Isoc ‘sorry’ for killing 6 insurgents

NARATHIWAT: The Internal Security Operations Command’s (Isoc) Region 4 Forward Command yesterday sent condolences to the families of six insurgents killed in a clash with police and soldiers on Sunday in Narathiwat’s Cho Airong district.

“Isoc did not want to use harsh measures against the six insurgents involved in the gunfight on Tawae mountain in Ai Satia village, but they opened fire first. That’s why we had to shoot back. We want to express our sincerest condolences to the families of the dead,” said Col Pramote Prom-in, spokesman of Isoc’s Region 4 Forward Command.

Col Pramote explained the army had tried softer measures, before it turned into a confrontation.

The six dead insurgents were later identified as Muhama Sulgifli, Yaki Wah-Ngoi, Adhar Sa-Ee, Makarudin Usen, Chehlima Latehbuerin and Awae Sama.

In an expression of sympathy, 4th Army Region commander Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat will help organise the funerals as well as explain the incident to Islamic leaders and the public to prevent misunderstanding and angerfuelled revenge attacks, Col Pramote said.

He said after the Sunday gunfight, his soldiers helped take the insurgents’ bodies back to their families. Also, upon investigating the dead men’s backgrounds, he said he learned that they were part of the insurgency, and faced nine arrest warrants for their role in many deadly incidents.

Security forces also confiscated weapons found near their bodies, namely five M16A1 rifles, a KH33 rifle, an AK 47 rifle, a shotgun, two pistols, eight improvised explosive devices, and handheld transceiver along with 15 backpacks containing supplies.