Several Bombs Rocks Southern Thailand

[faranggl]

Just declare this disputed area to be a Reservation. It works in the US. I live on one. You have tribal autonomy with federal involvement. Fee simple and tribal trust lands. Various religions living in harmony. Some wiggle room for corruption. Casinos. Hotels. Lots of face to go around.

[cdnvic]

*sigh* Always signals a low point in a discussion when someone resorts to the "Hitler did ________" cop-out. For the record I don't care who is killing clergy, children, and innocents be they a roving band of murderers or a rogue state employee, I consider all murderers and rapists to be less than human.

I'm sure the terrorists will be reassured knowing that ColPyat is rising to their defense so valiantly.

Edited February 19, 2007 by cdnvic

[Pakboong]

Pacboong

I don’t mind you quoting me but please separate your comments from mine, I don’t want people to get confused as to who said what.

“It looks as if the demonization process has been complete success. At least in your case” Is your comment not mine.

My apologies

[Jai Dee]

Private sector admits bad effect of the southern bombings

The private sector has admitted that the southern bombings have an effect on the morale of local business operators while the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) will present this problem to the state sector.

The FTI chairman, Mr. Santi Wilassakdanond (สันติ วิลาสศักดานนท์), admitted that the bombings in the South has lessened the investors' trust, especially the local investors. Mr. Santi has urged the government to urgently solve the problem.

In addition, Mr. Santi said the FTI plans to hold a meeting with the committee to measure the effect on the industrial sector in the South after the bombings. Mr. Santi initially assigned the committee to compile the details of the problem to present to the government.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 Febuary 2007

[Jai Dee]

Police inspect a vehicle destroyed in an explosion at a Pattani Muang district automobile showroom.

Source: The Nation - 20 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Army major dies in second day of blasts

Soldiers, militants in fierce gun battle Govt won't deviate on peaceful solution

A string of co-ordinated attacks in the deep South continued unabated yesterday as militants killed an army major, bombed a motor showroom and injured at least seven civilians and ten soldiers who were part of security details for teachers in the violence-plagued region.

Major Prasart Nagtang, commander of a ranger unit in Yala's Raman district died in a bomb blast that went off at the front door of his home. His 12-year-old son suffered severe injuries in the attack.

In Narathiwat's Ruesoh district, five Border Patrol Police officers from two different platoons were hit by a roadside bomb near a remote railway station. The bomb was hidden in the back of a shed. A second bomb, planted about six metres away, exploded seconds after the first.

Also in the same district, a separate incident saw six infantry soldiers patrolling on motorbikes come under roadside attack by gunmen using automatic rifles. The two sides engaged in a fierce gunfight for about five minutes before the militants retreated back into the forest.

In Narathiwat's Muang district, a bomb placed just five metres away from a karaoke bar went off, injuring five men and two women drinking just outside the venue.

Separately, a bomb explosion in a Chevrolet showroom in Pattani's Muang district injured seven people, including a police officer, and damaged 20 automobiles. Damage to the showroom was put at Bt50 million. The bomb was placed inside a flowerpot against the wall next to the showroom and five metres behind the guard post of the compound.

The attacks were part of a non-stop violent campaign that was launched early Sunday evening as celebrations for the Chinese New Year were getting into full swing.

Power supplies to Pattani and Yala were cut for several hours as militants bombed the power lines leading to the cities.

The Sunday night attacks saw six dead and more than 60 injured in the bombings of "soft targets" such as hotels, karaoke lounges, entertainment venues, rubber plants and government offices.

Authorities claimed to have the situation under control by 10pm on Sunday - about four hours after the co-ordinated attacks were launched. But their claim was savagely rebutted with the killing of an Army major and a series of other attacks in various parts throughout the region.

The Army's Chief of Staff Gen. Montri Sangkasap said attacks on soft-targets constituted "terrorism" and warned more such acts would take place because there were some "loopholes" in the security measures.

But a senior security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said while soft targets were hit on Sunday and Monday, these latest attacks were no different from the previous incidents on the same, or similar, locations.

He said there appeared to be some degree of "self-restraint" on the militants' part, pointing to the fact that there were other major targets with a higher concentration of people celebrating the Chinese New Year.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said no more troops were needed in the region, and insisted the government would not stray from using a peaceful approach to the restive region to win over the area's residents to the government side.

Source: The Nation - 20 February 2007

[John K]

This is a disturbing enough thread without the need to make a bunch of posts, Thanks for the backup guys.

Colypat, as the others are trying to point out it is not only Thailand. You said Hitler, please remember he was looking to have a pure race and had a very selective target group in mind, not just killing anything with 2 legs that could talk.

