Anwar Chides Thailand Over Deaths

[Baaksida]

Anwar chides Thailand over deaths

By Bethan Jinkinson

BBC News

Thailand said Anwar's views were not consistent with reality

Former Malaysian deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim has hit out at the handling of Muslim unrest in southern Thailand.

Mr Anwar accused Thai security forces of irresponsibility after at least 85 protesters died in a violent demonstration last month.

Many suffocated after being forced into army trucks as security forces tried to disperse the protest in Tak Bai in Narathiwat province.

Mr Anwar warned of major consequences if Bangkok fails to address the issue.

Fermenting terrorism

"The security forces have been extremely irresponsible and they must be held responsible for their crimes," Mr Anwar told the BBC.

"If we delay there will be further frustration for the people who already feel dispossessed, marginalised and very difficult to contain."

"The situation is extremely volatile. People are very angry and this is not just in a few villages but the entire community across the south who are getting very agitated ... this is totally legitimate and understandable."

Mr Anwar also warned the unrest could contribute to the growth of terrorism in the region if Bangkok did not seek a "just solution".

Thailand responded by saying Mr Anwar's views were not consistent with reality.

Government spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Thailand did not discriminate against Muslims and that the incident at Tak Bai was not about ethnicity.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has launched an independent inquiry into the deaths.

But public outrage amongst Thai Muslims has not been helped by allegations that up to 40 more protestors are still missing.

'Revenge' killings

Security is tight across the region

These allegations gained further weight when Thai Senator Nirun Pitakwatchara on Wednesday said he thought the death toll from the demonstration could be much higher than admitted by the army.

Senior Thai military officials have dismissed the reports, saying they have accounted for everyone who died at the protest.

But Thai newspapers are comparing what happened at Tak Bai to the "Black May" incident, when dozens of pro-democracy activists went missing following a security crackdown in 1992.

While politicians in both Malaysia and Thailand debate what happened at Tak Bai, reprisals are continuing.

Almost every day in the predominantly Muslim south, people are being murdered in what are thought to be revenge killings.