A total of 15,374 insurgency-related incidents in the far South during the past 12 full years (2004-2015) have claimed 6,543 lives and injured 11,919 people, according to a report by Deep South Watch (DSW) of the Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus.
There were an average 1,281 violent incidents per year over the period. The figures were higher during the first four years, at an average 1,926 per year. During the last eight years the annual average was 959.
In 2015 the number of incidents fell to 674, the lowest for the 12 years. Last year, the violence peaked in May, with 119 incidents, followed by 114 in October and 73 in July.
The May violence included bombings at 48 spots and the erection of cloth banners with anti-government messages at 27 spots in Pattani province from May 10-15.
In October, bombings occurred at about 40 spots in Muang district of Yala and Yarang district of Pattani.
June recorded the lowest violence for 2015, with only 30 incidents.
The DSW report concludes that during the past 12 years insurgency-related violence caused a total of 6,543 deaths, an average of 545 per year, with 11,919 people injured, an average of 993 per year.
Pol Maj Gen Itthipol Achariyapradit, the Yala police chief, on Monday morning visited the fresh market in front of the railway station in a show of support for police, military and civilian personnel providing security there.
He instructed them to pay particular attention to cars, motorcycles and some individuals for possible violence because today, Jan 4, was the 12th anniversary of the insurgent attack on the 4th Development Battalion base in Cho Ai Rong district of Narathiwat province.
The attack marked the resurgence of separatist violence in the southernmost border provinces, which had been relatively quiet for several years.
The insurgents killed four soldiers and made off with 413 weapons. About 100 of the stolen weapons, most of them M16 rifles, have been recovered in various incidents during the past 12 years.