Eight soldiers killed in Thai south: army

[webfact]

Eight soldiers killed in Thai south: army

BANGKOK, June 29, 2013 (AFP) - Eight soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in the restive Thai south early Saturday morning, an army spokesman said.

Another four people -- two soldiers and two civilians -- were wounded in the blast in Krongpinang district of the Muslim-majority Yala province.

The soldiers had been on duty all night at their base and were returning to their residence in a military truck when the roadside bomb went off.

"It was a very powerful bomb that completely destroyed the truck," Colonel Pramote Promin told AFP by phone.

"Ten soldiers were in the truck. Eight died and two were wounded," he said, adding that two villagers had also been injured in the blast.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but rebel groups have carried out similar attacks in the past.

A nine-year-old insurgency has claimed more than 5,500 lives in the Muslim-dominated south, where many local people complain of a long history of discrimination by Thai authorities in the Buddhist-majority nation.

Security personnel and those connected with the government are regularly targeted in the attacks, as well as Muslims perceived to be collaborating with the authorities.

Thailand held its first official talks with representatives of one of the main rebel groups, the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), earlier this year, but failed to reach an agreement and the daily violence continues.

Two Muslim men, including a village headman, were shot dead in Narathiwat province in separate incidents on Friday afternoon, the police said in their daily update.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-06-29

[Chao Lao Beach]

Only 8 today.

Oh but there is another thread of another bombing down there, a cafe`.

I device goes off in Bangkok, and the city stops, yet this is daily and much worse. Imagine living down there.

[soi41]

I know this is not the Thai way of doing things, but isn't it about time the army started to show some force?

THe so called peace negotiations are leading nowhere and with the daily killings of innocent people escalating, I think it is time to use the fist! Enough is enough!

[Sing_Sling]

I know this is not the Thai way of doing things, but isn't it about time the army started to show some force?

THe socalled peacenegotiations are leading nowhere and with the daily killings of innocent people escalating, I think it is time to use the fist! Enough is enough!

You don't really read, do you . . .

'not the Thai way of doing things' . . .

'isn't it about time the army started showing force'

[fakename]

Is there some kind of censorship going on with the numbers of casualties in the south? No matter how many are killed, it is always "over 5,500", but it has been at that number for a couple years now. My guess is over 6000 now, but for some reason, the lower number has been chosen.

Seems the army is helpless in dealing with the situation, and the only thing they can do, is draw chalk lines around the bodies.

[apetley]

Why are troops being ferried around in a truck when they are in what is obviously a war zone?

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[billd766]

Why are troops being ferried around in a truck when they are in what is obviously a war zone?

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Because the military and the government have far better corruption things to waste the peoples money on.

There are many excellent vehicles out there which are ideal for the job but they cost real money and are not available in exchange for chickens or rotten rice.

Besides with the draft there is always cannon fodder avaiable. Sarcasm implied.

Lions led by buffalos.

[ezzra]

Cannon fodder those poor soldiers, sad, very sad, pointless loss of life, I guess life in

Thailand is cheap, no one seems to make a fuss of the mounting toll of dead soldiers

and civilians, this is not the right way to defeat the terrorists, go and learn how it should be done

from courtiers that had to deal with similar situations else where in the world,

learn from them and implement....

[lee b]

Yet agin another cowardly attack RIP guys

[johnlandy]

Only 8 today.

Oh but there is another thread of another bombing down there, a cafe`.

I device goes off in Bangkok, and the city stops, yet this is daily and much worse. Imagine living down there.

Yeah but it is only temporary, the 600 km fence will stop all this nonsense

[OMGImInPattaya]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

[hellodolly]

I know this is not the Thai way of doing things, but isn't it about time the army started to show some force?

THe socalled peacenegotiations are leading nowhere and with the daily killings of innocent people escalating, I think it is time to use the fist! Enough is enough!

You don't really read, do you . . .

'not the Thai way of doing things' . . .

'isn't it about time the army started showing force'

Well you certainly have some good points there.

You don't really read, do you . .

I think he does I could be wrong

'not the Thai way of doing things' . . .

