2009 Thailand standoff
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Thailand standoff between insurgents and Thai police and military took place in Yala
, Thailand on June 27th, 2009 at 7:55 am local time. A combined force of 200 district police officers and soldiers of Taskforce 15 sealed off a house in the Bannang Sata
district of Yala province after locals tipped them of the presence of separatist militants.
province. The incident, which also wounded 12 people was considered as one of the worst attacks in 5 years. A $5,900 reward for leads on the attack. Since 2004, more than 3700 people have died in the ethnic Malay provinces of Yala
, Pattani
and Narathiwat
.
Yala, Thailand
Yala is a city in the extreme south of Thailand near the Malaysian border, and is administrative capital of Yala Province. The 2005 estimated population was 65,000. The city covers the whole tambon Sateng of Mueang Yala district....
, Thailand on June 27th, 2009 at 7:55 am local time. A combined force of 200 district police officers and soldiers of Taskforce 15 sealed off a house in the Bannang Sata
Bannang Sata
Bannang Sata is the principal town of the Bannang Sata district, in Yala Province of Thailand. The town is subdistrict municipality and covers parts of the subdistrict Bannang Sata. As of 2007 it has a population of 2,856....
district of Yala province after locals tipped them of the presence of separatist militants.
Standoff
As police and the army stormed the building, militants holed up inside opened fire, killing Sgt Maj Pongsathorn Niraphai of the Bannang Sata police station and Sergeant Major 3rd Class Sangsun Kalong, 39,a soldier. A suspected militant,Sopepun Buenae, 26 was killed when he tried to escape. At least two rebels managed to escape despite being cornered for nearly 5 hours. The standoff is still in progress and an unknown number of men (possibly militants) are holed up inside. Police seized a rifle from the site. A soldier was shot in the head and was sent for treatment.Background
In recent weeks, attacks by separatists have increased. So far, 41 people have been killed and 60 wounded in June alone. Earlier in June, masked gunmen killed 11 worshippers in a mosque in the NarathiwatNarathiwat
Narathiwat is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Narathiwat Province. The town covers the whole subdistrict Bang Nak of Mueang Narathiwat district. The town was established in 1936.-External links:...
province. The incident, which also wounded 12 people was considered as one of the worst attacks in 5 years. A $5,900 reward for leads on the attack. Since 2004, more than 3700 people have died in the ethnic Malay provinces of Yala
Yala Province
Yala is the southernmost province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat. Yala is the only land-locked province in the south of Thailand...
, Pattani
Pattani
Pattani may refer to* Pattani Province, in southern Thailand* Pattani , in southern Thailand* Pattani , which includes the above province** Pattani Kingdom, a former semi-independent kingdom...
and Narathiwat
Narathiwat
Narathiwat is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Narathiwat Province. The town covers the whole subdistrict Bang Nak of Mueang Narathiwat district. The town was established in 1936.-External links:...
.