Paying price for slackness

Two explosions right in front of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) in Yala’s Muang district that injured many on Tuesday came as a shock, not only because the bombers carried them out in broad daylight, but also because the SBPAC is a highly strategic place that is supposed to be well guarded. Such successful attacks speak volumes about the lax security measures that have justifiably triggered public alarm.

The blasts took place at 10.30am while a meeting on the coronavirus situation in five southern provinces, attended by senior SBPAC officers and provincial authorities, was being held.

Twenty five people, including one soldier and several journalists, were injured. At least one was seriously hurt. Fortunately, there were no deaths.

No arrests have been made so far, though authorities linked the perpetrators to a brutal attack at a village camp in the province that killed 15 last November.

News footage that appeared on several news outlets showed a bomber arriving at the scene in a pickup truck, which carried the explosives, parking in front of the SBPAC head office, and planting the first bomb near shrubbery a few metres from the SBPAC’s main entrance. He then fled on a waiting motorcycle. About 10 minutes later, the bomb went off. As security officers rushed to the scene, about five minutes after the first explosion, another bomb was detonated, obviously aimed at killing those who had gathered.

It was reported that both devices were homemade — the first weighing 10 kilogrammes and the second 30kg. They were capable of causing damage within a 30-metre radius. The pickup, which was completely destroyed by the blast, was stolen at a village in Yala shortly before the attacks.

The explosions spurred Rr Adm Somkiart Pholprayoon, secretary-general of the SBPAC, who was also at the meeting, into action. National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda also headed to the southern province to inspect the scene and supervise the investigation.

Rr Adm Somkiart condemned the bombers, saying they blasts were an act of revenge for a raid that had killed several insurgents. The key SBPAC man heavily employed the “us against them” discourse, calling for support from local people.

It’s strange, however, that the SBPAC secretarygeneral did not wonder why the assailants could carry out this attack so easily. In theory, the headquarters are supposed to be equipped with security cameras, with officers watching the screens around the clock.

The vitally strategic location is supposed to be guarded by a number of security officers who are meant to ensure strict surveillance. They surely had enough time to suspect something was going on when the bomber arrived and planted the first bomb before fleeing. If they had followed the security handbook, at least a guard or two should have spotted the man throwing the bomb into the bushes. This could have prevented the casualties. Unfortunately, no one seemed to be looking.

Besides this, double-tap bombings are a very familiar tactic. In theory, the first blast is to draw the attention of authorities, and the second is to kill those who flock to the scene. There have been so many such attacks in the restive region. Why have they happened again and again? Isn’t this an easy and convenient trap?

Worse, a source said there had been prior intelligence reports of an impending attack in the downtown area of Yala. Why wasn’t anyone paying attention?

The SBPAC has to include these questions in its investigation and clear up public concerns about the matter.