Faranggl, in general to give this group and land establishes a foothold that will only grow. It is very obvious they want it all. Putting a fence around them and let them kill themselves is in actuality a very sound idea. They have already shown on several occasions that they can’t live with anyone including themselves, witch by the way supports the subspecies theory. Let nature fix the mistake.

When the USA unplugged Saddam Hussein they all came out of the walls. If you think about it Saddam was like a Lion Tamer. As evil as he was it seemed his ruthless nature kept the animals in check. Unfortunately he let his behavior spread to other groups that eventually lead to his hanging.

I have to agree that there is no reasoning with this group and they are a danger to innocent people. As much as some governments don’t like to admit, it leaves only one plan of action. In this case I have to agree with Thaksin’s strong hand approach unfortunately it was not strong enough.

Unfortunately even the most skilled surgeon must cut away healthy tissue to remove the infection. How much depends on the skill of the surgeon, so yes no doubt innocent people will get hurt or killed when removing this infection, it is a sad but true reality. The USA knows this and they developed smart bombs and other very pinpoint weapons.

Colypat you keep saying war, I disagree. They are thieves trying to steal land from another country. If you think about it, it’s like one animal challenging another for it’s territory. The strongest animal gets the prize. We have all seen it on nature programs, and even soi dogs defending their territory from other soi dogs. Again this tends to support the subspecies theory that negotiations don’t work.

[Pakboong]

I believe the communist incurgencies died when the Americans pulled out in the mid 70s.

[cdnvic]

I believe the communist incurgencies died when the Americans pulled out in the mid 70s.

That's right. It's all the Americans' fault

[Pakboong]

I believe the communist incurgencies died when the Americans pulled out in the mid 70s.

That's right. It's all the Americans' fault

Motive and opportunity

[Jai Dee]

Army's admissions not so clever

News it had advance warnings about latest attacks makes govt look incompetent

Senior government officials including Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin and Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya do themselves no favours when they say they knew in advance that attacks were due to occur in the deep South - then fail to prevent them taking place.

Nine people were killed and more than 40 injured when dozens of bombs, shootings and arson attacks occurred on Sunday and early yesterday as people celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year.

The spate of attacks made it seem there were no security guards in the four southernmost provinces. But more than 14,000 security officials of all kinds are stationed in the largely Muslim region. However, militants have created the impression they can undertake violence at any time and in any place they wish - as if the troops were toy soldiers.

General Sonthi admitted publicly he had received a report in advance that the militants would attack around this time but officials failed to block the latest well-organised attacks.

Interior Aree repeated the same message yesterday before departing to the deep South, saying he passed "intelligence information" to concerned authorities about the attacks.

"The officials did not fail but it was not easy to prevent such an operation," the minister told reporters.

The Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) and the Southern Border Province Administrative Centre were previously blamed by Premier Surayud Chulanont for failing to improve the situation two months after their set-ups were revised.

Army Chief of Staff General Montri Sangkasap defended Isoc yesterday, saying the joint military-civilian agency performed acceptably. Its staff were "on alert" on Sunday, and had defused eight bombs, he said.

"The authority flew two helicopters over the areas and managed to control the situation by 10pm Sunday," he said.

The Isoc Fourth Region had issued a warning that attacks would occur on Sunday aimed mostly at "soft targets". "But local officials ignored this and failed to detect weapons at entertainment venues such as hotels and karaoke bars. They allowed loopholes for the militants," said Gen Montri, who is also Isoc secretary general.

Montri pointed the finger at civilian officials, saying militants launched their attacks mostly in urban areas which were the responsibility of the Interior Ministry and police.

The army chief of staff also warned that there would be more "terrorist" attacks by Muslim insurgents in the region.

"The modus operundi is obviously terrorist acts, of course. It's not the style of international terrorists but it is still an operation of terrorism. They operate at full scale now," he said.

However, his warning is not completely new. The attacks on Sunday were not the first time "soft targets" have been hit. Karaoke bars, hotels, restaurants, banks and even schools have been attacked over the three years that the insurgency has raged.

Attacks in urban areas are not unusual. Yala and Narathiwat provincial halls, located in the heart of local centres, were attacked in 2004 and 2005 - during daytime. While these types of attacks on "soft" targets in urban areas are now being called "terrorist acts", they have been going on since the spate of violence erupted in January 2004. But officials cannot excuse their failure to stop the attacks by saying they have taken tougher action.

An academic at Prince of Songkhla University's Pattani campus, Srisompob Jitpiromsri, noted that the Chinese New Year attacks were an attempt to divide cultures - and differentiate between local Muslim and Chinese communities. Attacks on entertainment venues sent a message that the militants put religious and cultural elements in their struggle, he said.

