Bombs Rock The South Again

[sriracha john]

There's no let-up in sight... more bombings, more shootings, more death, destruction, and mayhem.... but at least Thaksin is back in the country now... so I'm sure he'll solve it soon. Perhaps assign a new commission to study the situation OR assign a new cabinet member to come up with a plan OR simply "tighten up" security in the region that has already been "tightened up" 312 times OR just issue a mandate that the problem will end in 30 days:

Two killed in 4th day of violence

More bomb blasts, shootings rock South

A string of bomb blasts and shootings continued to jolt the deep South yesterday, killing two people. In the fourth consecutive day of explosions in the troubled region, a 10-kilogramme bomb exploded about 9.40am, wounding four police and two civilians in Narathiwat's Cho Airong district.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Jun2006_news01.php

[Jai Dee]

PM Thaksin calls in security-related units a meeting

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will chair a meeting with security-related officials at the Government House at 13:30 hours today.

The main discussion of this meeting concerns the violence in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand.

Following the meeting, Dr. Thaksin is scheduled to attend a meeting this evening, to follow up on the progress of the construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

ACM Kongsak believes that Thailand can make a good understanding with Malaysian Government

The Interior Minister, Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wanthana (คงศักดิ์ วันทนา), believes that the Thai government will be able to establish a better understanding with the Malaysian government about the problems in the Deep South of Thailand. He said that security-related officers will send the details of Malaysia's request to its government.

Speaking before chairing the meeting with security-related units, ACM Kongsak said that that the Malaysian Government is discontented with Thailand’s indication that the materials used for producing bombs come from Malaysia. However, he said that Thailand must reconcile with Malaysia, and the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry will implement the process of reconcilement.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Chitchai Wannasathit (ชิดชัย วรรณสถิตย์) refused to talk to the media about the southern violence, adding that he would like to discuss with relevant units first.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Yala Governor has adjusted measures for dealing with the violence in the province

Yala Governor Bunyasit Suwannarat (บุญยสิทธิ์ สุวรรณรัตน์) has adjusted measures for dealing with the violence in the southern province, especially in the municipal and inner-city areas. The strategic adjustment on intelligence operation will emphasize on methodical news analysis.

Following the series of violence in Yala Province, Mr. Bunyasit held a meeting with relevant provincial-level and district-level units, aimed at seeking solutions to solve the unrest problems. He has requested all units to revise their roles and strengthen their weaknesses. He would like security officials to tighten up their performances. He has also asks members of the public to cooperate with the authority.

As for the intelligence units, he has instructed them to considerably analyze details of the news. He added that security measures for teachers are needed to be overhauled.

Besides, he said that officials have to rapidly restore public confidence, following the series of brutal situations in the province.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2006

[olaus]

Not logical.

Why can't Thailand enter talks with terrorits/separatists, and a country like Indonesia can? What is the difference between "terrorists" and "separatists" other than terminology giving "separatist" a slighly more neutral status?

Parts of the military in fact do want to enter into negotiations, while others don't. So which parts of the military is to is to be left to deal with the whole problem?

In a constitutional democracy you cannot leave the whole problem to "the military" as the miltary is subserviant to the political decision makers, and in Thailand in particular the military does try to avoid another coup, if possible.

Even if martial law is declared the military is still bound to certain constitutional rules.

With all respect, ColPyat.

If Thailand shows softness and enter talks, these problems will never stop.

After Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani are free, new insurgents will turn up in Satun and Songkhla. And so on to other parts of the Kingdom.

It is a difference between Aceh and the deep south of Thailand. If the three provinces are not kept as today, they will be lost for ever to Malaysia. Aceh will remain attached stronger to Indonesia due to the corresponding religion.

The military has to get an order to solve the problem by the government. A cristalclear task, enough resources and no interference. Only change of useless generals- the world is full of them.

It will take at least a decade. During that time the Police in the area has to obey under the acting military commander.

The thai people will not accept any concessions. After the incident with the killed and beaten female teachers the thai people is very frustrated.

