Two rubber-tappers and a state electricity worker were killed in Muslim-majority southern Thailand today.
The shootings in Yala, one of the three troubled provinces abutting Malaysia, come after four people were murdered in the past four days and are likely to dampen hopes of a fall in violence as a result of last month's coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
His army-appointed successor, Surayud Chulanont, travels to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, with diplomats saying he is likely to discuss Malaysia's offer to host peace talks between Bangkok and leaders of the rebellion.
The offer follows the revelation that former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad held a series of talks with insurgent leaders over the last year under a peace drive backed by Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Despite many community leaders in the far south blaming Mr Thaksin for the unrest, his removal has had little impact on the daily cycle of violence in a region where 80 per cent of people are Malay Muslim and do not speak Thai as a first language.
More than 1,700 people have died in almost three years of violence in the region.