You are right it is not the Thai way of doing things there way is to figure out how to make money out of it and talk

'isn't it about time the army started showing force'

Well there in is the problem. They are showing force just not using it.

How many of the over 5,500 people dead in the last nine years are terrorists?

How many are soldiers?

And how many are innocent civilians such as the two innocent civilians in this incident and the two Muslims in Narathiwat province?

Not sure of my numbers but I believe this last nine years started with about 59 Muslims dieing at the hands of the Army.

A number easily surpassed by the number of school teachers at the hands of the terrorists. One with his head cut off in front of his students.

[hellodolly]

Cannon fodder those poor soldiers, sad, very sad, pointless loss of life, I guess life in

Thailand is cheap, no one seems to make a fuss of the mounting toll of dead soldiers

and civilians, this is not the right way to defeat the terrorists, go and learn how it should be done

from courtiers that had to deal with similar situations else where in the world,

learn from them and implement....

There are no countries who have successfully dealt with terrorists in a short period of time. It has always been over years before they are dealt with.

The only way to deal with the southern insurgents is to win the people over to the government side show them that they count just as any other citizen in Thailand. Help them to expand there small business teach them how to run a small business. Teach them new trades they can use to support them selves. Do not interfere with their religious beliefs allow them to teach them as long as they also learn the same as expected in Thailand as a whole. After a while they will start to believe that the terrorists are their enemy also and start to turn them in. This has happened just recently two terrorists were turned in by the citizens.

If all that fails they can send Jatuporn and Chalerm with their red shirts down there.

the threat of sending Jatuporn and Chalerm down there might be enough to have them change there ways.

[simple1]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

Personally I believe that there has been so much killing by all parties in the deep South that peace is probably years away. Add to this mix the ongoing extrajudicial killings and torture by various Thai government funded organisations. Out of an estimated 1.7 million Thai Muslims in the deep South, the Thai government estimates there are currently 100,000 members of the insurgent groups, both active and sympathisers.

Different players within the Thai government, military, police and the insurgency groups have competing agendas. Some publically stating they want to enter negotiations, some do not wish to concede anything. Then there are the various criminal gangs making money from the whole affair, plus corrupt Thai & Malaysian officials. How long before the real players say they have had enough and it's time to bring the conflict to an end is currently an unknown. Hopefully I am proved wrong, but based upon other insurgency conflicts in Asia and around the world could be 10 - 20 years with thousands more dead and injured.

EDIT: I agree with hellodolly regards supporting the villagers. Similar tactics were successfully used by the US in the Sunni triangle in Gulf War 11 (hearts and minds) that broke the back of the Islamic extremists. A number of reports state that the general Thai Muslim population are sick and tired of the killings and just want justice, a peaceful life and equal opportunity.

Edited June 29, 2013 by simple1

[masuk]

it's now hit the BBC headlines:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23109476

[simple1]

It is difficult to ascertain the breakdown of deaths. There was an analysis published in 02/2011 that stated from Jan 4, 2004 until Jan 31, 2011 there were 4,186 deaths of which 1,737 were Buddhists and 2,331 were Muslims. For the same time period 4,491 Buddhists were injured compared with 2,346 Muslims. Out of the 1,737 Buddhists killed, 53% were Thai government staff e.g. government officials/defence volunteers/government employees.

Also it does not seem that deaths are broken down by miltary, insurgent or criminal activity. A few weeks back there was a bit of detail saying from 10/2012 to 05/2013 approx 46 insurgents were killed by the military

[EyesWideOpen]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

I agree. I have been to the Kru Se Mosque a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever been called to task for the massacres , especially for Tak Bai. So I suspect there is a lot of residual anger there over these issues. Perhaps a start for Thailand would be to punish the responsible parties. However the response of the rebels is sickening. Blowing up young soldiers who were drafted, and cutting off the heads of teachers is sure not winning them any sympathy for their grievances....