A government which gives away one rai of land to insurgents in the south of Thailand will not survive next election.

Please, compare the situation in northern Ireland. It took several houndred years, but England never gave up. Why should Thailand?

[ColPyat]

With all respect, ColPyat.

If Thailand shows softness and enter talks, these problems will never stop.

After Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani are free, new insurgents will turn up in Satun and Songkhla. And so on to other parts of the Kingdom.

It is a difference between Aceh and the deep south of Thailand. If the three provinces are not kept as today, they will be lost for ever to Malaysia. Aceh will remain attached stronger to Indonesia due to the corresponding religion.

The military has to get an order to solve the problem by the government. A cristalclear task, enough resources and no interference. Only change of useless generals- the world is full of them.

It will take at least a decade. During that time the Police in the area has to obey under the acting military commander.

The thai people will not accept any concessions. After the incident with the killed and beaten female teachers the thai people is very frustrated.

A government which gives away one rai of land to insurgents in the south of Thailand will not survive next election.

Please, compare the situation in northern Ireland. It took several houndred years, but England never gave up. Why should Thailand?

Sorry, but your post is speculation.

Why is entering negotiations "softness"? It is only intelligent. Negotiations does not mean that the three provinces are "lost to Malaysia". Pre condition of those sort of negotiations is clearly that the insurgent groups give up any demands of independence, and subject of negotiations are only the terms of autonomy. Why would Malaysia even want any territorial addition on the cost of Thailand. There simply is no base of this argument. The Thai government has already caused anough regional damage with the baseless accusations against the Malaysian government of supporting the insurgents.

There is no proof whatsoever that the Malaysian government has anything to do with this insurgency, while there is clear proof of a long corresponding involvement between the Southern insurgents and the GAM.

Why would insurgents come up in Satun or Songkla, or other parts of the Kingdom?

Sorry, but this is paranoia.

I don't think that the situation can be compared in any way to Northern Ireland. If you want to compare it to that part of the world, then better compare it to the whole of Ireland. And as you know - the Irish, apart from Northern Ireland, have reached their independence.

The Thai people will not accept any concessions? Well, maybe. But then the Thai people will have to live with an escalating war down South until they realise that the situation will only be solved through a compromise reached through negotiations. As Indonesia did.

Edited June 19, 2006 by ColPyat

[sriracha john]

Bombings spark a scramble for excuses

Refusing to admit that the intelligence community and security apparatus are unable to curb the violence in the three southernmost provinces, Thailand's political leaders have once again opted for the blame game as they struggle to get through the day.

Embarrassed by Thursday's (June 15) coordinated attack that saw more than 40 bombs being set off almost simultaneously in the restive region, policy-makers looked for all kinds of excuses to explain why preventive measures were not in place in spite of claims of having prior knowledge of the planned attacks.

Trying to sound as if he were in control, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters that the authorities had supposedly obtained intelligence about the coming of a "major operation". His interior chief, Kongsak Wantana, on the other hand, placed the blame on Malaysia, saying that that's where these bombs were made.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya, meanwhile, credited Thursday's blitz to an unknown forum, supposedly held in Germany in 1997 by a group of Pattani exiles, as it fell on the ninth anniversary of the meeting, which supposedly declared the date "Pattani National Day".

Incidentally, neither the public in the deep South nor the known separatist groups--Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), Barisan Revolusi Nasional or Bersatu--have acknowledged such a declaration.

Army chief General Sondhi Boonyaratglin, perhaps one of the more level heads in the security community, warned against making something out of nothing.

What jolted many people was the fact that about half of the bombs were planted just a few metres from the work desks of district chiefs and mayors, one of whom was said to have passed out in the commotion.

But while policy and security planners were trying to pick up the pieces after Thursday's wave of bombings, none were willing to give credit to the militants by acknowledging that these guys really mean business.

Kongsak's tossing the blame to Malaysia is threatening to lead to another spitting contest as Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar decided to hit back the following day.

