Thai editorial: Fences around schools in South won't guarantee security

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Fences around schools in South won't guarantee security
The Nation

Instead of armed protection, focus must be on creating non-militarised zones to put the onus on the militants

BANGKOK: -- The Thai military recently announced that it would be building fences around a number of public schools in the three southernmost provinces as part of the latest security measures for students and teachers.

The announcement was seemingly a response to a gunfight earlier this month between a group of separatist militants who had fired on a group of police officers on a morning security detail at a school in Narathiwat's Rusoh district.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the attacks although the school was ordered by the principal to close for the week so that the students and teachers could try to come to terms with what had taken place in front of them.

While it is easy to blame the insurgents for their repeated acts of violence targeting the police officers, perhaps it's time for the country's security officials to rethink their entire approach when it comes to providing security.

Instead of building fences around the school, perhaps the military should focus on how to make the school ground a non-militarised zone. They could start off with making a unilateral public statement about this and challenge the separatist militants to respect this peacemaking initiative.

It should cross their mind that had the police not been there at the school, perhaps the militants would not have been firing at them. Moreover, there are other ways to provide protection for the schools, like setting up a security grid in areas surrounding the school.

It is easier to point fingers at the separatist militants, who could also justify their actions by saying they were targeting the police officers, not the students or teachers. But the security agencies and officials need to understand that their presence primarily put the school staff, teachers and students in the line of fire.

Furthermore, the concept of a non-militarised zone should be expanded to other public space, like hospitals, public transportation and open markets. Again, the idea here is to put the onus on the militants who are said to enjoy tremendous support among local Malay-Muslim residents.

The residents may not always agree with the violence and the brutality perpetrated by the militants, but one cannot deny the fact that they and the militants share the same historical mistrust and sentiment against the Thai state.

In fact, much of the history of relations between the Malay-speaking region and the Thai state were shaped by mistrust and confrontation.

Thai troops and security officials could do themselves a favour by educating themselves about international norms and proper conduct as outlined in various international agreements that address the humanitarian aspects of a conflict.

There are many legal and human rights and humanitarian organisations around the world that specialise in humanitarian principles, like the Geneva Convention, which also lays down the rules of engagement for state and non-state actors.

The military could reach out to the National Reconciliation Council members and go over some of the key points raised. There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to southern Thailand.

Good and positive suggestions have been made by Thai academics and experts over the years and at no time has anybody suggested that building a fence around a school is a sound idea.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Fences-around-schools-in-South-wont-guarantee-secu-30239365.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-25

[noitom]

The Thai south will soon be declared a global tragedy. The killing and injuring in the Thai south dwarfs the deaths in Palestine and Israel.

[simple1]

The Thai south will soon be declared a global tragedy. The killing and injuring in the Thai south dwarfs the deaths in Palestine and Israel.

Sorry, not an accurate comment.

According to Israeli human rights groups, 6,371 Palestinian & 1,083 Israeli deaths during armed conflict from 2000 - 2010 totalling 7,454 deaths; many more from 2010 - 2014.. Around 6000+ total deaths attributed to the conflict in the deep South in past ten years.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/BTselem-Since-2000-7454-Israelis-Palestinians-killed

Edited July 25, 2014 by simple1

[cgphuket]

The south needs to be a police state and Thailand needs to consider permanent action towards muslims (southern muslims). It won't happen, but its the only thing that will stop it.

[rickirs]

Instead of building fences maybe the military should be mending fences; instead of making conrete bunkers, maybe it should make concrete diplomatic solutions.

The military does what it knows best: conducting military-style defense and offense operations. It uses a "I win-you lose" strategy; there is no diplomacy in that approach. Diplomacy is a tool of politics. But even when the Thaksin government agreed with the military's forceful approach to the insurgency problem, there was no resolution with the insurgency and conflict continued. Yingluck's administration abandoned Thaksin's approach and fared better with its diplomatic efforts to get the insurgents to the peace table; insurgency violencesubsided. But her regime failed to develop any specific goals for peace, thus, scored no goals.

[squarethecircle]

The Thai south will soon be declared a global tragedy. The killing and injuring in the Thai south dwarfs the deaths in Palestine and Israel.

Sorry, not an accurate comment.

According to Israeli human rights groups, 6,371 Palestinian & 1,083 Israeli deaths during armed conflict from 2000 - 2010 totalling 7,454 deaths; many more from 2010 - 2014.. Around 6000+ total deaths attributed to the conflict in the deep South in past ten years.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/BTselem-Since-2000-7454-Israelis-Palestinians-killed

Well the Israelis are clearly doing a much better job at defending their people. 3 Israeli teens were murdered a few weeks ago and now we see the impressive retaliation they make, and clearly they value their people's lives more than Thailand does.

