Southern shop closures double
Traders fear 'holy day' attacks by insurgents
Shop closures in Narathiwat yesterday doubled
from last week, despite assurances from officials that Friday trading
would be safe.
Threats of violence by separatist militants against anyone working or
trading on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, have heightened security
tensions in the southern provinces over the past fortnight.In Narathiwat's Muang, Yi-ngo, Bacho and Rangae districts, market stalls, restaurants and motorcycle and gold shops were mostly closed for business yesterday. The closures accounted for about 70% of normal business operations, double the amount of closures seen the previous Friday, observers said.
More than 300 minivans at Narathiwat bus station also ceased operations. Passenger Suwat Saeju said he was forced to travel by bus instead of van to Songkhla's Hat Yai district, and return to Narathiwat by train.
"I wasted a lot of time reaching home," he said, adding that he simply had to adapt if he wanted to keep living in the deep South.
In Sungai Kolok municipality, more than 100 fresh market stalls were closed. One pork vendor, identified only as Sunee, said there were few customers.
Many customers still had no confidence in the authorities' assurance of safety, she said.
She added that Malaysian traders were also afraid of possible insurgent attacks, and did not come to the market as usual.
Narathiwat Chamber of Commerce chairman Kukiat Burapapong said locals remained fearful, forcing a number of shops and transport services to close.
He was, however, convinced that normalcy would return within two weeks.
In Pattani's Muang district, Thet Wiwat fresh market was almost deserted, with only 10 food stalls open serving a handful of customers.
Vendors said they may not open their business again next Friday, as their sales could not cover the cost of doing so.
They said most of the customers came to buy food on Thursdays instead of Fridays.
The vendors who did remain open were visited by Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, and Pramuk Lamun, Pattani governor, who offered them encouragement.
In Yala municipality, more than 70% of shops kept their doors shut yesterday.
Yala governor Dechrat Simsiri led a team to visit the market vendors who remained open. They urged the authorities to keep security in place to build customer and vendor confidence.
In Yala's Yaha district, police arrested two men accused of intimidating shop owners.
Abdulrose Yuso, 25, and Hasan Panawa, 22, allegedly threatened to attack a petrol station staff member and a shop owner who had remained open for business. Both suspects denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, an improvised bomb was also discovered on the Sa Ko-Kalubee road in tambon Sako of Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district at 3.30pm yesterday.
The device was packed inside a 20kg gas cylinder.
Officials were able to defuse the bomb, and believe police patrols that pass the spot daily were the likely intended target.
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