Drug Rings May Be Behind Thailand's Deep South Insurgency

[webfact]

Drug rings may be behind South insurgency

By The Nation

Drug dealers and influential mafia bosses are said to be funding the insurgency and attacks in the deep South, including the most recent car bombings, an analysis by the Fourth Army Area commander Lt-General Udomchai Thammasarorat showed.

"They have also heightened their operations in response to extensive suppression by security forces and civilian authorities, and are on purpose showing off their potential to discourage those who want to lay down their arms, while boosting the morale of active insurgents," he said.

Udomchai concurred with a theory that the increase in violence was meant to draw the attention of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and get it to intervene.

"They want to show [to the OIC] that the situation is beyond control, that security officials cannot save or protect civilians," he added.

The number of attacks has risen in defiance of the authorities' success with the scheme in which insurgents are pardoned if they surrender. Since October, up to 100 insurgents have turned themselves in. "More and more of them will come and surrender, through a scheme that is secretly underway," he added.

Previously known for supporting and funding insurgency, drugs trafficking gangs are now backing attacks either in retaliation or undermine security operations targeting the drug trade. Last Sunday, police broke up a drug ring in Pattani's Yaring district and seized 64,000 amphetamine tablets, and earlier it had seized 96,000 tablets and Bt200,000 in cash from another trafficker.

Maj-General Phaithoon Choochaiya, who commands police operations in the entire South, said security officials were the obvious targets in last week's first two bomb attacks - an indication that drug traffickers were influential in planning and selecting targets for the insurgents to aim at. In the second attack on February 13, a drug ring helped insurgents evade security officials.

The first car bombing on February 13 wounded 17 people, the second on February 17 wounded another 17, while the latest attack on Monday killed one woman and wounded 17 others.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

[Colabamumbai]

Sure now lets blam it on drugs. Thais cannot accept reality.

[SaamBaht]

I guess they are doing their best at justifying the coming drug crackdown, labeling the druggies terrorists by backing the relentless unrest down south.

[slapout]

I wonder who proposes these conspiracy theories initially? Do these random thoughts pop into their minds while on the golf course (19th hole) or are the caddies offering ideas for them to mull over?

Many of the potential outlets for drugs (entertainment venues) recently closed due to fear of further bombings etc that the drug sales were probably affected. Maybe those insurgents who were pardoned, just want to keep their methods updated with the latest technology. Maybe it the missionaries who are behind the problems, wanting to slip in the backdoor. Those pesky Burmese may be trying to create diversions to facilitate the those trying to get in country. The list of potential 'dark forces' and discussion of same could throw the secert intelligence gathering peeople into a quandary.

[sirchai]

Sure now lets blam it on drugs. Thais cannot accept reality.

Thanks, I kind of like your posts.-

Thais never did and never will accept the reality. Look at their educational sytem.......:jap:

[beammeup]

The insurgency had always been known as a multi headed monster with the drug traffickers and other contraband traffickers (Oil, Stolen motorbikes, Tropical birds, turtles, Orangatangs, tiger penis ) as well as Islamic separatists, Corrupt gov officials etc... The Army and Police have been said to have their fingers in th pie as well. Its not a conspiracy theory its a conspiracy

[Thai at Heart]

And they discover this after how many years?

Military intelligence at its best.

[Payboy]

Nice try Udomchai!

I can see the drug lord's logic here "lets draw some more security forces to this area so that we can move more drugs around the region".

[beammeup]

And they discover this after how many years?

Military intelligence at its best.

They have always knows it the suprising thing is that they are coming out and admitting it.

[beammeup]

Nice try Udomchai!

I can see the drug lord's logic here "lets draw some more security forces to this area so that we can move more drugs around the region".

In the past the security forces were the ones profiting from it. There seems to be a shift in policy.

[animatic]

More likely the other way round.

The insurgents in the south are behind some of the drug rings.

But certainly not all.

[asiawatcher]

I think any reason to pull a trigger is definable. But it is well known the insurgency is financed by drug money so maybe not too far from the truth. It certainly is in many countries so why not Thailand? I would not be too quick to pour cold water on the theory.

[Samuian]

Anyone who has been to Had Yai, or in Bordertowns, must have been in one way or the other been confronted with contraband goods and anyone in the world knows how much money is to be made on the illicit drugs market, it's the word around here on the streets in the south for years...till the tsunami struck, weapons for the Aceh rebel movement, who controls the border areas, controls the smuggling paths...!

[geriatrickid]

The insurgency had always been known as a multi headed monster with the drug traffickers and other contraband traffickers (Oil, Stolen motorbikes, Tropical birds, turtles, Orangatangs, tiger penis ) as well as Islamic separatists, Corrupt gov officials etc... The Army and Police have been said to have their fingers in th pie as well. Its not a conspiracy theory its a conspiracy

Same scenario as the drug war that faced the former PM Thaksin.

