ID :
10637
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 20:52
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http://m.oananews.org//node/10637
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Government urged better protection for state railway employees
SONGKHLA, June 23 (TNA) - The Thai government has been asked to adopt more stringent security measures for state railway employees after insurgents killed four people on board a railway train Saturday, prompting the indefinite cancellation of all train services to the insurgency-racked southern border region.
Six gunmen on board as passengers on the Sungai Kolok-Yala train and shot dead three railway employees and a police officer and took his gun. Another officer was seriously wounded.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) labour union chairman Supichet
Suwannachatri said the incidents stirred fears among railway employees who are uncertain about their own safety.
All 22 trains destined for the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have been suspended indefinitely. South-bound trains from Bangkok will not pass Hat Yai main station in the southern border province of Songkhla.
The SRT union leader urged the government to come up with more tangible measures for effective security as similar insurgent attacks have taken place in the past.
"The deadly attack on board the train dealt a heavy blow to both public and employee confidence in the public transportation's safety.
"The service suspension is only a temporary measure until a definite security plan is announced."
Meanwhile, some passengers opted to travel by van in the wake of
insurgency-related attacks on trains.
In other development, two insurgents were killed in separate gunfights with combined forces of police and military in Yala's Bannang Sata district.
One of the two insurgents shot dead identified as Masuedi Apibarnbae, 32, a member of Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent group. In Yala's Raman district, a female villager was fatally shot while on her way to a rubber plantation. She was identified as Farida Kaji, 37.
Meanwhile, violence continues unabated as a military task force unit in Pattani's Tungyangdang district was ambushed on patrol duty and exchanged fire with the assailants. There is no report of any injuries.
Six gunmen on board as passengers on the Sungai Kolok-Yala train and shot dead three railway employees and a police officer and took his gun. Another officer was seriously wounded.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) labour union chairman Supichet
Suwannachatri said the incidents stirred fears among railway employees who are uncertain about their own safety.
All 22 trains destined for the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have been suspended indefinitely. South-bound trains from Bangkok will not pass Hat Yai main station in the southern border province of Songkhla.
The SRT union leader urged the government to come up with more tangible measures for effective security as similar insurgent attacks have taken place in the past.
"The deadly attack on board the train dealt a heavy blow to both public and employee confidence in the public transportation's safety.
"The service suspension is only a temporary measure until a definite security plan is announced."
Meanwhile, some passengers opted to travel by van in the wake of
insurgency-related attacks on trains.
In other development, two insurgents were killed in separate gunfights with combined forces of police and military in Yala's Bannang Sata district.
One of the two insurgents shot dead identified as Masuedi Apibarnbae, 32, a member of Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent group. In Yala's Raman district, a female villager was fatally shot while on her way to a rubber plantation. She was identified as Farida Kaji, 37.
Meanwhile, violence continues unabated as a military task force unit in Pattani's Tungyangdang district was ambushed on patrol duty and exchanged fire with the assailants. There is no report of any injuries.
