Reports about devastating flood in Pattani early this month appeared to have eclipsed an interesting event which took place in the southern province during the same period – that was the abrupt transfer of the acting superintendent of the Muang district police, Pol Col Narucha Suwanlapha, out of the province.

Fourteen suspects detained on security-related charges have been temporarily released under a bail programme initiated by the Justice Ministry.

Six years after the Tak Bai tragic incident on October 25, 2004, justice still remains elusive for the loved ones of the 78 Muslim men died of suffocation while they were being trucked to an army barrack in Narathiwat and seven others killed in front of Tak Bai district police station.

Seven people were killed and six others injured within three days of violence in October in the three southernmost provinces. Details of the deadly violent incidents are as follows:

Recent “arrest” of six clam fishermen on theft charge has threatened to exacerbate the simmering conflict between clam farm operators and local fishermen who have made a living by catching clam in the sea off Pattani province.