In August 2006 , after 22 commercial banks were simultaneously bombed in Yala province , Sonthi announced that he would break with government policy and negotiate with the leaders of the insurgency . However , he noted that " We still do n't know who is the real head of the militants we are fighting with . " In a press conference the next day , he attacked the government for criticizing him for trying to negotiate with the anonymous insurgents , and demanded that the government " Free the military and let it do the job . " Afterwards , insurgents bombed 6 department stores in Hat Yai city , which up until then had been free of insurgent activities . As always , the identity of the insurgents was not revealed . On 8 September , Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit promised to give Sonthi increased powers to better deal with the insurgency . However , by 19 September 2006 , the Army admitted that it still was unsure who to negotiate with
bombed 6 department stores
2006 Hat Yai bombings
Sonthi Boonyaratglin