Two men killed in Pattani

A man was shot dead and a woman injured in Yarang district in Pattani yesterday less than two hours after a territorial defence volunteer was shot and killed in the province’s Sai Buri district.

The victim was identified as Paiboon Kampaeng, a 32-year-old mattress salesman. His wife, Wandee Kampaeng, 58, was fatally injured.

Paiboon was driving a pickup truck to sell mattresses to other villagers when an unknown number of assailants approached the pickup truck at approximately 9:30am and shot him from outside the vehicle. He died instantly.

Mrs Wandee was also in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.

Less than two hours before the incident, a defence volunteer at Sai Buri district, 50year-old Manoh Mahama, was shot dead at a roadside tea shop.

Police said two men on a motorcycle arrived at the shop shortly before 8am and opened fire on villagers who were sitting in the shop, speeding away after the attack. Manoh was shot in the head and died instantly.

Another villager who was sitting nearby, Hamaripeng Late, 47, was shot in the body, but survived the attack. He was admitted to Sai Buri Hospital. Police are investigating the incidents. They said that the shootings may be related to the current unrest in the deep South.

Meanwhile, Fourth Army Region commander Piyawat Nakwanich yesterday presided over an event to bring former southern separatists back to the country in Narathiwat. Lt Gen Piyawat said more than 2,000 ex-separaists in Narathiwat have so far surrendered themselves to the rehabilitation programme.