Sorry, but that's the reality. Just as the Taliban move heroin, the Thai insurgents move drugs. Nothing new here. Hizbollah does the same thing in Lebanon. Shining Path in Peru, FARC in Columbia.

The drug trade is lucrative . Just ask Mr. Noreiga

[hammered]

The insurgency had always been known as a multi headed monster with the drug traffickers and other contraband traffickers (Oil, Stolen motorbikes, Tropical birds, turtles, Orangatangs, tiger penis ) as well as Islamic separatists, Corrupt gov officials etc... The Army and Police have been said to have their fingers in th pie as well. Its not a conspiracy theory its a conspiracy

Same scenario as the drug war that faced the former PM Thaksin.

Sorry, but that's the reality. Just as the Taliban move heroin, the Thai insurgents move drugs. Nothing new here. Hizbollah does the same thing in Lebanon. Shining Path in Peru, FARC in Columbia.

The drug trade is lucrative . Just ask Mr. Noreiga

Or the CIA

But it isnt the reason behind the southern insurgency

[DP25]

I wonder who proposes these conspiracy theories initially?

Thaksin was blaming it on drugs when he was in office. No one knows how to fix or stop an Islamic seperatist movement, but if the conflict is really just about drug gangs then it seems like it is something that can be fixed.

[Thai at Heart]

And they discover this after how many years?

Military intelligence at its best.

They have always knows it the suprising thing is that they are coming out and admitting it.

He better be careful. He might be shooting a little close to home.

However, to believe that the moslem insurgency is being created by drug rings is wrong headed. Many terrorist/insurgent groups are funded by drugs, it is a betrayal of logic to say that their reason d'etre is to sell drugs.

[Losangels]

No wonder with this type of rationale the insurgents are gaining the upper hand in the deep south.

[RKASA]

They can't bank at Bangkok Bank or Citi Bank they are going to use underground means to be funded. Most of them being what they are will turn on the drugs once they win - at least that is in their game plan. The government might be better off saying some control of the drug problem will help to fight the separatist movement, but the movement is faith driven and that is going to be a major problem far worse then any Nationalist.

Like in pale rider "Oh hell! if they get religion we will need to blast them out one by one to the last"

[bbradsby]

Ah divert the attention to symptoms, so the disease can continue. All governments these days are covering their tracks as best they can in light of the self-organizing, populist twitter-uprisings taking down sovereign states lately! Democracy always rises up like weeds through the cracks of rigid power structures.

I noticed Brunei is having a Flag Waving Day coming up as a gift to the peons, er people, and as an opportunity for them to show their proper guvvmint support as well as to demonstrate proper flag-waving technique... no joke. The Sultan must be a bit nervous as his oil-baron cronies fight for their Swiss trust funds if not their necks over in the Gulf.

-have to say we live in interesting times, and wouldn't have it any other way!

[bbradsby]

...Military intelligence...

one of the best oxymorons of all time. right up there with Microsoft Works...

[Arkady]

Maybe the commander was indeed stoned himself when he thought up this ludicrous explanation for the Southern insurgency but this type of effort to depict as purely criminal a political, ethnic and religious problem (as well as criminal) that has been simmering for a century since the annexation of the sultanate of Pattani actually sells pretty well in the mainstream Thai media, outside the Deep South of course. Obviously the drug dealers, who undoubtedly include prominent police and military figures as well as politicians, would in fact do much better business in the South, if the situation could be stabilised, although the distribution of profits would be different. In addition to the drug dealing, there is a great deal of smuggling business in the South, including oil and other commodities. In truth the military does better from these smuggling businesses as a result of the insurgency because they have police powers in the South. No insurgency = no police powers for the military = most smuggling income goes to police instead - get it? That is another reality of the South that is not often mentioned.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Arkady

[jayjay0]

I wonder who proposes these conspiracy theories initially? Do these random thoughts pop into their minds while on the golf course (19th hole) or are the caddies offering ideas for them to mull over?

Many of the potential outlets for drugs (entertainment venues) recently closed due to fear of further bombings etc that the drug sales were probably affected. Maybe those insurgents who were pardoned, just want to keep their methods updated with the latest technology. Maybe it the missionaries who are behind the problems, wanting to slip in the backdoor. Those pesky Burmese may be trying to create diversions to facilitate the those trying to get in country. The list of potential 'dark forces' and discussion of same could throw the secert intelligence gathering peeople into a quandary.

That makes sense to me.

You did how ever forget Darth Vader.

[tigermonkey]

I frequently wonder about the mental processes of many of the posters in Thai Visa, both here and in other threads, All too frequently, the posts immediately head off on a tangent ( or several tangents) which bear no relation to the original posting. Do the respondents actuslly read the article in question ? -- or do they read only the headline and start their rant. I am sure that some posters here formulate their answers, before they actually read the article, if they read the article at all. Perhaps they have a standard stock of Thai bashing rants all prepared and waitng -- they read the headline and decide " yes, I will post rant # 217 -- it seems to fit the occasion"

Nowhere in the original posting does it speak of a " conspiracy " , so why would you bash the "conspiracy theory " ? Drugs and insurgency working together is not conspiracy; it is a normal symbiotic relationship.