"Finding a scapegoat to justify what has happened will not help in any way to ease the tension in the restive South but will only worsen the situation," Syed was quoted as saying.

Thailand and Malaysia have already gone through several rounds of diplomatic wrangling over the South and nothing constructive has ever come of it. There is a general understanding among the security planners and policy-makers that Malaysia's cooperation is essential if peace is to be restored in the region.

This is not to say that Malaysia is entirely out of the picture or blameless, however. One cannot talk about insurgency in southern Thailand without talking about Malaysia.

Communities living along both sides of the border share a common culture. They speak the same Malay dialect, practise the same brand of Islam and, in many cases, have relatives on both sides of the border.

Residents of northern Malaysia have always been sympathetic to the plight of their neighbours in southern Thailand and often provide refuge for people seeking a place to lie low when things get too hot.

In fact, a significant number of field commanders and foot soldiers from the previous generation of militants were permitted to reside in northern Malaysia following the collapse of their armed wings more than a decade ago.

Thailand showed reciprocity by granting members of the Communist Party of Malaya citizenship and residency.

But as that chapter of Thai-Malaysian history was drawing to a close, the making of a new generation of insurgents in Thailand's deep South was slowly taking place. It went undetected for about eight years as both Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur sought comfort in a false sense of security based on the mistaken belief that the spirit of separatism in the Malay-speaking region was dead and gone.

But in the villages in the deep South, far away from Bangkok, a quiet indoctrination about the ethnic Malays' claim to the "Patani Darusalam" would capture the imagination of the new generation of militants.

They would eventually learn how to use weapons and make home-made bombs from materials readily available in downtown hardware stores.

They would structure themselves differently as well. Instead of camping out in remote hills, the combatants would form small independent cells across the region and operate secretly from the community in which they live.

While these developments went undetected, there were other incidents that should have caused concern - or at least served as a reminder that the problem was far from over.

In 1998, for example, the Chuan Leekpai government managed to convince Malaysia to return three Pulo field commanders - Abdul Rahman Bazo and two brothers, Ismail and Da-oh Thanam - to Thailand. The three are currently serving time in prison in Bangkok on charges of treason. But no one wanted to treat the secret hand-over as part of something bigger.

It's a different story nowadays. Malaysia is trying hard to reinvent itself and be recognised as a model Muslim state - one that is modern, developed, sophisticated and caring. The plight of the ethnic Malays in southern Thailand must also be understood in that context, not just a purely bilateral context.

It has been very difficult indeed for Bangkok to learn to live with the fact that Kuala Lumpur will not, quietly or publicly, hand over any suspect on its word alone. Few there believe that the suspects will get a fair trial, and apparently no Malaysian official wants blood on their hands.

Moreover, many of these suspects are said to have Malaysian citizenship as well.

But dealing in an up front, straightforward manner has never been the preferred choice of countries in the region. And no matter how frustrated Thai officials may be over Malaysia's indifference to the violence in the South, political leaders in Bangkok don't seem to want to go toe to toe with Kuala Lumpur on the issue even though they are convinced that they have legitimate grievances.

And so they opt for microphone diplomacy whenever they want to bring up sensitive matters, like the extradition of this or that suspect. They continue to do this to get through the moment, even if it means undermining their own credibility in the long run.

- Asia News Network

[Jai Dee]

Yala provincial governor denies the bombing incident at karaoke was aimed at him

Yala Governor Bunyasit Suwannarat (บุญยสิทธิ์ สุวรรณรัตน์) has gain said the news claiming that the bombing incident at Yala Rama hotel karaoke bar was aimed at displaying of forces against him. He has also apologized to local residents of Phang-nga(พังงา) who died due to the violence in the province.

Mr. Bunyasit referred to the news published in some newspapers over the bomb blast at a hotel karaoke bar on the 17th of June and that the insurgents wanted to have him killed. The news further claimed that an employee of the bar was killed instead of him due to the bomb blast prior to the time set. The news also reported that Mr. Bunyasit usually uses the venue to hold meetings with government officials.

