BANGKOK, Thailand – The recent spate of attacks in some Deep South provinces may be the work of rebel groups angry they were excluded from peace talks recently initiated between the Thai government and insurgent group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), a former senior intelligence official said Thursday (April 11th).

"Peace talks are of course a must, but as far as I can tell, there are between nine and 12 groups operating in the South," The Nation quoted former National Intelligence Agency chief Thawil Plansri as saying at a seminar organised by journalist groups. "So, when the Thai government has officially started peace talks with just one group, others may become dissatisfied."

In one attack a week ago, insurgents killed a deputy governor of Yala.

Two soldiers and six other security personnel were wounded Wednesday in a bombing that was part of co-ordinated attacks throughout Pattani.

Rebels struck again in Narathiwat on Friday, critically wounding a hospital janitor as she rode to work on a motorcycle. Witnesses say gunmen pulled alongside the woman and shot her in the head and face, according to The Bangkok Post.