[Sing_Sling]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

I agree. I have been to the Kru Se Mosque a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever been called to task for the massacres , especially for Tak Bai. So I suspect there is a lot of residual anger there over these issues. Perhaps a start for Thailand would be to punish the responsible parties. However the response of the rebels is sickening. Blowing up young soldiers who were drafted, and cutting off the heads of teachers is sure not winning them any sympathy for their grievances....

I agree . . . but look at it from the standpoint of the oppressed . . . the voting booth isn't going to help.

These people didn't just wake up one day and say to themselves that it's a good day to start a revolution - they have their distinct religion, language etc... This started decades ago and was ignored until a certain Mr Thaksin Esq decided to get tough and handed out special powers to Sonthi . . . gee, that didn't work well . . . and the same dude staged a coup against Mr. T.

Not a problem, said the democrat's Sonthi and noted a 'sense of optimism' and that all would be well by 2010 . . . instead the violence increased.

They are different - they are being ruled by people very far away whose religion is different to theirs - and who are proud of that fact - people, who send soldiers who don't understand their culture and differences.

Suffice it to say that 'Bangkok' has totally screwed up this situation from day one and are too arrogant to admit it and too stupid to do anything but send more soldiers and arm civilians (Buddhist ones, of course)

The KL talks? Well, Malaysia did make a difference by being the interlocutor in the Philippines, though the government made concessions as to semi-autonomy, tribal lands etc... - let's see what happens here

I must say, though, that my favourite Bangkok deflection and idiocy was presented by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont who said that the insurgency was funded by the sales of Tom Yam Koong in Malaysia.

With brains like these who is surprised that things are a bloody mess

[paz]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

I agree. I have been to the Kru Se Mosque a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever been called to task for the massacres , especially for Tak Bai. So I suspect there is a lot of residual anger there over these issues. Perhaps a start for Thailand would be to punish the responsible parties. However the response of the rebels is sickening. Blowing up young soldiers who were drafted, and cutting off the heads of teachers is sure not winning them any sympathy for their grievances....

It is not my intention to offend your sensibility but did you ever consider at least a possibility that that events you mention could have been a provocation by the same terrorists?

In view of their killings of Muslims is it an impossibility? If you allow this assumption, there is little wonder Thai authorities couldn't find the culprits...

The acts you refer to are very un-Thai! And considering the ensuing violence it would be logical for Thai Gov't to do their best to find and punish the guilty ones...

History knows many examples of provocations like this.

And we all know who wants no peace!

Are you for real ?!?

Doubting that something has really happened just because it does not match your of perception of a given people attitude ?

And that a Gov't always do "their best" ?!? Please let's not get ridicolous.

[paz]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

I agree. I have been to the Kru Se Mosque a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever been called to task for the massacres , especially for Tak Bai. So I suspect there is a lot of residual anger there over these issues. Perhaps a start for Thailand would be to punish the responsible parties. However the response of the rebels is sickening. Blowing up young soldiers who were drafted, and cutting off the heads of teachers is sure not winning them any sympathy for their grievances....

I agree . . . but look at it from the standpoint of the oppressed . . . the voting booth isn't going to help.

These people didn't just wake up one day and say to themselves that it's a good day to start a revolution - they have their distinct religion, language etc... This started decades ago and was ignored until a certain Mr Thaksin Esq decided to get tough and handed out special powers to Sonthi . . . gee, that didn't work well . . . and the same dude staged a coup against Mr. T.

Not a problem, said the democrat's Sonthi and noted a 'sense of optimism' and that all would be well by 2010 . . . instead the violence increased.

They are different - they are being ruled by people very far away whose religion is different to theirs - and who are proud of that fact - people, who send soldiers who don't understand their culture and differences.

Suffice it to say that 'Bangkok' has totally screwed up this situation from day one and are too arrogant to admit it and too stupid to do anything but send more soldiers and arm civilians (Buddhist ones, of course)

The KL talks? Well, Malaysia did make a difference by being the interlocutor in the Philippines, though the government made concessions as to semi-autonomy, tribal lands etc... - let's see what happens here

I must say, though, that my favourite Bangkok deflection and idiocy was presented by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont who said that the insurgency was funded by the sales of Tom Yam Koong in Malaysia.

