Thailand Says Southern Unrest Worsening

[webfact]

Thailand says southern unrest worsening

BANGKOK, March 8, 2011 (AFP) - Violence is escalating in Thailand's insurgency-hit deep south, the Thai government said Tuesday following a string of bomb and gun attacks in the Muslim-majority region.

"I concede that the violent unrest is increasing but our officials are determined to work to their utmost ability" to resolve the problem, Tawin Pleansri, secretary general of the National Security Council, told reporters.

"It is difficult to oversee such a wide area. Although fewer incidents occurred, they were more serious," he said.

Shadowy Islamic militants have waged an insurgency in Thailand's southernmost region bordering Malaysia since early 2004, leaving more than 4,400 people dead, both Muslims and Buddhists.

Violence appears to have intensified recently, with a series of bomb attacks in the region, including one in January which killed nine people. An unusually bold attack a week earlier on a military base left at least four soldiers dead.

Authorities say the militants appear to have changed their tactics, focusing on more violent attacks.

A security force of more than 60,000 is stationed in the provinces affected by the violence, battling militants whose precise aims are unclear. The authorities say a swift end to the conflict is unlikely.

"This problem cannot be solved in a few months," said Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of national security.

Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of Thailand's Malay Muslim minority, including alleged abuses by the military and a perceived lack of respect for their ethnic identity, language and religion.

The latest victims included a 61-year-old retired Buddhist police officer killed late Monday in a drive-by shooting that also left his young granddaughter seriously wounded in Pattani province.

He was the second retired police officer to be killed in two days.

Hours early a 32-year-old villager was shot dead while two people, including one policeman, were wounded in a car bomb in neighbouring Narathiwat province.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-03-08

[webfact]

Deputy PM Orders Tightened Security in South

The deputy prime minister overseeing national security has ordered security be stepped up in the restive southern region following the renewed insurgent attacks that killed a Buddhist monk over the past few days.

In response to the increasingly frequent attacks in the South, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban said he has ordered security measures be stepped up.

He said he ordered an increase in the number of security officers and volunteers deployed to the area.

He noted that it is obvious the militants are singling out those who support the government.

Meanwhile, Suthep said that Chula Ratchamontri, the Kingdom's Chief of Islam, has voiced concerns over the situation, but that the Islamic leader still insists on continuing to offer his support to the Abhisit-led administration.

Concerning the mobile protests against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Suthep said such a practice is not wise political expression and that differences of opinion should be demonstrated in a more peaceful manner.

However, he asserted that the situation will benefit the premier as members of the public will feel sympathy for him, since he has already announced that a snap election will be held soon.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

[asiawatcher]

Grant a period of amnesty to relocating Muslims for a determined time then round up the rest and get them back to where they belong - in Malaysia. Do it with extreme prejudice and rid Thailand of this minority scourge and let the rest of us live in peace without fear. Start with the Imams. Yes - you can gather which side I'm on.

[EnSvenskTiger]

How about putting the south back where it belongs? In Malaysia!

Tiger

[Steely Dan]

How about putting the south back where it belongs? In Malaysia!

Tiger

I'm sure the Thai Buddhists living in the Southern provinces would love to live under Sharia law.

Moving the border would just move the location of the problem - Islam has bloody borders - Samuel P. Huntington 1993

[stepenwolf1958]

Problem in the South has only one exit and it is inevitably going that direction, like it or not.

Thailand is slowly but surely slipping into secession. Muslim separatist behavior is obvious as strategy everywhere in the world and we could count many examples.

Thailand has no way out or even the capacity to stop it.

[mkawish]

Problem in the South has only one exit and it is inevitably going that direction, like it or not.

Thailand is slowly but surely slipping into secession. Muslim separatist behavior is obvious as strategy everywhere in the world and we could count many examples.

Thailand has no way out or even the capacity to stop it.

