Thailand hit by three bombings
At least nine people were killed and dozens were wounded when a series of bombs detonated Saturday in Thailand’s restive Muslim-dominated south, authorities said.
Three bombs went off within minutes of one another as shoppers ventured out around lunchtime in the city of Yala. Officials said the devices apparently had been placed in cars or on motorcycles.
Yala province Gov. Detrat Simsiri told Thai television that the third bomb exploded as people gathered to see what had happened and help survivors.
The shadowy Muslim separatist rebellion, playing out near the border with Malaysia, has killed more than 5,000 people in eight years. Once a separate kingdom, the area was annexed by Thailand in 1909. After a period of relative calm, violence flared in 2004, leading to near-daily attacks since then. Authorities said the violence Saturday was the worst such attack in five years.
Many among the Muslim community feel that a succession of Thai Buddhist governments has sought to deny their identity. Human rights groups say the military’s ability to act with relative impunity has added to local resentment.
The military recently acknowledged that troops had killed four Muslim villagers heading to a funeral in January because of a “misunderstanding,” fearing that they were under attack. mark.magnier @latimes.com Magnier reported from New Delhi.