Yala Governor said such news is groundless as he has never visited the venue and that the news could lead to misunderstandings. He added that the victim was not an employee of the bar but was a tourist from Phannga province.

He said the province will now adjust its measures and plans to deal with the unrest situation in the province.

Last Saturday night at about 9:40 pm, a man was killed and two women were severely injured when a bomb hidden inside a karaoke room of a hotel in Yala exploded. Hotel officials told police that three men used the karaoke room for about an hour before paying their bill and left.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin admits failures as killings persist in the South

Former Narathiwat Provincial Administration Organization chief Niso Mueda, 48, lies dead in his car after the ambush.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra admitted yesterday that intelligence operations in the southern border provinces were failing as another two people were killed and eight injured in the latest wave of attacks.

Militants have killed at least five people and injured dozens more since launching a series of attacks that began with some 50 bombs being detonated throughout the region on Thursday.

Thaksin said militant groups were continuing to spread despite major arrests of suspected insurgents in recent months and that intelligence operations were being restructured to improve their operations.

“We can compare the RKK [Runda Kumpulan Kecil] with a cell or rats that can spread and divide to cause more unrest, but unfortunately we don’t have enough cats to catch them,” Thaksin told reporters. “I have assigned [army chief] Gen Sonthi Boonyaratakalin to visit the area and scrutinize the situation in order to improve efficiency and find out why the insurgency persists despite the arrest of insurgency leaders and militant members.”

Thaksin reiterated that the government needed to focus on a two-pronged strategy of continuing military operations while also trying to improve relations with the predominantly Malay-Muslim population in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

“Political work or the implementation of laws need to be conducted alongside the development and creation of reconciliation in the area. It means that we will have to apply the instructions of the NRC,” he said.

Police have made at least 17 arrests under the emergency decree since Thursday’s attacks, but no charges have been filed, said the Region Nine Police Chief Lt-Gen Adul Saengsinkaew.

Thaksin’s comments came just hours after a former government official was shot dead in his car in Narathiwat. Nisoh Muerkha, 48, former chief of Narathiwat Provincial Administration Organization died after being ambushed by militants in a pick-up truck early yesterday morning.

Police said militants ran his car off the road before opening fire with AK-47s and shotguns, hitting him four times and killing him instantly.

A few hours later a bomb exploded near a train station in Choi Airong, injuring four policeman and two women. Police said the three-kilogram device was detonated by a cellphone.

In Pattani’s Mae Laen district, a 60-year-old woman was shot dead and two others injured in an attack last night.

On Saturday night, a man was killed and two women injured when a 15-kg bomb went off in a karaoke bar in Yala’s Muang district. Police cut cellphone signals in the area. Another bomb went off in Songkhla’s Thepa district but no injuries were reported.

Source: ThaiDay - 19 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Sonthi assigned to take care of the violence in the Deep South

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has given a full authority to Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน) to take care of the unrest situation in the southern region instead of Gen. Chitchai Wannasathit (ชิดชัย วรรณสถิตย์).

The Prime Minister chaired the meeting with security related officials. Following the meeting. According to National Security Council Secretary-General Vinai Pattiyakul (วินัย ภัทรธิยกุล ), the meeting has determined plans to tackle with the violence in the southernmost provinces.

Gen. Vinai added that Gen. Sonthi, who is the chief of Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command (SBPPC), has been assigned to implement the policies of SBPPC of to solve the unrest situation.

The Prime Minister has instructed the officials to speed up in solving the problems, while Gen. Sonthi has a full authority to implement the plans.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Kongsak insists bombs not from Thailand

Interior Minister ACM Kongsak Wanthana stuck to his guns yesterday and insisted components smuggled in from Malaysia were used in a four-day rash of bombings across the South.

“I know that the components of those bombs were imported from a foreign country,” he said, in a veiled reference to Malaysia. “Those components are difficult to find in Thailand.”