Fortunately, you are not in any position of power to affect any change in the southern provinces,

otherwise, Thailand might suffer even more serious encounter....

[elcent]

Those who create this unrest are too young to know how it was under the Sultanate. The argument is just a cover for the jihad, nothing else.

I'd have them(all Muslims) there and everywhere else sign that the Quran and haddiths are not to be taken by the word.

This would reveal all I guess.

Otherwise they use it as a convenience store for their murderous enterprise.

You can bet that many would sign and many would not - bingo -

Don't forget, these are all small villages down there where almost everybody knows everyone and what they are doing. There must be theoretically and practically lots of suspicion. But it seems that not many down there are interested to prevent things to happen.

[stepenwolf1958]

Problem in the South has only one exit and it is inevitably going that direction, like it or not.

Thailand is slowly but surely slipping into secession. Muslim separatist behavior is obvious as strategy everywhere in the world and we could count many examples.

Thailand has no way out or even the capacity to stop it.

Fortunately, you are not in any position of power to affect any change in the southern provinces,

otherwise, Thailand might suffer even more serious encounter....

Hold on topic, please will you? Thoughts of this kind keep for yourself as you have no idea about anything-if you could say that. I was living for a while this kind of situation, it was part of my life, life which was changed a lot, thanks to Muslims. So, give me a break, will you?

[phetaroi]

What I find interesting about this thread, thus far, is that nobody is noting that the Thai government has really done just about zero to solve the problem, and in fact, the latest few years of dangerous unrest was precipitated due to direct actions by the Thai military.

Now, I'm not saying that many Muslims aren't fanning the flames, but the Thai government is using its normal Thai attitude of -- if we don't do anything, things will just get better by coincidence...mai pben rai.

[metisdead]

Removed a post that suggested others were paid to post. If you have any actual evidence please forward it to support. If it's just a lame debating tactic, further references like that may find you without posting rights.

[stepenwolf1958]

What I find interesting about this thread, thus far, is that nobody is noting that the Thai government has really done just about zero to solve the problem, and in fact, the latest few years of dangerous unrest was precipitated due to direct actions by the Thai military.

Now, I'm not saying that many Muslims aren't fanning the flames, but the Thai government is using its normal Thai attitude of -- if we don't do anything, things will just get better by coincidence...mai pben rai.

Yes, phetaroi, you are right.

Famous mai pen arai(or mai pben rai) is something Thais should abandon, leave as attitude, asap. It has its price. This time the price will be very high. This is obvious neglect and underestimating risks in whole situation. Thais are not stupid to don't see what could happens or where it all leads to.

Part of the Thai tradition, which is wonderful, will become their burden and make them incapable to stop intentions of Muslims on the south about separatism.

In support of this, i would say there is another part of the tradition they should get rid of asap.

Thais are, most of time unable to confront the delicate issues because of possible defeat and that possible loss is related to the loss of honor/face and it is most undesirable thing that can happen to them.

It's kind of psychological block.

That what you are saying is tragical so far. They have about 150 teachers killed on those 3 provinces. Now, Muslims are intensifying actions and more and more it looks like.

Thais telling me long time, some 5 years or so, that Muslims want to separate south and to go to Malaysia.

Very interesting for me but i didn't hear any political or religious Muslim's requests or complains about Thais,(like violations of human, political, religious rights)

Moreover i saw MANY things that Thais are doing for Muslims as good, respecting their way of life. Very often, even in such small villages, I had the opportunity to see the mosque.

So, what Muslims want at all on the South? Are they discriminated? No, they are not!Are they abused by Thai governing in those provinces? I would not say so!

So what do they want, after all???What more do they want that Thais didn't give them already???

