BANGKOK, A family of four was shot dead by a group of unidentified gunmen Thursday as they drove to a school in Thailand’s restive south.
Out of a total of six people in the vehicle, two members of the
family, Somchai Tongchan, 47, and Son Tongchan, 40, were killed
instantly, according to an officer at Rueso police station in
Natathiwat province.
Their 8-year-old son Tanakrit Tongchan died later at a local
hospital, and his aunt Rustika Taduang, 39, died on the way to the
hospital.
Tanakrit’s two siblings survived the attack and were being treated in
hospital.
The attack was carried out by one of the region’s Muslim insurgent
groups, but further investigation was needed to identify exactly
which group was responsible, the police officer, who was unauthorized
to talk to media.
“The Muslim insurgents have always targeted Buddhists in the region,”
the officer added.
Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, but Narathiwat, 1,140
kilometres south of Bangkok, is one of the three
Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia where a separatist
insurgency has simmered for much of the past half-century.
More than 6,500 people have been killed in the unrest since 2004.
Thursday’s attack came two days after Thai authorities and an
insurgent group reached an agreement to create safety zones in the
region.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK