US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK4596

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004596 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV 
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, TH, Southern Thailand 
SUBJECT: COORDINATED ATTACKS IN YALA; NEW SECURITY LAW TO 
BE ANNOUNCED 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Alex A. Arvizu. Reason 1.4 (d) 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY: On July 14, suspected Muslim separatist 
insurgents launched a series of coordinated attacks in the 
far southern Thai province of Yala.  The militants targeted 
Thai security forces, power transformers and public buildings 
with bombing, shooting and arson attacks. Two police were 
killed and 22 people (including three suspected militants) 
were reportedly injured.  The highly organized assaults are 
another escalation in the ongoing violence afflicting 
Thailand's Muslim majority provinces.  Separately, the 
cabinet has reportedly approved a new emergency security law 
giving additional powers to Thai security forces in areas 
already under martial law.  While the new law has been in the 
works for several months, Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon told 
Ambassador the recent attacks are the impetus behind their 
likely imminent approval.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (SBU)  On July 14, a series of apparently well 
coordinated bombing, shooting and arson attacks occurred in 
the far southern province of Yala.  Yala Deputy Governor for 
Security Winyu Thongsakul told Emboffs that there were as 
many as 18 separate attacks in the province beginning around 
7:00 p.m. local.  Two police were killed and least 22 people 
were injured (including two additional police and three of 
the suspected militants) in the attacks. Five separate bombs 
were reported, including at least one targeting an electrical 
transformer - which knocked out power to large parts of the 
province.  A school, warehouse and retail shop were also 
struck.  The attackers left five separate fake bombs in 
various locations as an indication of the unusual degree of 
planning, and scattered road spikes on main roads to deter 
pursuit by authorities.  Deputy Governor Winyu called this 
was the most coordinated attack seen this year, and a blatant 
challenge to authority.  Police have reportedly arrested at 
least three of the perpetrators.  In a separate incident on 
July 15, two teachers were gunned down while on their way to 
school in the neighboring province of Narathiwat by 
unidentified gunmen. 
 
3.  (C)  Only July 15, Prime Minister Thaksin convened an 
emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the previous day's 
incidents.  In a meeting with the Ambassador immediately 
following the cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon 
Chaisaeng (meeting will be reported septel) told the 
Ambassador that the cabinet had approved an emergency act to 
replace the selective martial law already in place in parts 
of the South.  Chaturon indicated that the new law had been 
in the works for several months, but the overnight incidents 
in Yala provided the impetus to move them forward.  Chaturon 
said the laws would be issued by "Royal Proclamation" and 
thus not require parliamentary approval.  Chaturon 
characterized the new laws as an effort to actually "soften" 
the harsh image of martial law, and indicated that the powers 
granted would not be greater than those under martial law. 
(NOTE: It will be difficult for the government to overcome 
the impression that any such law is anything but a strong 
countermeasure designed to give authorities more leeway to 
combat the militants, however. END NOTE) The Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs will give a briefing on July 18 to the 
diplomatic community to explain the new emergency laws in 
detail. 
 
4.  (C)  COMMENT:  The highly organized attacks in Yala 
represent another escalation in the long history of violence 
in Thailand's troubled South.  The attacks are especially 
disturbing given the coordination and discipline evidenced in 
the series of simultaneous attacks. END COMM