ACM Kongsak infuriated Malaysia when he said militants had met there and plotted the more than 70 bombings in the last five days throughout Muslim-majority Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, which left three people dead and injured dozens more.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar on Saturday said his country should not be made the scapegoat for Thailand’s unrelenting insurgency and rejected ACM Kongsak’s claims that the bombs came from Malaysia.

But ACM Kongsak said the Malaysian government had no knowledge of Thai-Muslim insurgents operating there and stressed the need for continued cooperation to deal with the crisis. “Malaysia’s response is normal,” he said yesterday. “We always expect them to deny knowledge of insurgent activity there. Whatever we say, they will deny it. We don’t accuse the Malaysian government of involvement, but cooperation between both parties is needed and Malaysia is always cooperative with us.”

ACM Kongsak’s comments came a day after Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon denied any Malaysian involvement in the insurgency, dismissing reports of links to militant organizations as “speculation.”

“Foreign Minister Kantathi…reaffirmed that there was no evidence pointing to Malaysia’s involvement,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

The standoff was the latest in a series of disputes over the trouble in the South, where 80 percent of the people are ethnic Malay Muslims with more in common with Malaysia.

The two sides have previously exchanged barbs over the flight of 131 Thai Muslims to Malaysia and Thailand venting its frustrations over Kuala Lumpur’s reluctance to arrest or extradite suspected insurgents.

Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday called for less bickering and better cooperation between the two countries. “There’s a need for much closer cooperation in solving the problem and we are not in favor of shouting across the border,” he said on the sidelines of a meeting with representatives of ASEAN nations yesterday.

“I think ASEAN should play a role in this issue,” he said. “It’s good to get input at all levels.”

Source: ThaiDay - 20 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Bomb Rocks Thai South, Killing Suspected Bomber

A homemade bomb exploded by accident late Monday in southern Thailand, killing a suspected bomber who was deploying the explosives and injuring several others, a southern military source told Xinhua.

The explosion happened at about 6:00 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) in Ra-ngae district of Narathiwat, the most-southern province of Thailand. Local military said the bomb might have been triggered by mistake.

The carrier of the bomb, who was said to be a suspected insurgent, died on the spot. Several passersby were injured.

Last Thursday, more than 40 bombs rocked local government buildings and police stations in three Thai southern provinces, leaving two dead and dozens of injured.

On Friday morning, eight homemade bombs simultaneously exploded at railway stations in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani, leaving one dead and scores of injured.

Thai military said that during the past month, hundreds of homemade bombs have been illegally smuggled into Thailand through the southern border. Local police and military have launched large scale manhunts.

At least 1,200 people have been killed since unrest broke out in January 2004 in the three provinces along Thailand's border with Malaysia.

Source: Xinhua - 20 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Suspected militant killed while allegedly assembling bomb

Narathiwat - A suspected Muslim militant was killed Monday evening when a bomb he was allegedly assembling in his house accidentally went off, police said.

Police said the explosion at the house of Asman Yusoh also injured two or three other suspected militants who fled the scene.

Pol Col Wiroj Phanitphol, commander of Narathiwat's Chanae district police station, said Asman was allegedly assembling a bomb at his house in Aejeh Village when it exploded at 6 pm.

Wiroj said components for assembling a bomb were spewed all over inside the house.

Police also found traces of blood of two of three persons leaving the house.

Wiroj said police were trying to locate people injured by bomb blast to try to arrest the elusive militants.

Source: The Nation - 20 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Yala grants financial aid worth over 1.6 million baht to violence victims

Yala (ยะลา) Province has granted a financial aid worth over 1.6 million baht to the 24 people who have been affected from the regional violence.

At Yala City Hall today, the Deputy Governor of Yala, Mr. Karan Supkitvilekha (การันต์ ศุภกิจวิเลขการ) presided over the ceremony to present 1,678,000 baht of financial support to the 24 victims. He said his province is willing to help all people who have suffered from the southern unrest.

