Arsonists hit 2 Yala rock quarries
Arsonists made simultaneous attacks on two rock quarries in Muang district in Yala province early yesterday, setting fire to 12 ten-wheel trucks, two oil trucks, three backhoes and an auto repair building, police said.
The Manu rock quarry, owned by Manu Lekhakul, and the Peerapol Sila quarry, owned by Prakob Chom-in, were each attacked about 1am.
Both sites are at Ban Lidon village on Highway 409 (Yala-Pattani) and roughly 300 metres apart. When the arsonists struck there were only three or four security guards on duty at each site.
Guards at the Manu quarry told police that at least four armed and hooded men stormed into the premises. They forced the guards at gunpoint to lie face down on the ground and then bound their hands behind their backs with adhesive tape.
The attackers then placed pieces of cloth soaked with petrol around the wheels of the vehicles and around the building, and set them on fire.
Around the same time, another group of men entered the Peerapol quarry and also tied up the guards and set fire to the vehicles before disappearing into the night.
The damage was estimated at 50 million baht.
Police were investigating whether the attacks were business-related or the work of separatist insurgents.
Later in the morning, the chairman of a tambon administration organisation (TAO) was killed by gunmen in Yaring district of Pattani, police said.
Sama-ae Dolo, 63, chairman of Piya Mumang TAO, was driving his Toyota pickup truck from his house to work. Along the way he was followed by three armed and hooded men in a Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck.
At the intersection of Pate village in tambon Piya Mumang, the truck pulled up alongside and the men opened fire at him using AK47 rifles. The attack occurred at about 9.30am.
Witnesses told police that, before fleeing, one of the attackers walked over to the pickup, which had come to a halt, and opened the door to make sure Sama-ae was dead.
Investigators said Sama-ae was a former kamnan, or tambon chief, who resigned his position to run for the TAO and was elected about two years ago. He was said to be an influential figure in the district.