SOUTH THAILAND: FAMILY OF 4 SHOT DEAD

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

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