3 killed in South after PM takes lead role

At least three people were killed and eight others injured in a series of attacks in the deep South yesterday, just a day after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra took charge of security operations in the troubled region.

BLOWN AWAY: Bomb squad officers inspect a pickup truck that was used in 

a bomb attack in Narathiwat’s Rueso district yesterday.

A motorcycle bomb explosion rocked Ban Yaba Uppakara Witthaya school in tambon Rueso in Narathiwat's Rueso district early yesterday evening. Eight people were injured in the attack and were taken to a nearby hospital.

A car bomb later exploded in front of a house behind Rueso district police station, killing three people.

The dead were identified as Abdullormae Jeloh, Sa-ngiam Muen-kota and Sasithorn Suleng, a three-year-old girl.

The explosion also damaged more than 10 nearby homes.

A village defence volunteer outpost was also reportedly attacked in Ban Klapor in Pattani's Saiburi district. It was not clear if there were any casualties.

The attacks took place one day after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra took on the responsibility of supervising operations against insurgents in the deep South.

The Democrat Party and Muslim leaders have expressed deep reservations about Ms Yingluck's ability to oversee national security issues, especially in the restive southern provinces.

Democrat list MP Ong-art Klampaibul said yesterday that the party was concerned that the prime minister wasn't committed enough to deal with the southern unrest. She would not be capable of coping with security issues as she has no experience in this field, Mr Ong-art said.

He said the Democrat party and southerners are worried because the prime minister had not previously expressed a clear understanding of the situation or made any commitments to deal with it.

Nimu Makaje, former deputy chairman of the Yala Provincial Islamic Committee, said it was a good idea for the prime minister, as government leader, to oversee national security issues.

But he was concerned that Ms Yingluck would not be able to travel to the South as often as would be necessary.

Mr Nimu said dealing with the violence in the region was not an easy task as those in charge must have a thorough understanding of the history, Muslim culture and politics in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

"We would like the prime minister to read a lot of books and reports on these matters so she has a better understanding of the southern problems. If she can do so, she will be able to win the hearts and minds of the people there," he said.

Mr Nimu said it was necessary for the prime minister to visit the area often, as doing so would boost morale among soldiers, police, local officials and residents.

"We will give the prime minister six months to prove whether she is able to solve the problems in the far South. If not, she should assign others to supervise security there," he said.