Don’t overlook situation in Southern Thailand, says terror expert
BY RASHVINJEET S. BEDI

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia should not overlook the conflict in Southern Thailand as many people in the region are supportive of the Islamic State (IS), says a terror expert.

Ahmad El-Muhammady of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said that while Thai separatists did not necessarily support the terror group’s brand of violence, they subscribed to IS’ ideology.

Ahmad said he had made the discovery recently in conversations with people he knew from there, and from observations on social media.

Full story: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/07/15/dont-overlook-situation-in-southern-thailand/

-- THE STAR ONLINE 2016-07-15

Expect to find extremist islam figures everywhere on earth, find terrorists among them, and silence from all.

Expect to find extremist islam figures everywhere on earth, find terrorists among them, and silence from all.

You summed it up perfectly well.

And the solution is not to say "we will fight them" as most of the world leaders are spouting. How could what have happened in Nice be prevented by "vigilance" or by "fighting". The problems are deep and they require clever solutions to reduce the tendencies that provide succour to radicalisation. Fighting is the last thing we need now.

Unfortunately, Ahmad El-Muhammady is probably correct in suggesting that Malaysia should not overlook the conflict in Southern Thailand. Especially, as he notes, if Thai separatists use the country to hide from security forces or as a transit point.

Then again, Malaysia should also realize that you don't only get Muslim extremists in this volatile region (http://www.newsweek.com/2016/04/15/thailand-monk-apichart-social-media-muslim-violence-443698.html).

In the future, they may have to accommodate alienated Muslim refugees from their northern neighbour!

....touchy situation.....

...but stereotyping does not help.....

...especially as an excuse to deny people their basic human rights.....

The amazing thing to me is that I have friends on Facebook who still believe Bush & Blair's invasion of Iraq turned out to be a good idea and can't wait until Trump is elected in a couple of months so he can "take care of this mess once in for all". (())

Declaring war on terror is like declaring war on dandruff. It's an advertising slogan.

- Gore Vidal

Doesn't require an expert...been saying the same thing since it became obvious back in 2007.

The amazing thing to me is that I have friends on Facebook who still believe Bush & Blair's invasion of Iraq turned out to be a good idea and can't wait until Trump is elected in a couple of months so he can "take care of this mess once in for all". (())

Declaring war on terror is like declaring war on dandruff. It's an advertising slogan.

- Gore Vidal

Please be so kind to explain what is the relation with the situation in the south?

Ahmad said he had made the discovery recently

The insurgency has been ongoing for over a decade. He needed only to look at wikipedia.

they subscribed to IS’ ideology

No. They subscribe to muslim ideology to RETURN to their islamic caliphate that existed prior to Thailand's annexation of the South.

Edited July 16, 20169 yr by Srikcir

....touchy situation.....

...but stereotyping does not help.....

...especially as an excuse to deny people their basic human rights.....

You mean the victims of islamic terror surely?

Because placing a bomb, driving a truck, shooting around just to kill, in my view, takes away any rights you had.

And the solution is not to say "we will fight them" as most of the world leaders are spouting. How could what have happened in Nice be prevented by "vigilance" or by "fighting". The problems are deep and they require clever solutions to reduce the tendencies that provide succour to radicalisation. Fighting is the last thing we need now.

That may be your idealistic idea.

Can't escape the idea the other side does not adhere to that, at all.

Edited July 16, 20169 yr by hansnl

And the solution is not to say "we will fight them" as most of the world leaders are spouting. How could what have happened in Nice be prevented by "vigilance" or by "fighting". The problems are deep and they require clever solutions to reduce the tendencies that provide succour to radicalisation. Fighting is the last thing we need now.

I agree. What we need are armed squads patrolling the streets and executing those who are causing damage or harm to persons so they can't come back and do it again. But I suppose you would assert that these are good people like you and I and what is needed is compassionate discourse to get to the root of the problem and dissuade them from further violence.

[quote name="scotchonrocks" post="10965521" timestamp="

I agree. What we need are armed squads patrolling the streets and executing those who are causing damage or harm to persons so they can't come back and do it again. But I suppose you would assert that these are good people like you and I and what is needed is compassionate discourse to get to the root of the problem and dissuade them from further violence.

Well look at the situation in Nice. This guy was just an angry sod with a history of mental problems according to his father (on TV this morning). Try finding every such kind of person in any society, weeding them out and hitting them hard. It would fail because it is impossible to know exactly who is a risk and who is not. Great if we had 20-20 hindsight!

And the solution is not to say "we will fight them" as most of the world leaders are spouting. How could what have happened in Nice be prevented by "vigilance" or by "fighting". The problems are deep and they require clever solutions to reduce the tendencies that provide succour to radicalisation. Fighting is the last thing we need now.

Whilst freely admitting that you will never get them all, as perhaps in Nice, (although still not claimed as an attack by a terror organization, last I checked anyway).... We MUST fight to survive... Route out terrorists and traitors wherever they may hide... And deal with them accordingly

And please don't assume I'm anti Muslim.... I care not about the color, race or religion of terrorists or traitors, just that they are sought out with the utmost possible effort, with all means at our disposal, and in all nations.

Each and every country has the right to live peacefully within its own borders, according to its own laws, and only then will we (perhaps) see other countries coexisting peacefully with each other, in a global context.

And the solution is not to say "we will fight them" as most of the world leaders are spouting. How could what have happened in Nice be prevented by "vigilance" or by "fighting". The problems are deep and they require clever solutions to reduce the tendencies that provide succour to radicalisation. Fighting is the last thing we need now.

I agree. What we need are armed squads patrolling the streets and executing those who are causing damage or harm to persons so they can't come back and do it again. But I suppose you would assert that these are good people like you and I and what is needed is compassionate discourse to get to the root of the problem and dissuade them from further violence.

Whilst espousing the need to fight back... I think I will distance myself from the death squad scenario... Reminds me too much of Pinochet and Peron in South America... Not to mention the nazi death squads etc

Retaliation must not be indiscriminate.... But specifically target those needing targeting. ( that's the hard bit)