[simple1]

The Thai south will soon be declared a global tragedy. The killing and injuring in the Thai south dwarfs the deaths in Palestine and Israel.

Sorry, not an accurate comment.

According to Israeli human rights groups, 6,371 Palestinian & 1,083 Israeli deaths during armed conflict from 2000 - 2010 totalling 7,454 deaths; many more from 2010 - 2014.. Around 6000+ total deaths attributed to the conflict in the deep South in past ten years.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/BTselem-Since-2000-7454-Israelis-Palestinians-killed

Well the Israelis are clearly doing a much better job at defending their people. 3 Israeli teens were murdered a few weeks ago and now we see the impressive retaliation they make, and clearly they value their people's lives more than Thailand does.

Thailand has 150,000 security personel in the deep South, yet your alleging Thailand doesn't care?

[squarethecircle]

"Thailand has 150,000 security personel in the deep South, yet your alleging Thailand doesn't care?"

Well seems like business as usual, it is basically ignored esp. compared to what Israel is doing after the murder of 3. They have the capability of shutting it down, just gotta let them do it, just like Isr.

And they need to tell terrorist sympathizing folks like the author of this article to f~~~ off, he is casting blame for an attack at a school on the Thai authorities for this? Give me a f~~~~~~ break.

[bendejo]

Up until only a few years ago (2008?) the bus station in Hat Yai was an open area, now it's enclosed in a brick wall.

A sad indication of changing times.

[simple1]

"Thailand has 150,000 security personel in the deep South, yet your alleging Thailand doesn't care?"

Well seems like business as usual, it is basically ignored esp. compared to what Israel is doing after the murder of 3. They have the capability of shutting it down, just gotta let them do it, just like Isr.

And they need to tell terrorist sympathizing folks like the author of this article to f~~~ off, he is casting blame for an attack at a school on the Thai authorities for this? Give me a f~~~~~~ break.

Why is it that anyone suggesting alternative strategy / tactics in addressing conflict (as in the OP) are called out as terrorist sympathisers? I read the OP as floating opinion that some of the current tactics by the security forces are misguided & not acheiving the objective to provide security and ceasation of violence; perhaps there are better methods.

Edited July 25, 2014 by simple1

[squarethecircle]

"It should cross their mind that had the police not been there at the school, perhaps the militants would not have been firing at them."
"It is easier to point fingers at the separatist militants, who could also justify their actions by saying they were targeting the police officers, not the students or teachers. But the security agencies and officials need to understand that their presence primarily put the school staff, teachers and students in the line of fire."
"Thai troops and security officials could do themselves a favour by educating themselves about international norms and proper conduct as outlined in various international agreements that address the humanitarian aspects of a conflict."

Pure BS, security forces are necessary as the __________ (insurgents, terrorists, separatists, fill in the blank) have targeted schools and school authorities regularly, including killing teachers on duty inside the same district where this occurs. It's certainly not their fault that the flip-side is quite willing to target schools (as low as it gets), but the author of the article strangely places the blame for an attack on a school on the security forces guarding it. And this guy has the audacity to say the Thais need to familiarize themselves with "international norms and proper conduct" when the issue at hand is a militant attack on a school?

[BSJ]

Well boys and girl's, this is the kind of horse pop that yellow belly defeatist's come up with.

The real need is for the army to be as tough as all he11 on terrorists and their sympathisers.

And the government should be giving the mooslums a free one way ticket to Malaysia....I am sure they will be happier there.

[squarethecircle]

Also strange that this is even allowed to be printed in a country with clear anti-defamation laws. He's blaming attacks against Thai authorities on the authorities themselves.

[simple1]

Well boys and girl's, this is the kind of horse pop that yellow belly defeatist's come up with.

The real need is for the army to be as tough as all he11 on terrorists and their sympathisers.

And the government should be giving the mooslums a free one way ticket to Malaysia....I am sure they will be happier there.

Who is being defeatist? From the OP "Instead of armed protection, focus must be on creating non-militarised zones to put the onus on the militants". In other words opinion on one alternative tactic for addressing the conflict, you could say thoughts on an aspect of COIN strategy.

I understand the Thai security forces efforts for locating and killing of militants has had increasing success during the past few years

Have the insurgency groups or Thai Malay locals stated they are seeking relocation / integration with Malaysia? In anycase as far as I am aware Malaysia would reject the proposal.