat.
In the past week, Narathiwat district in Southern Thailand has witnessed a series of disturbing incidents as separatist insurgents continue their campaign of violence. Two officers were injured in pipe bomb and shooting attacks, and a roadside bomb explosion targeted a patrol of ranger volunteers.
On Saturday morning, a roadside bomb exploded in Rangae district, injuring two ranger volunteers, Anusorn Noree and Sakchai Kaisaengsit. The bomb was detonated as a patrol from Ranger Company 4516 passed through the area. Anusorn sustained injuries to his right leg and arm, while Sakchai was hurt in his right arm. Both are currently receiving treatment at Rangae Hospital.
The previous day, an abandoned sedan was set ablaze near Balo Bridge in Rueso district, an incident believed to be linked to insurgent provocations. This attack followed an earlier blast that injured two rangers in Ra-ngae district on July 5.
The violence in Narathiwat is part of a broader, long-standing separatist insurgency in Thailand’s Deep South provinces—Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat—which has caused thousands of deaths since 2004. The conflict involves Malay-Muslim separatist groups demanding independence or greater autonomy from the Buddhist-majority Thai government.
The suspected perpetrators of these recent bombings and attacks are Muslim insurgents linked to separatist groups, particularly the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). The BRN has been identified as a key actor behind many violent attacks, including bomb plots targeting government officials, security forces, and civilians. Recent arrests of suspects with explosives and bomb-making materials in southern provinces also point to BRN’s involvement, as the devices recovered matched those used in prior BRN-linked attacks.
These ongoing attacks have created a climate of fear and instability in the southern border provinces of Thailand. The attacks involve roadside bombs, ambushes with firearms, and arson as tactics to intimidate security forces and local residents cooperating with the government.
Police, soldiers, and officials investigated the scene of the bomb explosion in Rangae district. The incident occurred around 9.30am in Blatae village, Moo 4, in tambon Bango Sato. The investigators cordoned off the area for safety and to collect evidence, suggesting that the attack's purpose was to create unrest in the area. Initial investigations suggest the attack was carried out by insurgents.
Politicians are urging a strengthened response to the war-and-conflicts in Narathiwat district, as the ongoing attacks by separatist groups, such as the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), continue to create a tense political environment. General news outlets are reporting increased coverage of crime-and-justice, with these incidents often linked to the escalating violence in the southern provinces of Thailand.
