BANGKOK, Feb 13- Seventeen insurgents were killed in a fierce gun battle when they walked into a military trap while ambushing a naval camp in Narathiwat, early today.
Narathiwat Naval Commander Col Somkiat Ponprayoon said about 50 insurgents, well armed and dressed in military outfit with bullet proof vests from the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) group, stormed the small camp of 50 officers and men, at 1am.
“We were well prepared with the assistance of 60 commandoes in anticipation of their attack. We came to know of their plan when authorities raided a house of a BRN member who was killed during an exchange of fire with authorities in Saiburi, Bachok, Pattani, two days ago and found a written ambush plan,” he said.
The gun battle lasted between two to three hours at the camp in Kampung Jelor, Bachok, Narathiwat.
Somkiat said one of the insurgents killed was identified as Matroso Chantarawadi, one of the most wanted BRN leaders with a bounty of 2 million Baht (RM200,000) on his head.
Status on the condition of soldiers involved in the gun battle was still not available immediately.
This is the highest casualties involving insurgents in recent years since mostly soldiers, policemen and civilians have been victims of insurgent attacks with very few casualties on the side of the insurgents. All the bodies were sent to the Narathiwat Rachanakarin Hospital. More than 5,000 people have died since suspected separatists resumed their armed campaign to seek independence for the three southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, nine years ago.
BERNAMA
