Thailand concerned after key peace talk imam shot dead

[webfact]

Thailand concerned after key peace talk imam shot dead

BANGKOK, August 6, 2013 (AFP) - A Muslim leader seen as a major figure in efforts to end a bloody insurgency in Thailand's south was shot dead Monday, raising concern about the future of peace talks.

Imam Yacob Raimanee of the Pattani Central Mosque -- the main house of Islamic worship in one of several violence-plagued southern provinces -- was gunned down on Monday afternoon in the town of Pattani, police said.

The killing comes despite an agreement between Thailand and Muslim rebels from the region to try to avoid bloodshed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends this week.

"I can say that this incident is worrying," National Security Council chief and lead peace negotiator Paradorn Pattanatabut told AFP.

"The imam was one of those supporting the talks... he was killed, so we are concerned," he said.

The insurgency in the Muslim-dominated region has claimed more than 5,700 lives since 2004, with bombings, shootings and even beheadings targeting those perceived as collaborating with the Thai state.

In recent months, talks between the Thai authorities and some rebel groups including the Barisan Revolusi Nasional have brought tentative hopes of peace.

Malaysia -- which has hosted peace talks -- announced on July 12 that the two sides had agreed to try to stem the unrest during Ramadan.

But after a period of relative calm, violence resumed in late July, with a spate of bomb and gun attacks in southern Thailand that left nine people dead including teachers and police officers.

Paradorn vowed that the talks will continue.

"They are trying to frighten people -- so we have to be patient and strong," he said.

Thailand researcher for New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch, Sunai Phasuk, said Yacob was "the main driving force behind the effort to deradicalise Muslim youth in Pattani province".

"Imam Yacob is the most high-profile target among those Muslims that insurgents accuse of collaborating with the Thai state," he told AFP.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-08-06

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS
Leading imam shot down as violence escalates in South
The Nation



PATTANI: -- An important religious figure in the deep South, Imam Yakob Raimanee of the Central Masjid in Pattani, was killed yesterday in a gunfire attack while travelling in Muang district.

Four gunmen sprayed his vehicle with automatic fire.

There are no details on whether Yakob's family members who were travelling in a family pickup truck are safe or were also harmed.

Yakob survived an assassination attempt in October 2011, and since had been protected by security. He was a moderate cleric who often criticised violence by insurgents.

Another news report said he was shot while shopping on foot at a market.

Meanwhile, the ongoing peace dialogue with insurgents’ representatives would continue regardless of whether Hassan Taib remains their leader or is replaced, National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabutr said yesterday.

The chief negotiator on the Thai side was responding to unaccredited reports on the possible replacement of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) head by a new, unidentified person. He said confirmation from Malaysian authorities, as the facilitator in the peace talks, would be needed to verify the reported replacement.

Paradorn said a fourth round of talks would be held on August 18 as scheduled, and that a joint committee of Thai and Malaysian authorities would likely be set up for easier coordination to check on insurgency violence to determine who was responsible, especially for incidents occurring during the Ramadan truce.

Authorities in the deep South have been instructed to provide security on two fronts - to cope with an anticipated rise in violence after the conclusion of Ramadan, which ends tomorrow, and at events where Eid al-Fitr ceremonies are held the next day. Security for train travel would also be heightened to cope with extra numbers of Muslim passengers travelling throughout the South to attend events.

In Yala, five members of a foot-patrol escorting teachers were hurt, struck down by blasts from a roadside bomb blast yesterday in Muang district. One victim lost a leg. Military ordnance personnel said the bomb was made of a metal pipe with 5kg of explosive, and detonated via two-way radio frequency.

In Pattani, five people were wounded in a grenade attack at a food shop in Mayor district. Quoting witnesses, police said four attackers arrived at the scene on two motorcycles, with the thrower of the grenade dressed as a woman in a hijab.


-- The Nation 2013-08-06

[theblether]

This is proof, if any was needed, that it's a bunch of hard core psychotics at the heart of this insurgency.

[impulse]

Could have been perpetrated by any of the factions to extend the misery.

[CrisRMenumate]

After watching interviews with Imam Yakob on Thai TV before his untimely death I can see why the radicals could be so frightened by this calm, peaceful man, he and his ilk could have been the catalyst to getting some kind of peaceful life for the people of the South but that is something that fanatics don't want, they don't want peace because there is too much to gain from death and destruction. Hopefully in death at least he will also provide a source of inspiration of others to take the road of peaceful solutions to the issues in the south.

[webfact]

Muslim religious leader shot dead in Pattani
By English News

PATTANI, Aug 6 – A respected Muslim religious leader was killed while he was buying food in a market in this southern border province yesterday, police reported.

Police said four assailants on two motorbikes opened fire killing Yacob Raimani, imam of the Pattani central mosque, while he and his wife were buying food for their meal after fasting.

Imam Yacob Raimani, 49, an outstanding religious leader in Pattani, had greatly contributed to the development of Muslim religion, education and human resources.

He was attacked once before, two years ago, but managed to escape unharmed at that time.

The shooting took place during the holy month of Ramadan. Thai and Muslim insurgent negotiators have said they would attempt to halt all violence in insurgency-plagued provinces throughout the Islamic fasting month. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-08-06

[belg]

so the "religion of peace" shot dead

one of their peace loving preachers

[Briggsy]

There are many groups with a plethora of interests in this area. Often money is the driver rather than Islamic fundamentalism or independence. Information is very scant. It is foolish of posters to jump to conclusions regarding who killed this cleric and the motives for doing so. Even the public face of this cleric may have been a facade.

People really need to do much more reading on this subject before spouting off.

[Lite Beer]

Imam’s murder impacts peace process in Thai South
By English News

BANGKOK, Aug 6 – The murder of a Pattani Muslim religious leader will have a devastating impact on the morale of southern militants who have leaned towards cooperating with the Thai authorities, a senior security official said today.

Paradorn Pattanatabut, secretary general of the National Security Council (NSC), said the leader of Pattani central mosque Yacob Raimanee had greatly contributed to community work and been highly respected by Thai Muslim people in the southern border province.

Imam Yacob was shot dead while travelling in his car with family members on a road in the provincial seat yesterday. Four men on two motorcycles approached his car and opened fire on him.

Lt Gen Paradorn said a preliminary report could not identify the gunmen, adding that the Muslim religious leader, or imam, was earlier the target of an attempted murder.

He said he would ask a militant group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) through Malaysian officials to find out which group was responsible for the murder.

Malaysia has acted as a facilitator in the past few rounds of peace dialogue between Thailand and BRN leaders.

He admitted that Yacob’s death has raised concerns among operations officials in the South, adding that security measures and protection of people’s lives and property have become more stringent.

A few more factions of the BRN militant group have expressed interest in joining the peace talks, he said.

The NSC chief said the identities of militants who have lately instigated unrest and attacks in the South should become clearer in the next round of peace talks. (MCOT online news)

[tna][/tna]

[sonar6ca]

agreement between Thailand and Muslim rebels

Please excuse my ignorance but are those Muslims living in another country?