Besides, the Yala Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office will support the victims by providing them job opportunities and restoring their psychological conditions.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

ACM Kongsak is confident that empowerment to Army Commander-in-Chief is able to relief the degree of the violence in the Deep South

The Interior Minister, Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wanthana (คงศักดิ์ วันทนา), is confident that the degree of violence in the Deep South will lessened, after Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Bunyaratklin (สนธิ บุญยรัตนกลิน) has been empowered to deal with the unrest situations.

The Interior Minister deems that this empowerment would help facilitate the assistance process as Gen. Sonthi is directly taking care of the matter.

As for the Organization of Islamic Conference’s (OIC) concern over the unrest situations in the restive South, ACM Kongsak informed that he will take this issue into account.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Lieutenant-general Adul called in every chief of police a meeting to adjust measures for coping with the violence

The Police Commander of Region 9th Police, Lieutenant-General Adul Sangsingkaew (อดุลย์ แสงสิงแก้ว), called a meeting with every police chief in his region. The meeting was aimed at adjusting measures to deal with the violence in the southern provinces.

Previously, Lt.-Gen. Adul held a training session for 2,000 officials in the operation level. He anticipated that the outcome of this meeting can lead to the end of southern violence.

He added that he always try to improve the quality of officials in all levels. He would like them to be active in performing their roles as he believes that if every unit is prompt and ready, the unrest in the three southern border provinces will be solved soon.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 June 2006

[ratcatcher]

Lieutenant-general Adul called in every chief of police a meeting to adjust measures for coping with the violence

The Police Commander of Region 9th Police, Lieutenant-General Adul Sangsingkaew (อดุลย์ แสงสิงแก้ว), called a meeting with every police chief in his region. The meeting was aimed at adjusting measures to deal with the violence in the southern provinces.

Previously, Lt.-Gen. Adul held a training session for 2,000 officials in the operation level. He anticipated that the outcome of this meeting can lead to the end of southern violence.

He added that he always try to improve the quality of officials in all levels. He would like them to be active in performing their roles as he believes that if every unit is prompt and ready, the unrest in the three southern border provinces will be solved soon.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 June 2006

SOON!

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Ruangroj says giving authority to Gen.Sonthi will facilitate the work in the Deep South

Gen. Ruangroj Mahasaranond, the Supreme Commander insisted by giving authority to evaluate the situation to the chief of Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command (SBPPC) Sonthi Boonyaratkalin (สนธิ บุญรัตกลิน) will facilitate the work in the Deep South.

Gen. Ruangroj spoke about the meeting between security related agencies on 19th of June where Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has given authority to Gen. Sonthi to manage the work in the southernmost provinces, adding that it will help facilitate and make the work effective.

However, he said the officials will have to adjust their plans to tackle with the violence in southern provinces. He added that the issues are not worrying as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Chidchai Wannasathit (ชิดชัย วรรณสถิตย์) is addressing the issues.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

ACM Kongsak beliefs that PM's decision to empower Army Commander-in-chief can bring about work unity

The Interior Minister, Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wanthana (คงศักดิ์ วันทนา), is confident that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s decision to empower Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Bunyaratklin (สนธิ บุญยรัตนกลิน) to deal with the unrest situation can create unity in the operation.

Referring to the academics’ criticisms that the authorities in the Deep South have failed to perform their duties, ACM Kongsak explained that the operation has to be divided into two groups, namely the operating officers and the administrators. However, he said that Dr. Thaksin has directly assigned Gen. Sonthi to take care of this issue, adding that this empowerment will emphasize more unity in their works.

As for the complaints that the closed circuit television in the Deep South does not work effectively, the Interior Minister said that he has assigned the Deputy Minister of Interior, Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit (เสริมศักดิ์ พงษ์พานิช), to inspect the subject.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 June 2006

[opothai]

there is no easy solution to these problems,

but to sit down with murderers and ask THEM what they want, it would just encourage more of these situations which are a scourge all around the world.

look to a country where the insurgents and terrorists are not succesful and follow thier lead.

from what i can gather the only country that has minimal activity is china, i could be wrong, but china has zero tolerance and a very hard line.

i feel for the thais caught up in this mess.

