ID :
87586
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/87586
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Soldier wounded in Pattani bombing prior to opposition leader's visit
PATTANI, Nov 3 (TNA) – A government soldier was wounded in a bomb blast in this southern Thai border province Tuesday morning prior to the visit of former prime minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, now chairman of the opposition Puea Thai party.
Four soldiers in a teacher-protection unit found a suspicious object, covered by cloth on a road in Mai Kaen district while they were patrolling the area.
The bomb exploded when Cpl Prakasit Napomthong used the tip of his rifle to remove the cloth. He was wounded and sent to hospital.
The violence took place as Gen Chavalit was about to travel to Pattani to meet local residents to discuss ideas on resolving the southern unrest.
Speaking to journalists before leaving Bangkok for Pattani, Gen Chavalit said he would meet the public to acknowledge their needs instead of tracking the progress of officials doing their tasks, as is usually done by senior officials.
The former prime minister and army commander said the Abhisit government is on the right track to resolve the problem, but the development of livelihoods and infrastructure is not the real answer to the needs of local people.
Gen Chavalit suggested that negotiation with the insurgent leaders was one of several partial solutions to quell the violence. The problem can’t be solved without learning about the opponents.
Regarding his suggestion that the government should establish an autonomous 'Pattani City State' in an attempt to end the continuing insurgency, the opposition party chairman clarified that the idea is actually a form of local administration under the Thai Constitution not to separate the land to set up an independent city-state. (TNA)
Four soldiers in a teacher-protection unit found a suspicious object, covered by cloth on a road in Mai Kaen district while they were patrolling the area.
The bomb exploded when Cpl Prakasit Napomthong used the tip of his rifle to remove the cloth. He was wounded and sent to hospital.
The violence took place as Gen Chavalit was about to travel to Pattani to meet local residents to discuss ideas on resolving the southern unrest.
Speaking to journalists before leaving Bangkok for Pattani, Gen Chavalit said he would meet the public to acknowledge their needs instead of tracking the progress of officials doing their tasks, as is usually done by senior officials.
The former prime minister and army commander said the Abhisit government is on the right track to resolve the problem, but the development of livelihoods and infrastructure is not the real answer to the needs of local people.
Gen Chavalit suggested that negotiation with the insurgent leaders was one of several partial solutions to quell the violence. The problem can’t be solved without learning about the opponents.
Regarding his suggestion that the government should establish an autonomous 'Pattani City State' in an attempt to end the continuing insurgency, the opposition party chairman clarified that the idea is actually a form of local administration under the Thai Constitution not to separate the land to set up an independent city-state. (TNA)
