Night Markets Buzz Again as Army Shelves Narathiwat Curfew

Night-time streets in Narathiwat are humming again after the army shelved its 21:00–05:00 stay-home order just a day after it began. The abrupt reversal, signed by Task-Force chief Maj Gen Yodawut Phuengphak, suggests security chiefs now believe last week’s coordinated fuel-station bombings can be contained without blanket restrictions – welcome news for residents, traders and cross-border commuters who rely on the province’s after-dark economy.

At a glance

• Curfew revoked under century-old martial law provisions one day after being imposed

• Border checkpoints revert to normal screening while troops remain on patrol

• Five PTT stations suffered extensive damage; forensic teams now combing sites

• Local officials hope move will kick-start cross-border trade, night markets and tourism

Streets reopen as security barometers calm

The Narathiwat Task Force says its decision followed a fresh assessment that the threat has "significantly diminished." For locals accustomed to the ebb and flow of the Deep South insurgency, the end of the curfew restores vital nightly travel routines: rubber tappers heading to plantations before dawn, students catching early trains, worshippers attending local mosques for Isha prayers. Temporary police checkpoints remain, but community leaders report traffic volumes have already surged.

Commerce breathes easier along the border

By mid-morning the Su-ngai Kolok bridge to Malaysia was buzzing with ringgit-baht traders once more. Fresh-produce exporters rushed to clear overnight orders, while night bazaar owners reopened stalls to lure visitors. Analysts note that rubber exports – the province’s lifeblood – depend on smooth logistics; even a one-day halt hammers income for halal eateries, drivers and hotels. The provincial chamber of commerce expects an economic recovery if calm holds.

Forensic trail of the fuel-station blasts

Investigators retrieved bomb fragments and conducted DNA swabs at the wrecked sites. Hours of CCTV loops are being reviewed, focusing on blood droplets forming an escape route through tall grass toward a nearby road where a suspect pick-up truck was seen. A widened security camera network now feeds data to the counter-insurgency command, which has offered a hefty reward for tips leading to arrests.

Voices from mosques, markets and schools

Community sentiment oscillates between relief and vigilance. Imam Haji Abdullah welcomes freer access for late-night prayers, while a street-food vendor near Cho-airong station hopes sales rebound. A university lecturer cautions that sustainable peace demands more than troop withdrawals; parent-teacher groups and the civil-society network want consistent dialogue. Human-rights monitors echo the call for transparency, stressing that every arrest must reinforce, not erode, trust-building.

What Bangkok and locals will watch next

Officials in the capital will track tourist arrivals, border trade figures and rubber prices in coming weeks. Narathiwat schools plan a full reopening once a revised school reopening plan clears safety checks. The army has promised to review its rules of engagement and expand community policing. Residents, meanwhile, prioritise faster compensation payouts for damaged businesses and fresh campaigns by the provincial tourism board. A follow-up next security assessment is expected before the end of the month.