Minister Praw Wongsuwon, in charge of security affairs, said southern mili tants might have been hired to carry out the attacks. He expressed confidence the attacks, despite being widely seen as bearing the insurgency's signature, are not an escala tion of the southern violence. He said some elements in the three southernmost provinces could have been involved in the attacks, but the motives remain unclear. There's no need to pressure me, we have clear information, IT tell you, If it's still sketchy, l can't say anything. This is complicated matter, and at this stage we won't implicate anyone, he said National police chief Chakthip Chai chinda said yesterday police are still con sidering all possibilities while focusingon a politically-driven motive. "We're covering all the bases but the referendum issue is our focus. But I can assure you it has nothing to do with the Erawan shrine bombing last August he said Asked about similarities between the