Marines detained by violence-troubled villagers southern Thailand

Two marines have been detained by villagers disturbed by bomb attacks in Thailand's insurgent south since early Wednesday.

The two marines, a soldier and an officer whose ranks yet to be confirmed, were detained by residents of the district of Rangae in the southern province of Narathiwat, a military source told Xinhua.

More than 100 local residents also closed the entrance to their district on early Wednesday, using makeshift blockade made of stools and cut-down trees.

The latest clashes between authorities and southern residents were triggered out by a bomb attack at a teahouse in the district around 1:00 a.m. Wednesday. Five villagers were wounded by the explosion.

Accusing the security force of being responsible for the blasts, the villagers detained the two marines when they were patrolling the area after the attack and blocked the road as "self-defense".

The authorities haven't made comment on the latest confrontations with the southern locals and the military is preparing to negotiate with locals for the release of the two marines.

It's the second time in one month that southern residents have refused the authorities to enter their villages, accusing security forces of using violence when they search insurgency suspects.

In late August, residents of Ban Rahan Village in Narathiwat blockaded entrance to authorities twice, accusing them shooting dead an Imam there.

Thailand's deep south bordering northern Malaysia has fallen into unabated violence by revived separatists since the beginning of last year.

More than 900 people, including insurgents, security forces, government employees and civilians, have lost their lives to the violence in the past 20 months.

On the other hand, Thai press keep reporting how locals with unique Muslim culture and history have been further alienated from the central regime for government's tough stance on dealing with insurgency suspects.

Meanwhile, violence is still going on in the troubled region. On Monday, a teacher and a worker were wounded in a shooting in the southern province.

Source: Xinhua