The spate of killings in the south recently on police and local officials by pillion riders dressed in muslim headscarves makes me wonder.

A muslim man may be hard to spot in street clothes but someone wearing a burkha (sp) is 'obviously' muslim.

Police and local officials, businessmen seem to be very selectivly targeted, at their homes, favourite coffee shops etc.

Does anyone else feel that the burkha-clad gunner may just be an opportunistic way for crime figures or political opponants to use the southern unrest to settle some scores?

If they were truely muslim militants, why would they dress so obviously? Unless you were going over the top to make it seem like it was some other group to blame.

cv

cdnvic~

You have a point. But the flip side might be that the individuals doing this don't have a "criminal" point of view (commit a crime without getting caught), but rather a "partisan" view. They are attempting to provoke authority to retaliate upon their brethern, thereby causing more discontent toward the authorities.

They could also see it as a statement of their political and/or religious intent. They may wish to remain anonymous in order to escape personal reprisal, but they want the authorities to know that they have not been suppressed.

Jeepz

That makes sense too. I guess all we can really do is speculate. I just saw the stories and got flashbacks to the "war" on drugs when many people were getting popped left right and centre at a conveniant time.

cv