Good intelligence and map are key to insurgents’ defeat
Good intelligence and the seizure of a map of the Marines’ outpost in Narathiwat’s Bacho district from Islamist insurgents are two key elements attributable to the Marines’ success in the defence of the outpost and dealing a lethal blow to the attacking insurgents on February 13.
Tipoffs from the locals about the movement of the insurgents in Ban Kue Lae, Tambon Barae Nua, Bacho district helped the Marines intercept a group of between 6-8 insurgents near a cemetery in Ban Kae Lae on February 4. The fleeing insurgents left behind some weapons and ammunition, cellphones, some foodstuffs and, most importantly, a hand-drawn map of the Marines’ base in Ban Yue Lor, Tambon Barae Nua.
The second map showing a drawing and some details of the outpost was seized five days afterward in a house raid in Ban Doku Surao, Tambon Bacho, in which one wanted insurgent, Suhaidee Tahae, 31, was shot dead.
The two seized maps convinced the Marines that their outpost located in a rubber plantation was marked for attack by the insurgents, said a Marine officer, adding however that they had no idea when exactly the attack would take place but it might be imminent.
But the outpost was put on red alert and security beefed up with the reinforcement of a special force unit. The same officer said that all the preparations were done quietly without the notice or knowledge of the local people in close vicinity of the outpost as some of them were suspected to be spies of the insurgents.
The anticipated attack took place during the early hours of February 13. The insurgents believed to be led by Marorso Chantharavadee arrived near the Marines’ outpost in three pickup trucks and two motorcycles. But they had no idea that the Marines were well prepared and were already waiting for them.
The result of the attack was already wellknown. Marorso and 15 of his men were killed by the Marines and their bodies were scattering in the perimeter of the outpost. It was one of the biggest loss of the insurgents in many years.
Besides the casualties, the Marines seized three hand grenades, 13 rifles which included five M4, four M16, two AK47 and two AK102, three handguns, three homemade bombs, one pickup truck, two motorcycles and one chainsaw.
Three suspects were arrested in Rueso district after police manning a road block stopped a pickup truck and found blood stain on the right door of the vehicle.
Lt-Gen Udomchai Thammasarorat, commander of the Fourth Army Region, who later visited the Marines’ outpost to give morale support to the troopers said that good cooperation from the locals in providing information about the insurgents to the Marines was key element in the successful defence of the outpost and defeat of the raiders.
Commander Somkiat Pholprayoon, commander of the Marine force in the far South, however, expressed regret for the deaths of the insurgents saying that they were also Thais. He pleaded with the insurgents to stop the violence and to resort to peaceful settlement of conflict.
As for families of the dead insurgents, the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and the governors of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces had been instructed to help in their rehabilitation, but no compensation will be paid to them for the deaths of their loved ones.
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Caption : The Marine’s outpost in Bacho district of Narathiwat