The car bomb attack which took place in front of Pattani’s Muang district police station and the adjoining provincial police head office on April 21, 2010 was long gone from the memory of most people in Pattani and elsewhere but not for Pol Maj Kumanthana Benjamana.

The government’s new compensation package for victims of southern violence perpetrated by state authorities appears to cause widespread resentment and confusion among families of victims who are excluded from the financial help.

The powerful car bomb explosion in Pattani township on February 9 which killed one passer-by and wounded 15 other people was believed to be targeted against defence volunteers gathering in front of the provincial hall to mark the Defence Volunteer Day.

The fatal shooting in which four Malay Muslim villagers were shot dead and five others injured by paramilitary rangers in Tambon Pulo Puyo of Nong Chik district, Pattani on Sunday night could become a “drop of honey” which might cause widespread resentment and deepen mistrust among the Malay Muslims toward government officials, especially the military.

A group of 28 victims of violent incidents in Songkhla province may sue four suspects who earlier agreed to undergo re-education in exchange for having their charges dropped but later reversed their statements.