Sept 2015

8 December – 14 December 2015

Pattani

On the morning of 11 December, a roadside bomb exploded in Yarang district. Two policemen from a special operations unit were patrolling in a pickup truck along Puyud-Sala Song Road at Ibu village in Sadawa. The explosion damaged the vehicle and injured the two men. Pol L/C Ekkapong Chanchaem and Pol L/C Somkiart Pongyala were rushed to Yarang Hospital for treatment of their injuries. 1

On the night of 11 December, deputy police investigation chief at the police station was gunned down after returning from a mosque in . The 56-year-old Pol Lt Maluseng Sahor was shot by at least two armed men in front of his house in tambon Torbol after he returned from a mosque at around 9pm. The attackers fled after the shooting. The officer was seriously wounded and rushed to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly later. A team of police and soldiers rushed to the scene after being alerted. A total of 11 spent 5.56mm bullets were found scattered in the area. Police were investigating whether the attack was related to southern unrest. The family of the slain officer prayed for him on Saturday morning before taking his body to a burial site in Sai Buri district.2

Yala

On the morning of 13 December, a Thai army officer was killed and his father seriously wounded when a bomb went off at a cemetery. A police official in who requested anonymity citing ongoing investigations told Anadolu Agency that that Sheik Chedomad “was paying respect to his late mother when he was targeted by the bombing.” The police source added that they suspect the incident was an insurgent attack. The victim was killed on the spot while his father Aziz Chedomad sustained serious injuries and is being treated at Yala Regional Centre hospital. The explosion also caused the body of Sheik’s mother to be ejected from the grave. Investigators believe that Chedoma was targeted because he was a Muslim working with the central government. According to Kerisda, the attack was believed to be masterminded by the Rakib Dollah militant group which was active in the area. Sheik was believed to be an

1 “Police injured by Pattani bomb blast,” Bangkok Post, 11 December, 2015, accessed 14 December, http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/791873/police-injured-by-pattani-bomb-blast.

2 “Police injured by Pattani bomb blast,” Bangkok Post, 11 December, 2015, accessed 14 December, http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/792353/police-investigator-slain-in-pattani. intelligence officer in the village. 3

3 “Bomb in woman's grave kills son, injures husband,” New Straits Times, 14 December, 2015, accessed 14 December, http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/12/117156/bomb-womans-grave-kills-son-injures- husband.