[geriatrickid]

There is one last possibility and it is not desirable. Think about the nationalist outrage in respect to the border issue with Cambodia. If a dispute over a Temple in the middle of nowhere can get people frothing at the mouth and shooting at each other, just consider what would happen if Thaialand had to deal with the possible loss of a large chunk of its nation. It would be unacceptable to all political factions in Thailand

If the southern insurrection spreads to the rest of Thailand with acts that parallel the ETA and IRA, I would expect that Thais would retaliate with a fury that would see thousands dead. it would not be unreasonable to anticipate something along the lines of the Hindu-Muslim fighting that occurred when India and Pakistan obtained statehood.

As much as one can criticize the Thai approach to the south, the strategy has avoided the threat of terrorist bombs in the resort areas and suicide bombers.

[Steely Dan]

Problem in the South has only one exit and it is inevitably going that direction, like it or not.

Thailand is slowly but surely slipping into secession. Muslim separatist behavior is obvious as strategy everywhere in the world and we could count many examples.

Thailand has no way out or even the capacity to stop it.

Fortunately, you are not in any position of power to affect any change in the southern provinces,

otherwise, Thailand might suffer even more serious encounter....

I fear that your TPN, PAD or even the Thai army are way out of their depth on this one. You are dealing with a medieval death cult called fundamentalist Islam which has the goal of imposing it's will on the entire world. If you try to fight it they will escalate things, if you make concessions they will ask for still more. Perhaps the best way would be to ask Malaysia to make a token payment to take the Southern three provinces off your hands and the money could be spent to re-settle the Buddhist minority.

P.S Mods, there's a case of moving this thread to world news as it is truly a world problem.

[Steely Dan]

There is one last possibility and it is not desirable. Think about the nationalist outrage in respect to the border issue with Cambodia. If a dispute over a Temple in the middle of nowhere can get people frothing at the mouth and shooting at each other, just consider what would happen if Thaialand had to deal with the possible loss of a large chunk of its nation. It would be unacceptable to all political factions in Thailand

If the southern insurrection spreads to the rest of Thailand with acts that parallel the ETA and IRA, I would expect that Thais would retaliate with a fury that would see thousands dead. it would not be unreasonable to anticipate something along the lines of the Hindu-Muslim fighting that occurred when India and Pakistan obtained statehood.

As much as one can criticize the Thai approach to the south, the strategy has avoided the threat of terrorist bombs in the resort areas and suicide bombers.

I'm with you on this one. hether by neglect, muddling through or whatever other 'strategy' used, Thailand has not had Muslim problems on anything like the scale all the other world religions have had. I think the petty squables with Cambodia should be seen in true perspective looking at the world map of 'civilisations' according to the gospel of Henderson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clash_of_Civilizations_map2.png

Thailand take notice, your cultural allies are infact Burma, laos and Cambodia set aside minor difference for the sake of your common interests.

[mkawish]

Problem in the South has only one exit and it is inevitably going that direction, like it or not.

Thailand is slowly but surely slipping into secession. Muslim separatist behavior is obvious as strategy everywhere in the world and we could count many examples.

Thailand has no way out or even the capacity to stop it.

Fortunately, you are not in any position of power to affect any change in the southern provinces,

otherwise, Thailand might suffer even more serious encounter....

Hold on topic, please will you? Thoughts of this kind keep for yourself as you have no idea about anything-if you could say that. I was living for a while this kind of situation, it was part of my life, life which was changed a lot, thanks to Muslims. So, give me a break, will you?

There are a small percentage of brothers and sisters Muslim who are aggressive and wants things done now....

while there are also majority of brothers and sisters Muslim who are willing to work for an amiable solution to problems in life....

I am very happy for you that your life becomes better....

And also I am one among many many who wants to see peace.... enduring peace.... in the south

Do you really think.... murdering.... will bring peace.... enduring peace....?

There are many relatives of mine currently living in YaLa, PartTarNee and Narrathiwat areas.... they want to see peace more than anything, so they can carry on their lives and biz....

Perhaps, you should go around outside of your immediate village and talk to Muslims in other compongs.... most might not agree with you, nor do they regard violence and murder a Muslim way of life....