With brains like these who is surprised that things are a bloody mess

I see you point. But Southern Thailand is not Palestine, Thailand is not Israel and nothing justifies these vile acts.

Or even if it is, the insurgents are doing a very poor job of proving their state of oppression to the world, unlike the Palestinians.

I agree with other posters as well. Mostly of the soldiers are from Isaan and with bravery and loyalty to the Kingdom, they do what no other Thai would do. They are cheap an expandable. Yes when they die it it makes the news, but soon they are forgotten and replaced for others.

Edited June 29, 2013 by paz

[philippe thelong]

Thai people should learn and remember history. In the early 1900, Siam has annexed the Sultanate of Pattani. The only way to solve the present problem would be to make a referendum as it was done in Timor. How many more dead people are needed before they accept to face the reality.

[Bagwan]

I know this is not the Thai way of doing things, but isn't it about time the army started to show some force?

THe so called peace negotiations are leading nowhere and with the daily killings of innocent people escalating, I think it is time to use the fist! Enough is enough!

I doubt that many would support your view. It seems to me that lack of restraint would merely exacerbate the situation. I suggest that you research the events that made up the Vietnam debacle, then continue with your studies by acquainting yourself with Sir Gerald Templer's policies during the Malayan uprising. If you take the bother to do, so I prophesy a sea change in your opinions.

Can you imagine what a photograph of a terrified little girl suffering from burns sobbing as she ran away from a horror story going viral would do to the tourist industry?

[apetley]

 

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

I agree. I have been to the Kru Se Mosque a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever been called to task for the massacres , especially for Tak Bai. So I suspect there is a lot of residual anger there over these issues. Perhaps a start for Thailand would be to punish the responsible parties. However the response of the rebels is sickening. Blowing up young soldiers who were drafted, and cutting off the heads of teachers is sure not winning them any sympathy for their grievances....

 

 

It is not my intention to offend your sensibility but did you ever consider at least a possibility that that events you mention could have been a provocation by the same terrorists?

 

In view of their killings of Muslims is it an impossibility?  If you allow this assumption, there is little wonder Thai authorities couldn't find the culprits...

 

The acts you refer to are very un-Thai!  And considering the ensuing violence it would be logical for Thai Gov't to do their best to find and punish the guilty ones...

 

History knows many examples of provocations like this.

 

And we all know who wants no peace!

The Tak Bai massacre happened because Thai troops stacked Muslim prisoners on top off each other in the back of trucks and took them on a five hour drive.

The Krue Se massacre happened when the commanding officer ignored a direct order to resolve the standoff peacefully and many of the dead were found to have been shot in the head after being tied up first.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[simple1]

Cannon fodder those poor soldiers, sad, very sad, pointless loss of life, I guess life in

Thailand is cheap, no one seems to make a fuss of the mounting toll of dead soldiers

and civilians, this is not the right way to defeat the terrorists, go and learn how it should be done

from courtiers that had to deal with similar situations else where in the world,

learn from them and implement....

In a recently released Rand Corporation (highly respected think tank often used by US government for defense/military matters) study it stated that terrorist groups were only successfully suppressed 7% of the time by use of force, 43% were resolved through peaceful dialogue. More detail at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9351/index1.html

[OMGImInPattaya]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

I agree. I have been to the Kru Se Mosque a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever been called to task for the massacres , especially for Tak Bai. So I suspect there is a lot of residual anger there over these issues. Perhaps a start for Thailand would be to punish the responsible parties. However the response of the rebels is sickening. Blowing up young soldiers who were drafted, and cutting off the heads of teachers is sure not winning them any sympathy for their grievances....

I agree . . . but look at it from the standpoint of the oppressed . . . the voting booth isn't going to help.

These people didn't just wake up one day and say to themselves that it's a good day to start a revolution - they have their distinct religion, language etc... This started decades ago and was ignored until a certain Mr Thaksin Esq decided to get tough and handed out special powers to Sonthi . . . gee, that didn't work well . . . and the same dude staged a coup against Mr. T.