[Jai Dee]

Trust in the government is a key to end violence in the Deep South

Peace advocate Prawase Wasi (ประเวศ วะสี) urges the government to declare that violence in the far south has not been triggered by the state and then prove it to the people in the three southern border provinces.

Dr. Prawase said the government needs to win trust from the local people first if it is to bring troubles in the southern region to an end.

He said the government has to build up solidarity in the region, give southerners a say in solving violence problems and arrange for religious experts to give youngsters knowledge about all religions so they can not be brainwashed.

Dr. Prawase is a member of the National Reconciliation Commission set up to find measures to return peace to the Deep South.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 June 2006

[TokyoT]

Trust in the government is a key to end violence in the Deep South

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 June 2006

No sh*t?

[Jai Dee]

Prem disagrees with proposal to use Malay as official language in deep South

Pattani — Privy Council President Gen Prem Tinsulanonda said Sunday that he disagreed with one of suggestions by the now defunct peace championed National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) to have the Malay language as an additional working language in the deep south.

"We cannot accept that (proposal) as we are Thai, the country is Thai and the language is Thai so we have to make efforts to learn Thai and command it as good as the rest of the kingdom," he said.

Prem, who architected a policy to ease violence in the deep south during his premiership in 1980s, was in Pattani Sunday to meet religious and community leaders as well as Muslim youths as part of a project to champion peace.

"We have to be proud of being Thai and having the Thai language and the sole national language," Prem told the local residents' gathering.

Source: The Nation - 26 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Unidentified southern unrest victims to be reexamined

The National Police Inspector-General, Pol. Gen. Seripisut Temeeyawes (เสรีพิศุทธิ์ เตมียาเวส), has visited the province of Pattani, to examine the unidentified corpses who were the victims of the southern unrest.

The National Police Inspector-General along with Justice Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Thongthong Chantarangsu and the interim Director-General of the Forensic Science Institute, Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, visited Tambon Talubo in Muang District of Pattani Province. The purpose of this trip is to inspect the unidentified corpses who were the victims of the violence in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand. In Pattani alone, there are 265 unidentified corpses in this category.

Pol. Gen. Seripisut said that a committee will be set up to examine and identify these corpses so the subjects would be clarified to the people. Meanwhile, Khunying Porntip said the corpses’ DNAs will be reexamined in detail, starting next month.

Source: Thaisnews - ประจำวันจันทร์ที่ 26 มิถุนายน 2549

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Sirichai admitted that ending the violence in the Deep South needs time

Defense Ministry Permanent Secretary Sirichai Tanyasiri (สิริชัย ธัญญสิริ) has admitted that ending the violence in the Deep South needs time. He said it is important for the government officials to provide shelter to the southern locals.

Regarding to the new authority given to Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin to end the unrest situation in the South, Gen. Sirichai said that he is willing to cooperate and give suggestions to him.

The Permanent Secretary has conceded that during the changes of responsibilities and working policies, it is important for officers to be able to help out the general public throughout the areas. He said they should also be able to fluently communicate in Malay language, especially the officers who are responsible in developing and protecting the public properties.

He further stated that the empowerment and the budget have to go along well with each other so the operation would be a success.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 June 2006

[sriracha john]

Don't think the esteemed PM is a bit too pre-occupied with other matters, is he?

The bedlam continues:

Thai Roadside Bomb Kills Five

CNN via Associated Press

BANGKOK, Thailand -- A roadside bomb exploded Tuesday under a military truck packed with security officers headed to guard a school in Thailand's restive south, killing a soldier and four volunteers, police said.

The blast in the Raman district of Yala province occurred as the truck was crossing a bridge, said Maj. Jeerasak Vikraicharoenying.

More than 1,300 people have been killed in Thailand's three Muslim majority provinces -- Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat -- since violence that the government blames on Islamic separatists flared in early 2004.

