Since the end of World War II, there has been a movement of members of the Communist Party of Thailand in southern Thailand. especially the Chinese and Thai people of Chinese descent in the area which became politically awake due to the influence of the Communist Party of China and the dissatisfaction with the Japanese army threatening China and Thailand during the war. These Chinese and Thai-Chinese groups began to secretly gather. to carry out operations against the Japanese army Later, when the war ended, these people, more absorbed in communist ideology, began to spread political ideology based on communism in various areas of the south such as Trang, Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Phatthalung, etc. And when the Communist Party of Thailand was officially established and There were members of the party taking political action in the southern region. It made many people in the area to be influenced by such political ideas and join the work with the Communist Party of Thailand more. This may be due to factors such as difficulty in living and dissatisfaction with the actions of government officials. both on corruption and oppression of people in the area
As the operations of the Communist Party of Thailand in the south began to grow and influence the people in the area more. An atmosphere of misunderstanding and paranoia between the state and the people who favored communist regimes arose in many parts of the South and gradually grow up too This atmosphere caused the Communist Party of Thailand to start a movement that tends to fight with more armed forces in the southern region. Especially since the year 1964 onwards, which has set up a weapon training camp for members in the Khao Prao area. Ban Na San District Surat Thani Province, and in 1965, weapons training was provided to members in the Khao Kaeo area, which is the boundary between Trang and Phatthalung provinces. In this area, Mr. Prasit Thiansiri or Kim or Tan Sae Tae or Comrade Choi or Comrade Chid, secretary-general of the Central Committee of the Communist Southern Party during that period, was an important leader. The operation area is divided into 3 areas as follows: The Northern Camp has approximately 60 personnel, with operating areas in Koh Tao Subdistrict, Pa Payom Subdistrict, and Phanom Wang Subdistrict. in Khuan Khanun District Phatthalung Province, Tha Ngio Sub-district, Nong Prue Sub-district of Huai Yot District, Trang Province, Tha Pracha Sub-district, Tha Med Sub-district, Cha Uat Sub-district and Wang Ang Sub-district of Cha-uat District Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Sam Sub-district, Ron Phibun Subdistrict and Hin Tok Subdistrict, Ron Phibun District and Lan Saka District Nakhon Si Thammarat Province The Klang Klang camp has a capacity of approximately 46 people, with operating areas in Khao Pu Subdistrict, Khao Ya Subdistrict, Tapan Subdistrict and Pantae Subdistrict of Khuan Khanun District. Phatthalung Province and Pak Chaem Sub-district, Huai Yot District, Trang Province, the Southern Army Camp has approximately 55 personnel, with operating areas in Ban Na Subdistrict, Khao Chiak Subdistrict, Tha Miram Subdistrict, Charat Subdistrict, Rom Mueang Subdistrict, Khok Cha Ngai Subdistrict, Prang Mu Subdistrict, and Na Tho Subdistrict Mueang District, Phatthalung Province, Khao Chaison Subdistrict, Khao Chaison District Phatthalung Province, Lamong Subdistrict and Nam Phut Subdistrict, Mueang District, Trang Province
Phatthalung Province and nearby areas, where there are many conditions that make people dissatisfied with the operations of government officials. and is an important movement area of the Communist Party of Thailand In 1964, violence between the two sides began to occur for the first time at Ban Khuan Plong. near the city of Phatthalung It began with the coalition of the Communist movement decided to shoot security officials in order to steal guns for use in the communist forces. And later, when the Communist Party of Thailand announced the establishment of an official armed force named “People’s Liberation Army of Thailand” On January 1, 1969, the Communist Party of Thailand in the Southern Region has announced the establishment of a southern armed force called “People’s Liberation Army of Thailand” in the south has announced the establishment of an armed force in the south called “People’s Liberation Army of Thailand in the South”
After the Communist Party of Thailand in the southern region was able to find more members and allies. and can expand the range of movement to the use of weapons This gave the government a tough policy against the growth of communist ideas and movements. has strengthened its security operations and sent more security agencies to be stationed in the southern region. Especially in Phatthalung Province and nearby areas where the communist movement grew especially. As there is evidence that the police force began to enter the area of Phatthalung province on a mission to suppress the communist movement around 1964, they entered the area of Koh Tao Subdistrict, Khuan Khanun Subdistrict, and about 50-60 villagers were charged. Communist and on 30 June 1966 arrested more than 40 villagers, most of them in Koh Tao sub-district. and Ban Sang Krae, Pa Phayom Subdistrict, later in the year 1969, the government sent troops Border Patrol Police (Road Patrol) and Territorial Volunteers (Public Organization) to set up bases of operations in villages around the Banthat Mountain Range at several points together. in the area of Phatthalung Province is in the area of Ban Khlong Muay, Ban Na Subdistrict, Mueang Phatthalung District, amounting to 1 battalion and splitting another part to set up at Ban Tha Chiet, Tamot District, in order to suppress communism in the end High-powered weapons of war were used in operations. Allies and members of the communist movement were arrested in the area.
Under these security operations, many villagers were arrested. and brought to be investigated in the area of operation of the security forces until 1972, some villagers who were brought in for questioning in some military barracks, especially “Koh Lung Camp” in Ban Na Sub-District and “Tha Chiet Camp” in Tamot Sub-District began to disappear in large numbers. And when someone asks about the missing after the arrest comes to investigate. Security officials who arrested villagers for questioning would explain that they had been released back home. But later began to be rumored about the event red barrel What is red barrel red barrel is a technique used by the Thai military at that time by catching a person who must be suspected of being a member of Communist Party in Southern Thailand By holding people stuffed into the red barrel before starting a fire at the bottom of the barrel before Let the captured person be smoked or burned alive. made later Operation against the Communist Party of Thailand in the south of Thailand known as Operation red barrel or red barrel incident, although it is believed that many people died from this operation. But it was unable to clearly determine the number of deaths. by some sources indicate that 3,008 people have died, but the size of Operation against the Communist Party of Thailand in the south of Thailand It is so large that it is impossible to determine the exact number of deaths from the red barrel incident.
