Thailand rattled by coordinated attacks

Militants in Thailand's Muslim-majority south carried out a wave of coordinated attacks Friday, wounding several soldiers and hoisting the Malaysian flag across the restive region, officials said.

August 31 marks Malaysia's independence from British rule and commemorates the founding of Bersatu -- the umbrella organisation for militants in Thailand's southernmost provinces believed to want greater autonomy.

Three military rangers and two marines were wounded in bomb blasts, an army spokesman said, adding that more than one hundred "symbolic attacks" took place across the southern provinces of Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

"There were altogether 124 symbolic attacks such as planting small bombs, burning tyres or the Thai national flag and planting fake bombs," Major General Prawut Thavornsiri, deputy national police chief told AFP.

"Insurgents hoisted or tied the national flag of our neighbours and our officials have collected them," he said.

Deputy prime minister Yutthasak Sasiprpa said the attacks were a publicity stunt to mark the founding day of Bersatu 23 years ago, adding the militants intended "to show they are still active".

A complex insurgency, without clearly stated aims, has plagued Thailand's far south near the border with Malaysia since 2004, claiming thousands of lives, both Buddhist and Muslim, with near-daily bomb or gun attacks.

Analysts say they have become increasingly well organised and Friday's attacks show a sophisticated ability to co-ordinate actions across the southern region.

It is unclear why the insurgents chose to hoist Malaysian flags, although many of their senior leaders are rumoured to live across the Thai border.

Yutthasak said he had asked the Thai foreign ministry to speak to Malaysia about the incident amid fears the militants may be trying to trigger tensions between the two countries.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/thailand-rattled-coordinated-attacks-104330866.html

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