Insurgents in deep South not linked to ISIL: US report

[Lite Beer]

COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 2014
Insurgents in deep South not linked to ISIL: US report
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE UNITED STATES has found no links between Muslim insurgents active in Thailand's deep South and any international terrorist groups, according to a report by the US State Department.

The annual report, entitled "Country Reports on Terrorism 2014", praised Thailand's cooperation with the US in its fight against terrorism but noted that the post-coup government's key security priority focused on domestic political problems.

"There was no direct evidence of operational linkages between ethno-nationalist Malay Muslim insurgent groups in southern Thailand and ISIL [the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant] or other international terrorist networks," the US Department of State said.

"While Thai officials have long expressed concern that transnational terrorist groups could establish links with southern Thailand-based separatist groups, there have been no indications that transnational terrorist groups were directly involved in the violence in the south. And there was no evidence of direct operational links between southern Thai insurgent groups and regional terrorist networks."

It also said, there was no confirmed evidence of Thais joining ISIL, although "Thai security officials expressed moderate concern about the threat to Thailand" from the extremist Islamic group. "Thailand's counter-terrorism cooperation continued to be productive, although domestic political challenges remained the government's key security priority," the State Department said.

After the May 2014 coup, the Internal Security Operations Command continued to organise outreach programmes to ethnic Malay-Muslims to counter radicalisation and violent extremism. "Ongoing shortcomings of the justice system, however, contributed to support for the ethno-nationalist insurgency in Thailand's southernmost provinces," it said.

Tina S Kaidanow, ambassador-at-large and the State Department's coordinator for counter-terrorism, launched the report in Washington DC on Friday.

Deputy government spokesman Maj-General Weerachon Sukonpatipak yesterday declined to comment on the US report, saying that he had yet to read its original version.

The State Department noted that most terrorism prosecutions in Thailand had failed to prove the necessary element of specific intent and therefore resulted in deportations or convictions on less serious offences. "Law enforcement units demonstrate some capacity to detect, deter, and respond to terrorist incidents," it said.

Thailand is labelled a haven for document forgery in the report. "Thailand has an active market in fraudulent documents. Local law enforcement pursues fraud cases concerning official documents such as passports, birth certificates, and national identification. However, it does not prioritise investigating non-official documents such as financial records, school transcripts and employment letters," the report said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Insurgents-in-deep-South-not-linked-to-ISIL-US-rep-30262747.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-21

[Toknarok]

I see even the Americans note "Ongoing shortcomings of the (Thai) justice system", we all know that it's not just the deep South that's affected by this.

[halloween]

I see even the Americans note "Ongoing shortcomings of the (Thai) justice system", we all know that it's not just the deep South that's affected by this.

Should Thais comment about the "Ongoing shortcomings of the (US) justice system" ? We all know that it's not just the deep South that's affected by this.

[mikemac]

I see even the Americans note "Ongoing shortcomings of the (Thai) justice system", we all know that it's not just the deep South that's affected by this.

Is this a jibe at the justice system overall, as in the last 20 years and more, or just since the junta has been in power ?

And does this also mean the American justice system is perfect, for the Americans to be passing judgement on another country ?

[Robby nz]

I wonder if the report on the US managed to find any link between the rise of the ISIL and other terrorist groups and past actions of the US in countries like Iraq and Libya.

Take the plank from your own eye before you take the splinter from your neighbors.

[crusty]

I see even the Americans note "Ongoing shortcomings of the (Thai) justice system", we all know that it's not just the deep South that's affected by this.

Should Thais comment about the "Ongoing shortcomings of the (US) justice system" ? We all know that it's not just the deep South that's affected by this.

So the four Thais being held in Pakistan for trying to board a return flight to Thailand with guns after attending religious school there have no religious links with ISIL yet their home addresses are in Thailand's South ? Yeah right !

[simple1]

I see even the Americans note "Ongoing shortcomings of the (Thai) justice system", we all know that it's not just the deep South that's affected by this.

Should Thais comment about the "Ongoing shortcomings of the (US) justice system" ? We all know that it's not just the deep South that's affected by this.

So the four Thais being held in Pakistan for trying to board a return flight to Thailand with guns after attending religious school there have no religious links with ISIL yet their home addresses are in Thailand's South ? Yeah right !

In case you didn't notice "The annual report, entitled "Country Reports on Terrorism 2014". BTW one handgun was located.

[ggt]

Whether or not the South Thailand terrorist organization is linked to ISIS...and whether or not the US has detected a DIRECT link to the IS organization...should not detract from the terror that has been part of the landscape for over 10 years...

Let's focus on what we do know...and not worry about ruling out what we do not know...

Take whatever the US State Dept says with a grain of salt...it is the same group that failed to recognize and acknowledge the danger in Benghazi which resulted in the US Ambassador and others being killed there...

This same failed leadership may one day occupy the Whitehouse...now that should strike terror in the hearts of most Americans...