"The new generation of insurgents make it clear that they don't want to live with different cultures," he said. "The violence could be interpreted in that Muslims won't accept social evils such as karaoke," he said.

Srisompob, who has collected data on the violence for years, predicted the militants would launch more attacks in the near future as they have better capability than local officials - they could move about freely while security officials were locked in a defensive mode, and it was not easy to prevent such violence, he said.

Statements by officials that they already knew such attacks were planned do nothing to help solve the problem but just shows that government incompetence still exists.

Source: The Nation - 20 February 2007

[Tony Clifton]

Should I also refrain from referring to Al Zarqawi the head chopper and company as subhuman? Their tactics were quite similar.

[younghusband]

<snip>

The reality is that Thaksin's brutal and murderous policy in the South was a disaster, though the seeds of disaster go back for many decades.It is frustrating for General Surayud but his policy of negotiation and compromise is on the right lines, even though violence has escalated.The apology on the Tak Bai atrocities needs to be followed up with the investigation and punishment of those responsible.Surayud needs to be given more support by the power elite, notably Prem who needs to put aside his nationalistic prejudices to permit more autonomy and allow higher status for the Jawi language.There needs to be a better understanding of what exactly is the insurgents political agenda, so far very murky.

In addition alongside reform and conciliation, more effective policing and military intervention will continue to be necessary.Both Buddhist and Muslim communities need better protection, and the terrorists need to be tackled aggressively.My understanding is that there has been a lack of backbone in the military response up to now, often manifested in a slow and over cautious response to terrorist incidents.

The challenge therefore is to combine Surayud's policy of reconciliation with a focused security response.Prem will need to smell the coffee, though I suspect he's too much of a dinosaur to do so.Ultimately but not now more autonomy, which should be introduced bit by bit on the carrot and stick principle and in close liaison with KL.Can the Thais manage this balancing act? It'll be tricky but my gut feel is that Surayud is a statesman and a man of good will.We should support him.

Edited February 20, 2007 by Jai Dee
Flame comment deleted

[Jai Dee]

Five injured in another bomb blast in Narathiwat

Narathiwat - Another bomb was detonated in Muang district in this southern border province Monday evening, injuring five people.

The latest bomb attack occurred at 5:30 pm.

Police said insurgents hid a bomb in a garbage bin outside a shop and detonated it with a mobile phone.

The blast injured five people nearby.

Source: The Nation - 20 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Ten districts in Pattani sporadically attacked on February 18

Pattani Governor Phanu Uthairat (ภาณุ อุทัยรัตน์), police and military officers, and provincial administrative officials, held a press conference yesterday (February, 19) on the attacks on February 18. The governor revealed that ten districts in the province had been attacked, including Muang (เมือง), Saiburi (สายบุรี), Panarae (ปะนาเระ), Yaring (ยะหริ่ง), Kapor (กะพ้อ), Mai Kaen (ไม้แก่น), Thung Yangdang (ทุ่งยางแดง), Kok Poh (โคกโพธิ์), Yarang (ยะรัง), and Nong Jik (หนองจิก) districts.

In addition, two bombs exploded at a high-voltage electric pole and a Chevrolet motor showroom. 19 arsons, two ambushes, one civilian shooting, and a black-out all over the province also took place during the same night. Three deaths have been reported.

According to the governor, officials were able to control the situation and retrieve electricity briefly. After the attacks, local residents have well cooperated with the authority in carrying out security drills. Mr Phanu added that officials have already acknowledged those responsible for the attacks. However, further investigation and more evidences are still in need before the arrest.

The governor also expressed his confidence that officials will be able to prevent possible attacks on the province’s Chinese New Year celebration on February 25 and during the celebration of the Chao Mae Lim Ko Niaw (เจ้าแม่ลิ้มกอเหนี่ยว) which will take place on 1-7 March.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 Febuary 2007

[Scott]

Obviously the situation in the South is getting intense. Whether the insurgents will keep up their momentum or not remains to be seen. However, on the topic of some of the responses on this thread, I would hope that people would use less emotive terms.

Whether it is correct or not to refer to these terrorists as "subhuman" is not really the question. The use of terms which provoke a lot of emotions will get an emotional response and that isn't always constructive to the thread.

As I have said before, there really is very little that the gov't can do in this situation. These types of insurgencies have a life of their own and once they start they keep going until they die of "old age". On average that is between 7 and 9 years. If you check about these conflicts around the world you see the same pattern.