Not a problem, said the democrat's Sonthi and noted a 'sense of optimism' and that all would be well by 2010 . . . instead the violence increased.

They are different - they are being ruled by people very far away whose religion is different to theirs - and who are proud of that fact - people, who send soldiers who don't understand their culture and differences.

Suffice it to say that 'Bangkok' has totally screwed up this situation from day one and are too arrogant to admit it and too stupid to do anything but send more soldiers and arm civilians (Buddhist ones, of course)

The KL talks? Well, Malaysia did make a difference by being the interlocutor in the Philippines, though the government made concessions as to semi-autonomy, tribal lands etc... - let's see what happens here

I must say, though, that my favourite Bangkok deflection and idiocy was presented by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont who said that the insurgency was funded by the sales of Tom Yam Koong in Malaysia.

With brains like these who is surprised that things are a bloody mess

I see you point. But Southern Thailand is not Palestine, Thailand is not Israel and nothing justifies these vile acts.

Or even if it is, the insurgents are doing a very poor job of proving their state of oppression to the world, unlike the Palestinians.

I agree with other posters as well. Mostly of the soldiers are from Isaan and with bravery and loyalty to the Kingdom, they do what no other Thai would do. They are cheap an expandable. Yes when they die it it makes the news, but soon they are forgotten and replaced for others.

The "vile" acts started with the actions of the Thai State, as represented by the Bangkok based Buddhist elite. The Muslims in the south are just ending it.

If the square-faced one and the so called generals of the Thai army had taken responsibility for and punished those responsible for the initial massacres probably 90 percent of the subsequent violence could have been avoided.

As for the conscript issan soldiers, they serve in an occupying army and suffer the consequences. Maybe their red-shirt brethren should demonstrate for southern rights and justice or elect a responsible government and then their dying might stop.

[paz]

As for the conscript issan soldiers, they serve in an occupying army and suffer the consequences. Maybe their red-shirt brethren should demonstrate for southern rights and justice or elect a responsible government and then their dying might stop.

There is a Jewish elite in Israel that protests for Palestine freedom and human rights. It took years to develop. I don't hink there cant be anything similar in Thailand for the next 40-50 years. The avarage Thai, whatever his shirt color, see no further that his own district and personal interest.

Edited June 30, 2013 by paz

[Sing_Sling]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

I agree. I have been to the Kru Se Mosque a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever been called to task for the massacres , especially for Tak Bai. So I suspect there is a lot of residual anger there over these issues. Perhaps a start for Thailand would be to punish the responsible parties. However the response of the rebels is sickening. Blowing up young soldiers who were drafted, and cutting off the heads of teachers is sure not winning them any sympathy for their grievances....

I agree . . . but look at it from the standpoint of the oppressed . . . the voting booth isn't going to help.

These people didn't just wake up one day and say to themselves that it's a good day to start a revolution - they have their distinct religion, language etc... This started decades ago and was ignored until a certain Mr Thaksin Esq decided to get tough and handed out special powers to Sonthi . . . gee, that didn't work well . . . and the same dude staged a coup against Mr. T.

Not a problem, said the democrat's Sonthi and noted a 'sense of optimism' and that all would be well by 2010 . . . instead the violence increased.

They are different - they are being ruled by people very far away whose religion is different to theirs - and who are proud of that fact - people, who send soldiers who don't understand their culture and differences.

Suffice it to say that 'Bangkok' has totally screwed up this situation from day one and are too arrogant to admit it and too stupid to do anything but send more soldiers and arm civilians (Buddhist ones, of course)

The KL talks? Well, Malaysia did make a difference by being the interlocutor in the Philippines, though the government made concessions as to semi-autonomy, tribal lands etc... - let's see what happens here

I must say, though, that my favourite Bangkok deflection and idiocy was presented by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont who said that the insurgency was funded by the sales of Tom Yam Koong in Malaysia.

With brains like these who is surprised that things are a bloody mess

I see you point. But Southern Thailand is not Palestine, Thailand is not Israel and nothing justifies these vile acts.

