Deep divisions in the southern border are analyzed through the motives behind the bombings and arson at 11 gas stations. Scholars view the perpetrators as aiming to demonstrate their strength or as being involved in local conflicts of interest. They highlight that policies addressing unrest in the three southern border provinces have disappeared from the national political agenda.
On the night of 10 Jan 2026 GMT+7, assailants carried out coordinated bombings and arson at 11 gas stations across the three southern border provinces. This led to the recent declaration of a curfew in Narathiwat Province amid residents’ growing fears, while the identity and motives of the perpetrators remain unclear.
Thairath Online’s special task force interviewed Associate Professor Aekarin Tuansiri from the Political Science Department at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus. He analyzed that the incident is unrelated to the local subdistrict administrative organization elections, and that the ownership of the targeted gas stations—11 points in the three provinces—belongs to local individuals. This suggests the incident is not connected to religious issues or attacks on religious sites.
The incident may be linked to a show of strength by groups dissenting from the state. Simultaneously, the attacks suggest no intent to harm lives but may relate to business conflicts, as all the gas stations belong to the same brand and are neither government facilities nor targeted to harm civilians or state officials.
Another key issue is that whether the incident occurred on government or private property, it reflects a lapse in security and the effectiveness of local authorities in controlling such events.
Initial investigations by state authorities are pending. The perpetrators might be outsiders not involved in insurgency or possibly insurgents sharing a common operational goal. It is notable that the attacks occurred at 11 locations, implying the perpetrators have a sizable network. If they are external actors not part of insurgent groups, this could indicate conflicts among influential local figures with connections in the area, as such coordinated attacks are not easily executed.
Currently, a curfew has been imposed in Narathiwat, which will impact the local economy. Furthermore, Malaysian tourists may now refrain from visiting, further exacerbating economic difficulties following recent flooding and now these attacks on all 11 gas stations.
At the same time, state officials should expedite investigations to restore confidence among local residents. Delays risk increasing feelings of insecurity. For example, last night while working in Pattani, I heard explosions and felt unsettled and unsafe.
Local residents urge the government to strengthen the efficiency of security agencies in the area to prevent such attacks. Although the agencies have considerable resources and budgets, they cannot evade responsibility when such incidents occur. Thus, the caretaker government should establish clear policies and measures to rebuild trust among the local population.
If the perpetrators are dissenting groups, urgent dialogue and negotiations are needed. Fortunately, no children were injured yesterday. In 2026, if neither the caretaker nor the new government implements policies to reassure residents of the three southern border provinces or opens talks with dissenting parties, unrest may continue for a prolonged period.
Finally, with the general election approaching—an event tied to the exercise of state power in the three southern border provinces—no political party has yet seriously addressed policies for resolving issues in this region. I urge political parties to present clear policies to achieve meaningful solutions.