Paramilitary wounded by bomb attack in south Thailand

A Thai government paramilitary ranger volunteer was wounded on Wednesday in a bomb ambush in the country's restive southern province of Yala. Identified as Chaipol Meephaew, 31, the victim was wounded in both legs. He was a member of a teacher protection unit that was on foot patrol duty in Bannang Sata district in Yala on Wednesday morning. The militant waited until the patrol unit arrived at the targeted location before detonating the bomb. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Pol Gen Pracha Promnok said the leading Muslim militant group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) was not behind the Yala bombing. Initial investigation suggests that the violence was conducted by a small group working in the district. The victim is now being treated in a local hospital. The BRN and the Thai government has agreed to reduce violence during Ramadan, the holy month of the Muslims, starting from July 10. More than 5,000 people have been killed and more than 9,000 wounded in over 11,000 incidents in Thailand's Muslim, ethnic- Malay dominated three southern border provinces -- Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla -- since violence erupted in January 2004, according to Deep South Watch, which monitors the regional violence.