Or even if it is, the insurgents are doing a very poor job of proving their state of oppression to the world, unlike the Palestinians.

I agree with other posters as well. Mostly of the soldiers are from Isaan and with bravery and loyalty to the Kingdom, they do what no other Thai would do. They are cheap an expandable. Yes when they die it it makes the news, but soon they are forgotten and replaced for others.

I'm not saying there are excuses for vile acts - rather there are reasons for it . . . and the insurgents see this as a local issue, not a global one - there is no 'world' to prove anything to . . . and just imagine of they did, the cries of the bigots would get even louder about 'Caliphate' etc . . .

The Bangkok-Centric powers-that-be have always treated this region with disdain, arrogance and ignorance

[CMKiwi]

Hmmm I see this forum is getting a bit heated. Well to add my 2 cents worth I watched a documentary a few days ago. I think it was on a BBC channel. Very informative and it may work in the South. The doco was about the Malayan Emergency.

Although the 'Emergency' wasnt a religion based conflict ( it was about the communist insurgence) the documentary covered the many different ways employed in trying to stop all the bloodshed. Straight out war/fighting didnt work.

It was a combination of hearts and minds, very strong penalties for law breakers and getting all the people to come together as a Country. The government at the time also passed a law that allowed immigrants to become Malay citizens. There was a whole lot of actions they took with the end result that it worked and the communists were given their marching orders (so to speak).

Possibly something like this could work in the South???

Just an idea

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies as well as posts with messed up quotes have been deleted.

This topic is not about Israel, Palestine or Arabs. What has been used as an example is not the topic of the thread.

Stay on topic, please.

[soicee]

No justice...no peace! Remember Tak Bai...Kru Se Mosque massacre...Soba Yoi...and Somchai Najephalit.

No one in Thai government or armed services has ever been called to account or punished so any of these gross violations of human rights.

Personally I believe that there has been so much killing by all parties in the deep South that peace is probably years away. Add to this mix the ongoing extrajudicial killings and torture by various Thai government funded organisations. Out of an estimated 1.7 million Thai Muslims in the deep South, the Thai government estimates there are currently 100,000 members of the insurgent groups, both active and sympathisers.

Different players within the Thai government, military, police and the insurgency groups have competing agendas. Some publically stating they want to enter negotiations, some do not wish to concede anything. Then there are the various criminal gangs making money from the whole affair, plus corrupt Thai & Malaysian officials. How long before the real players say they have had enough and it's time to bring the conflict to an end is currently an unknown. Hopefully I am proved wrong, but based upon other insurgency conflicts in Asia and around the world could be 10 - 20 years with thousands more dead and injured.

EDIT: I agree with hellodolly regards supporting the villagers. Similar tactics were successfully used by the US in the Sunni triangle in Gulf War 11 (hearts and minds) that broke the back of the Islamic extremists. A number of reports state that the general Thai Muslim population are sick and tired of the killings and just want justice, a peaceful life and equal opportunity.

The US did not "break the back of the Islamic extremists" in the Sunni triangle. They paid them off to stop fighting which the Sunni's were happy to do as their real fight was with the Shia majority. The fight resumed as soon as the US withdrew most of their forces as evidenced by the ongoing wave of bombings & killings in Iraq.

As for, "getting tough". The insurgence in the south was a minor annoyance (very small causalities) until Taksin instigated a "get tough policy" of extrajudicial killings (like his war on drugs which resulted in many innocent people being killed in Thailand) & an Army crackdown. Things really heated up after the Tak Bai incident.

The 3 southern provinces were once part of an independent Malay state which the British colonial power in the Malayan peninsular annexed & then ceded to the Thai’s in exchange for the Thai’s relinquishing any claims to Penang.

Easy to understand why Muslim Malays are disgruntled at being traded off to the Thai Buddhist state. With the radicalisation of Muslims sweeping the world & the abundance of Muslims who have acquired military experience in the insurgency universities of Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen etc; I can’t see them ever excepting the status quo.

Edited June 30, 2013 by soicee