The bombings in Narathiwat were not a prelude to the failure of the peace talks agreement signed with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asserted on Friday.
Two bombings occurred in Muang district of southern Narithiwat province on Friday, just a day after the signing of the consensus agreement by National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabut and BRN liaison office official Hassan Talib in Kuala Lumpur.
Ms Yingluck said people should not jump to the immediate conclusion that the government's efforts to arrange talks would prove fruitless.
Lt Gen Paradorn had cautioned after the signing on Thursday that the peace process still has a long way to go, with bi-weekly talks with BRN members at all levels to begin in mid-March.
An office shows a plate of a motorcycle damaged by a bomb in Narathiwat's Muang district on Friday. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
Commentators and the government's opponents have questioned just how much influence the BRN has over insurgent militants on the ground in the border provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he doubted the influence of the BRN over other factions stirring up trouble in the restive region.
He also asked what conditions were set for the group to be brought to the negotiating table by the government.
Mr Abhisit said the Democrat Party supported the government's intentions to restore peace in the southern part of the country, but the latest move would be tailored for political victory for the two governments involved - Thailand and Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said on Wednesday he was open to advice from the Democrat Party leader and his deputy, Thaworn Senneam.
Mr Abhisit said he has not received any letter from Mr Chalerm offering a meeting. He neither rejected nor accepted the invitation. He stressed that the best forum for the issue to be discussed is the floor of parliament.
Narathiwat's Muang district was hit by two bombings in a six-hour time span on Friday.
One soldier and five civilians were injured when an explosive device hidden inside a motorcycle exploded at 5.50am.
Pol Sub Lt Thitipong Srisongmuang, duty officer at Muang Narathiwat police station, said the explosion occurred at the fresh market on Phuphaphakdee road of Muang Narathiwat municipality.
Witnesses told police that a youth parked the motorcycle at the front of the morning market, near a pickup truck used by of soldiers guarding the market, and then walked into the crowd and disappeared.
Five minutes later a bomb concealed on the bike went off, injuring a soldier and five civilians, one of whom was in critical condition. They were taken to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin hospital.
The bomb victims are Sompong Woonpuan, 66, seriously wounded, Hathaichanok Sae Ngum, 39, Amporn Palanuwat, 60, Chantawee sae Lao, 42, Chittra Anothai, 60, and Pvt Jesada Dejpala, 23.
The explosion also damaged six motorcycles and two pickup trucks parked nearby.
Police blamed separatist militants.
Around noon, a large retail store, nearby shophouses and motorcycles were damaged by a car bomb explosion in the district.
A 20kg explosive device hidden inside a pickup truck parked on front of Jip Heng shop, an outlet of a large retailer in Narathiwat, opposite Muang Narathiwat police station.
No one was injured or killed in the explosion, according to the reports.
Police blamed the bombings on an insurgent group active in the province.
According to Deep South Watch, which monitors the southern violence, more than 5,000 people have been killed and over 9,000 injured in more than 11,000 incidents, or about 3.5 a day, in the three southernmost provinces and the four districts of Songkhla since the violence erupted afresh in January 2004.