Nowhere in the article, does it speak of anyone from the military or the police, saying that drugs are the cause of the southern insurgency. Why go to great lengths to bash the idea that drugs are the 'raison d'etre' of the insurgency ?

Most of the original posting is about the increase in intensity/frequency of attacks, and the few insurgents who are taking advantage of amnesty. The balance of the article is about drug money funding the insurgency which is not news ! -- it is a fact throughout the world, that drugs and smuggling fund insurgents.

It would be a real pleasure to read a thread where it is obvious that the respondents have carefully read the OP, and formulate a thoughtful response before they reply

Edited February 23, 2011 by tigermonkey

[beammeup]

I frequently wonder about the mental processes of many of the posters in Thai Visa, both here and in other threads, All too frequently, the posts immediately head off on a tangent ( or several tangents) which bear no relation to the original posting. Do the respondents actuslly read the article in question ? -- or do they read only the headline and start their rant. I am sure that some posters here formulate their answers, before they actually read the article, if they read the article at all. Perhaps they have a standard stock of Thai bashing rants all prepared and waitng -- they read the headline and decide " yes, I will post rant # 217 -- it seems to fit the occasion"

Nowhere in the original posting does it speak of a " conspiracy " , so why would you bash the "conspiracy theory " ? Drugs and insurgency working together is not conspiracy; it is a normal symbiotic relationship.

Nowhere in the article, does it speak of anyone from the military or the police, saying that drugs are the cause of the southern insurgency. Why go to great lengths to bash the idea that drugs are the 'raison d'etre' of the insurgency ?

Most of the original posting is about the increase in intensity/frequency of attacks, and the few insurgents who are taking advantage of amnesty. The balance of the article is about drug money funding the insurgency which is not news ! -- it is a fact throughout the world, that drugs and smuggling fund insurgents.

It would be a real pleasure to read a thread where it is obvious that the respondents have carefully read the OP, and formulate a thoughtful response before they reply

Conspiracy has been defined in the US as an agreement of two or more people to commit a crime, or to accomplish a legal end through illegal actions.

How is this not a conspiracy??

[tigermonkey]

I frequently wonder about the mental processes of many of the posters in Thai Visa, both here and in other threads, All too frequently, the posts immediately head off on a tangent ( or several tangents) which bear no relation to the original posting. Do the respondents actuslly read the article in question ? -- or do they read only the headline and start their rant. I am sure that some posters here formulate their answers, before they actually read the article, if they read the article at all. Perhaps they have a standard stock of Thai bashing rants all prepared and waitng -- they read the headline and decide " yes, I will post rant # 217 -- it seems to fit the occasion"

Nowhere in the original posting does it speak of a " conspiracy " , so why would you bash the "conspiracy theory " ? Drugs and insurgency working together is not conspiracy; it is a normal symbiotic relationship.

Nowhere in the article, does it speak of anyone from the military or the police, saying that drugs are the cause of the southern insurgency. Why go to great lengths to bash the idea that drugs are the 'raison d'etre' of the insurgency ?

Most of the original posting is about the increase in intensity/frequency of attacks, and the few insurgents who are taking advantage of amnesty. The balance of the article is about drug money funding the insurgency which is not news ! -- it is a fact throughout the world, that drugs and smuggling fund insurgents.

It would be a real pleasure to read a thread where it is obvious that the respondents have carefully read the OP, and formulate a thoughtful response before they reply

Conspiracy has been defined in the US as an agreement of two or more people to commit a crime, or to accomplish a legal end through illegal actions.

How is this not a conspiracy??

It may be a conspiracy if there is an "agreement" between drug dealers and insurgents, but that was not the point of the original post. Is a marriage of convenience a conspiracy ? -- perhaps, but first you need to establish that the drug dealers and the insurgents are not the same group.

[yesdavy]

Uh we need a strategy...Quick, let's hand out amulets.

[yesdavy]

Facts? We don't need no stinkin' facts.

[InseeDaeng]

If the establishment calls the "sadtruu" drugdealers then they have something to blame on in the next "war on drugs" wich will possibly claim a number of malay-muslims in the deep south without provocing to much. Their actions will have much more support and acceptance among people in Thailand and around if their victims are called hardened drugdealers rather than just muslims.

[mallyrd]

Anyone who has been to Had Yai, or in Bordertowns, must have been in one way or the other been confronted with contraband goods and anyone in the world knows how much money is to be made on the illicit drugs market, it's the word around here on the streets in the south for years...till the tsunami struck, weapons for the Aceh rebel movement, who controls the border areas, controls the smuggling paths...!

So, whats the difference between Hat Yai and neighbouring border towns & Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or a dozen other towns and cities adjacent to borders or even Bangkok for that matter. This comment is confined to the contraband element of the OP's post.