Thailand Resort Bombings Related to Insurgency in Country's South

Royal Thai Police Chief Chakthip Chaijinda said that recent explosions at the resorts of Thailand were unlikely to be related to international terrorism, and were tied to local offenders, as the bombs were similar to those used by separatist insurgents in the south.

BANGKOK (Sputnik) — A series of explosions at the resorts of Thailand is linked to the political conflict in the country related to the insurgency in the country's south, Royal Thai Police Chief Chakthip Chaijinda said Friday.

Last week, the Thai nationals voted in a referendum in favor of a new constitution, proposed by the military government. A number of southern provinces, some known for separatist moods, voted in favor of it. On Thursday and earlier on Friday, a series of bombings and arson attacks in the resort areas in southern Thailand killed at least four people and injured 28, including foreigners. Tourists, market and administrative sites were targeted by attacks.

"All seven provinces where the incidents took place endorsed the draft charter [at the Sunday referendum]," Chakthip said, as quoted by the Khaosod newspaper.

He said the attacks were unlikely to be related to international terrorism, and were tied to local offenders, as the bombs were similar to those used by separatist insurgents in the south.

In 2004, a conflict started in the south of Thailand, which borders Malaysia. The Muslim population of the provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have been striving for independence from predominantly Buddhist Thailand, and the creation of an independent state with Muslim majority, or joining Malaysia.

In 2014, a coup occurred in Thailand, with the military dissolving the Senate and detaining a number of political and public figures, including former Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra, who later appeared in court. These events were preceded by massive anti-government protests.