NARATHIWAT: Authorities in Narathiwat province imposed a curfew following an escalation in insurgency that included multiple bomb and arson attacks on Saturday evening.
The curfew, enacted under the Martial Law Act of 1914, prohibited residents from leaving their homes between 10:15 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday.
The measure was intended to protect lives and property, prevent further violence, and allow security forces to control the situation and maintain public order.
The insurgency in the three southern border provinces intensified again on the evening of Saturday (August 22, 2026), following bomb and arson attacks at several locations.
A total of 25 incidents were reported across three provinces, 13 districts, and 16 subdistricts, prompting security authorities to urgently tighten control measures.
Following the incidents, Maj Gen Yodawut Phuengphak, commander of the Narathiwat Task Force, signed an urgent announcement imposing a curfew under the Martial Law Act of 1914 following an escalation in the insurgency and bomb attacks at several locations in Narathiwat.
The announcement said violence related to the insurgency had occurred in several parts of Narathiwat on Saturday, making it necessary to deploy military, police and civilian personnel to protect people’s lives and property.
The Fourth Army Region and the Narathiwat Task Force therefore invoked powers under Sections 6, 8, 9 and 11 of the Martial Law Act of 1914 to prohibit people from leaving their homes throughout Narathiwat from 10.15pm on Saturday (August 22, 2026) until 6am on Sunday (August 23, 2026).
Anyone facing an urgent need to leave home was required to obtain permission from military personnel, police, a subdistrict headman, a village headman or a local administrative official.
Military personnel were also instructed to undertake tactical operations to maintain order.
They were authorised to conduct searches under Section 9, prohibit certain activities under Section 11 and exercise other relevant powers to control the situation and maintain public order.
Civilian officials were required to comply with military requests relating to operations, suppression and the maintenance of public order.
The public was asked to cooperate with officials and facilitate their work.
The announcement, dated Saturday (August 22, 2026), took effect immediately.
Meanwhile, a video filmed by a member of the public in Pattani captured another alarming incident in which about three or four assailants approached the Bang Pu branch of 7-Eleven in Yaring district.
The footage showed the assailants spreading out in front of the shop to clear the area and force customers and staff to leave.
One man, wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and trousers and carrying a firearm, acted threateningly and repeatedly shouted, “Get out.”
Another one or two assailants wore black clothing and hoods.
Some appeared to be carrying long guns and kept watch around the shop, causing customers and staff to flee in panic.
The man in white then raised his gun and fired one shot into the air, followed by about three or four more, to intimidate people and prevent anyone from approaching.
After clearing the area, the group returned to the motorcycles they had prepared before setting fire to the shop.
The Bang Pu branch was later found to have sustained heavy fire damage.
The near-simultaneous incidents prompted security forces to tighten control of the affected areas and pursue those responsible.
The curfew in Narathiwat was described as an urgent measure to control the situation, prevent further attacks and improve the effectiveness of officers’ operations in the area. - The Nation/ANN