The mistake and the trick for most gov'ts is to make sure they don't do anything to get them started. This was Thaksins big mistake (probably). He couldn't stop it once it started and neither is the new PM. Or the next or the next etc.

The ingredients for these situations is a few older men to act as the guides for a large population of relatively disaffected young males. As long as the supply of young men is there (and remember young men in that 17-25 age bracket really like fighting), the insurgency will be as well.

Both sides are guilty (as they always are) of all kinds of atrocities. These people have been mistreated by the Thai gov't, and the young militants certainly are mistreating innocent civilians.

So, posters, save your anger and frustration because you will have years of time to post your emotive terms and negative comments. And those who are upset should also save their energy as well.

[Pakboong]

The simple fact that regime change did nothing to stem the violence in the South should be enough evidence to cause one to at least zoom out and wonder why. A muslim in control of Martial Law did nothing at all.

The guys pulling the strings do not want anything other than a democratically elected government and as was the case with Hamas in Palestine, the democratically elected guy had better be they guy they want.

Thaksin knew the game and played the best he could. His people worked to contain the violence with the simple understanding that they could not stop it until the money behind it all stops coming into the country. The larger Muslim world cares little about funding insurgencies in far away Thailand. You can bet the money for this aggrivation comes from the west. When that well dries, so will the insurgency.

[Jai Dee]

PM told officials to search for storage of explosives to prevent bombings in the South

After the insurgents triggered over 50 bomb blasts in the four southern border provinces of Thailand in the night of February 18th, top officials held an urgent meeting to discuss the southern unrest the next day.

The meeting lasted over an hour and was attended by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who also acts as the chairman of the Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC), Defence Minister Somthas Boonrawd, Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief and Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin, and other top security officials.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister called for the security officials to solve the southern insurgency as quickly as possible and not to be passive with the violence. The Prime Minister also told the officials to find the people who assembled the explosive devices and the places where explosives are being stored. Thus, the insurgents would not be able to planted bombs and damage to people’s lives and properties.

Meanwhile, the ISOC is proactively keeping a much closer watch on the southern situation as more checkpoints have been established and more patrol officials have been deployed in different areas. In addition, the local southerners are cooperating more with the officials by monitoring for suspicious incidents.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 Febuary 2007

[Old Man River]

You can bet the money for this aggrivation comes from the west. When that well dries, so will the insurgency.

I'm not willing to bet anything on this situation, but since you are, how far west are you talking about?

[Pakboong]

You can bet the money for this aggrivation comes from the west. When that well dries, so will the insurgency.

I'm not willing to bet anything on this situation, but since you are, how far west are you talking about?

You have to go far enough west until you find the guy whose very existence depends on how the rest of the world views the Muslim insurgent.

[Old Man River]

You can bet the money for this aggrivation comes from the west. When that well dries, so will the insurgency.

I'm not willing to bet anything on this situation, but since you are, how far west are you talking about?

You have to go far enough west until you find the guy whose very existence depends on how the rest of the world views the Muslim insurgent.

I guess people will blame George Bush for everything under the sun. My guess is west, but not as far as the US.

[Jai Dee]

Bomb attack inside 7-Eleven shop in Yala averted

Yala - Officials managed to avert a bomb attack inside a 7-Eleven shop in Yala downtown Tuesday morning.

Officials rushed to the scene after alerted that a man left a package inside the shop and rushed out.

The package was found to be a 5-kilogramme homemade bomb, set to be detonated by a mobile phone.

Source: The Nation - 20 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Two more bomb attacks in Narathiwat

Narathiwat - Two more bomb attacks were launched in Narathiwat Tuesday morning but no one was killed or injured.

The first bomb, which was hidden at the entrance to two schools in Tambon Yi-ngo in Yi-ngo district, exploded at 7:30 am.

The second bomb exploded at 8:10 am at an intersection in Chanae district.

Source: The Nation - 20 February 2007

[Scott]

This low-level insurgency is not well funded and certainly isn't funded by the West. It seldom even makes into the Western media.

In some areas the insurgents charge a "tax" as they consider it to be a separate country. That is why some of the "innocent" Muslims are killed--it's because they either cooperate with the gov't or don't pay their taxes.

[Pakboong]

You can bet the money for this aggrivation comes from the west. When that well dries, so will the insurgency.

I'm not willing to bet anything on this situation, but since you are, how far west are you talking about?

You have to go far enough west until you find the guy whose very existence depends on how the rest of the world views the Muslim insurgent.

I guess people will blame George Bush for everything under the sun. My guess is west, but not as far as the US.

I can't imagine how you came up with George Bush? I certainly didn't mention his name but it is interesting how you concluded that I did.

