Southern security forces arrested a man yesterday, who is suspected of involvement in the ambush of a group of Buddhist monks in a pickup truck, on their way to receive alms in Saba Yoi district of Songkhla province. A 16-year-old novice monk was killed in the attack and another 12-year-old was injured.
The suspect, 22-year-old Nassari Dukae, was arrested by security force at a house in Nong Chik district of Pattani province, several hours after the fatal attack about 500 metres from a temple.
Security forces claim to have evidence linking the suspect to the ambush, after having used CCTV to track the suspect, who escaped on a motorcycle to a village in Nong Chik district.
One officer claimed that the suspect in custody has a close association with Atchaman Porlor, a suspected insurgent who had 13 outstanding arrest warrants against him before he was arrested by police on September 16th, 2023, at a checkpoint in Bacho district of Narathiwat.
Under the martial law currently in effect in the region, Nassari is subject to seven days of detention. He was transferred to the interrogation centre at the Ingkhayuth camp in Nong Chik district for questioning by military officers.
Security forces say that about 30 spent shells were found at the crime scene. These were traced to an M16 assault rifle, robbed from a police officer who was killed by insurgents on June 10th, 2023.
They also claim that the suspect parked his bike in a rubber plantation, about 50 metres from the pickup truck carrying the group of monks and others, and opened fire with an M16 assault rifle before fleeing on the motorcycle.
Songkhla Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom said that the shootings were the first in the province in six months. He is scheduled to attend a bathing rite for the deceased novice today, at Thamniab Thammaram Temple in Saba Yoi district.
The National Human Rights Commission issued a statement yesterday, condemning the violent attack and offering condolences to relatives of the deceased.
The commission said in its statement that every religion in the Deep South must be respected and protected, noting that, in this case, the victims were children.
It urged the authorities to bring the culprits to justice.
