A car bomb attack and clashes near the Pattani dam in Yala will inevitably affect peace talks with insurgent networks in the Muslim-dominated southernmost provinces. Gen Wanlop gave his assurances as the eight-day clash near the dam in tambon Tase of Muang district was escalating with one more militant suspect killed in a firefight. Two of the suspects killed earlier are linked with an attack on a security checkpoint in tambon Lamphaya in Yala's Muang district on Nov 6, 2019. The clash near the dam is proving to be a difficult mission because the suspects have good knowledge of the area near the Pattani-Yala border. It appears as if the clash at the dam and the car bomb outside the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), also in Yala Muang district, are related, a security source familiar with the issues said.

Source: Bangkok Post March 19, 2020 22:52 UTC