[Pakboong]

This low-level insurgency is not well funded and certainly isn't funded by the West. It seldom even makes into the Western media.

In some areas the insurgents charge a "tax" as they consider it to be a separate country. That is why some of the "innocent" Muslims are killed--it's because they either cooperate with the gov't or don't pay their taxes.

We are talking expendible motor bikes, real casio watches, disposable cell phones, C4 and similar explosives. There are many other hidden command and control cost that are too pointless to mention.

I don't know many young Thais outside of the Urban areas who have access to an unlimited supply of these kinds of things.

Do you know any Thai who would give up his motorbike for a politcal cause? There may be a few. But, if you agree to buy him a new one, he will cough it up in a heartbeat.

[Old Man River]

You can bet the money for this aggrivation comes from the west. When that well dries, so will the insurgency.

I'm not willing to bet anything on this situation, but since you are, how far west are you talking about?

You have to go far enough west until you find the guy whose very existence depends on how the rest of the world views the Muslim insurgent.

I guess people will blame George Bush for everything under the sun. My guess is west, but not as far as the US.

I can't imagine how you came up with George Bush? I certainly didn't mention his name but it is interesting how you concluded that I did.

Perhaps then we agree on the culprit. In any event, I agree with your premise that it is being financed outside of Thailand and hence, the current government's olive branch diplomacy is doomed to failure.

[Pakboong]

This low-level insurgency is not well funded and certainly isn't funded by the West. It seldom even makes into the Western media.

In some areas the insurgents charge a "tax" as they consider it to be a separate country. That is why some of the "innocent" Muslims are killed--it's because they either cooperate with the gov't or don't pay their taxes.

We are talking expendible motor bikes, real casio watches, disposable cell phones, C4 and similar explosives. There are many other hidden command and control cost that are too pointless to mention.

I don't know many young Thais outside of the Urban areas who have access to an unlimited supply of these kinds of things.

Do you know any Thai who would give up his motorbike for a politcal cause? There may be a few. But, if you agree to buy him a new one, he will cough it up in a heartbeat.

We are in agreement

[Jai Dee]

12 patients from bomb blasts are recovering

The director of Yala Hospital, Md. Wattana Wattanyakorn, said all 12 patients who were hit by the bomb blasts in the deep South in February 18th are recuperating progressively. In addition, a patient who is in the ICU has recovered and has a respirator removed, and the patient is expected to be out of the ICU within a couple of days.

Md. Wattana said the patients are not allowed to return home yet despite their recovery as the doctors will have to wait for the wounds to heal first. He said the patients are able to talk with each other, but they have been dispirited following the dreadful incident. Md. Wattana said doctors will initially take care of their physical health, and psychiatrists will later help restore their mental health. Psychiatrists will also get in touch with the victims after they have returned to their residences.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of the Public Health Ministry, Md. Pipat Yingseri, visited the patients this morning and gave them presents. He said all of them will be under close supervision of doctors.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 Febuary 2007

[ColPyat]

Colypat you keep saying war, I disagree. They are thieves trying to steal land from another country. If you think about it, it’s like one animal challenging another for it’s territory. The strongest animal gets the prize. We have all seen it on nature programs, and even soi dogs defending their territory from other soi dogs. Again this tends to support the subspecies theory that negotiations don’t work.

<snip>

They are not "thieves trying to steal land from another country" as Thailand has annexed their country only a century ago (like so many areas of that Thai nation that have supposedly been part of Thailand for such a long time), without asking them, and has since then opressed their culture, language, and for long stretches of time their religion (as the Thai state did with many of their minorities). The Thai state has seddled outsiders in their area.

So yes, they are fighting the same kind of war the IRA has been fighting since yonks, and which has resulted in the independence of Ireland.

And your <snip> comparism between soi dogs and other animals neglects the fact that there are well established tactics in guerilla warfare against a superior opponent. Terror is one key element.

The southern insurgents have won as long as the war goes on, while the nation cannot win until they have defeated the insurgents. Insurgents have a clear advantage there, because such a conflict cannot be won by arms by either side. But continuing with these attrition tactics the insurgents have a chance to one day force the state to the negotiation table on their own terms. There is clear rational thinking behind their actions, and not animal reaction. It is guerilla warfare out of the text book.

The Thai state fights, besides the war on the battlefield, a war of propaganda, part of this is the charade of half arsed peace offers that are unacceptable to the insurgents, but mainly aimed at their own populations and people like you.

That moment of successful negotiation though is not there yet, and very possibly will take more escalation, and a lot more time.

Edited February 20, 2007 by Jai Dee
Flame comments deleted