1 – 7 September 2015 10– 16 August 2015

Country Weekly Report of

International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research

THAILAND

Pattani and Narathiwat:

On 5 September, an Islamic religious leader was shot dead in Pattani, while four soldiers narrowly escaped injury in a roadside bomb blast in neighbouring .

76-year-old Dormeng Benjaewan, tor Imam of a mosque at Payonok village in Kadunong in Sai Buri , was shot by two men on a motorcycle in front of a food shop in tambon Kadunong around 6am.

The pillion rider fired several shots at him, hitting him in the head and body. He was seriously wounded and pronounced dead at a local hospital. Mr Dormeng, who commanded respect from local residents, had earlier survived a previous gun attack. He had been known for working with authorities in an effort to resolve unrest in the troubled border region.1

1 "Imam shot dead in Pattani," Bangkok Post, September 5, 2015, accessed 7 September, http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/681856/imam-shot-dead-in-pattani.

On 31 August, a village chief in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district was seriously injured by a gunman.

Pol Lt Panlop Promkaew, the duty officer at the district police station, said 47-year-old Romli Taya, the chief of Moo 1 village in tambon Talo Maena, was travelling by motorcycle to a shop to buy rubber wood he was shot by an attacker hiding in bushes opposite the shop.

Mr Romli was hit many times in the body and seriously wounded. He was admitted to Yala Hospital.2

Bangkok:

Police have since detained two suspects involved in the deadly bomb blasts at the Erawan Shrine in ’s capital, Bangkok, on 17 August 2015. The bomb blast had killed 20 people and wounded more than 100.

On 7 September 2015, news reports indicated that one of the suspects, Yusufu Meiraili, will be handed over to police after spending the past week in military custody. Police had earlier arrested a first suspect, Adem Karadag. Adem Karadag has reportedly been sent to Min Buri Prison. In the wake of the bomb attacks, several police officers including Min Buri Police Station's superintendent were transferred to inactive posts.

On the list of the people wanted in connection with the Bangkok bomb attacks, one is a Thai woman named Wanna Suansan. Reports say she had communicated via social media that she intended to surrender Pol Lt General Prawut Thavornsiri, assistant National Police chief and police spokesman had reportedly said she had not yet officially contacted Thai authorities. According to police, Wanna may be in Turkey and was likely to be needing help with travel expenses.

Police are checking reports that money was transferred from Turkey to Thailand for the recent bombs in Bangkok. They also expect to obtain an arrest warrant for a tenth suspect in connection with the blast at the Erawan Shrine and another at Sathorn Pier in mid-August. 3

2 "Village chief shot, seriously wounded," Bangkok Post, September 1, 2015, accessed 7 September, 2015, http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crime/676620/village-chief-shot-seriously- wounded.

3 "Bangkok blast: Police check on money sent from Turkey," AsiaOne, September 7, 2015, accessed 7 September, http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/bangkok-blast-police-check-money- sent-turkey.