Attacks have mainly targeted government offices and police stations. But schools and teachers, viewed by insurgents as symbols of authority, are also frequent targets of violence.

In separate violence, two roadside bombs exploded in Narathiwat province but caused no injuries, Jeerasak said.

The blasts were believed to have targeted other security agents working for a force known as the Teacher's Protection Unit, as the officers headed to work.

[sriracha john]

The Bangkok Post adds:

The militants ambushed the security group on the way to pick up teachers and take them to school, blew up their truck, and then shot them. The militants seized the guards' weapons and fled.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=105552

[sriracha john]

geez... that's one big hole :

Thai soldiers and forensic experts examine a crater on a road created by a bomb attack on a pick up truck carrying soldiers as it headed for guard duty at a school in Yala province, southern Thailand on Tuesday. (AP Photo)

Additional details from Associated Press:

The blast occurred as the truck was crossing a bridge in Yala province's Raman district and triggered a 10-kilogram bomb, said Maj. Jeerasak Vikraicharoenying. One soldier and four security volunteers were killed. After the explosion, a dozen suspected insurgents emerged from hiding and opened fire on the truck before fleeing with five of their victims' M-16 rifles.

And.... From the BBC:

In Tuesday's attack, a bomb exploded under a military truck guarding the teachers, immediately killing a Buddhist soldier.

Militants waiting nearby then shot four security officers in the head, before leaving the scene with their weapons, police said.

[Jai Dee]

Security is beefed up in the deep South following warnings about attacks on key targets

Security officials are on full alert in the wake of reports that militants may attack more than 50 places in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat today.

Police Chief Kowit Wattana (โกวิท วัฒนะ) said authorities have security measures to deal with the violence if it occurs.

Pol. Gen. Kowit said intelligence units warned about the attacks after finding that Mr. Masae Useng (มะแซ อุเซ็ง), a key militant leader, had several meetings with members of his movement in the three southern border provinces recently.

He said warrants have already been out for the arrest of Mr. Masae.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 June 2006

[diyexplorer]

Emergency rule extended in Thailand's Muslim south

BANGKOK 18/07/2006 14:51

Thailand has extended emergency rule in its Muslim-majority south for three more months as separatist unrest continues to rage, a senior minister said.

"Emergency rule is still necessary to protect public lives and properties," Chidchai Vanasathidya, deputy prime minister and justice minister, told reporters.

Separatist violence has simmered in the south since Thailand annexed an ethnic Malay sultanate a century ago, and an insurgency that resumed in early 2004 has claimed more than 1,300 lives.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra imposed emergency rule in July 2005 in the provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, near the border with Malaysia.

The emergency decree must be renewed every three months but the process has become a formality as the violence rages unchecked.

Under emergency rule, authorities can detain suspects for up to 30 days without charge, search and arrest without warrants and tap phones.

The measure also gives security forces broad immunity from prosecution, which human rights groups claim creates a climate of impunity.

Chidchai said authorities were constantly reassessing emergency rule but felt that the law benefited both the people and security officials.

"Officials agreed that emergency rule is needed since the unrest continues unabated," he said Tuesday.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee insisted that emergency rule had helped authorities curb the violence, although he said that 100 attacks are still reported every month.

In the last three months, police arrested 604 suspects without warrants under the emergency decree, he said. So far, 472 of them have been linked to attacks and the others remain under investigation, he added.

"Even though authorities have launched an offensive to crack down on militants with the emergency rule, the militants always change their plans and resort to more violence," he said.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's critics blame his heavy-handed tactics for escalating the conflict.

The National Reconciliation Commission, which Thaksin appointed in 2005 to recommend ways to end the conflict, last month proposed a variety of non-violent measures to stop the violence.

It recommended broad reforms to provincial government, including greater use of the local Malay language, among other measures.

But the government has backed away from those and other significant proposals.

Instead, Thaksin has granted the army chief, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin "full authority" to bring the region under control.

Source: Agence France-Presse