Husband and wife found brutally killed by southern militants

 

 

SONGKHLA: -- A 51-year-old Buddhist husband and his 41-year-old wife whose pickup truck was stolen to make car bomb by southern militants were found dead near the bank of Thepha river in Thepha district of Songkhla today.

 

Their bodies with both hands tied to the back and eyes blindfolded with cloth were found after the police tried all day yesterday to locate them after their truck was found abandoned in front of Border Patrol Police 433 base in Thepha district yesterday.

 

The abandoned truck was discovered to be loaded with two homemade bombs weighing 80 kilograms and was timed to go off. However the bombs were safely defused.

 

Thepha police said Kajpon Puvavimol and wife Titapha were blindfolded and their hands tied to the back by southern militants who commandeered their vehicle while driving in Thepha district.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/husband-wife-found-brutally-killed-southern-militants/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-03-01

I thought the good general was Gunna resolve this problem !

 

37 minutes ago, tracker1 said:

I thought the good general was Gunna resolve this problem !

 

resolve this problem in less than 2 years? Governments before him not only escalated it but did not achieve (or even  try) anything in more than 10 years

Governments have let the army manage things down there, and now the army is the government there can be no improvement.

 

Here's the solution:

- Pull the army out altogether. Yes, altogether. That's essential to create a foundation of mutual trust.

- Give them more cultural and political autonomy.

- Invest heavily in developing the region, particularly in tourism so that everyone there has a long-term vested interest in peace and stability. Currently there is zero tourism in this region - have they not spotted the opportunity?

- Treat them with respect because at root this is all about pride.

 

Finally, put me in charge of the world because no one else seems to have a clue.

15 hours ago, ddavidovsky said:

Governments have let the army manage things down there, and now the army is the government there can be no improvement.

 

Here's the solution:

- Pull the army out altogether. Yes, altogether. That's essential to create a foundation of mutual trust.

- Give them more cultural and political autonomy.

- Invest heavily in developing the region, particularly in tourism so that everyone there has a long-term vested interest in peace and stability. Currently there is zero tourism in this region - have they not spotted the opportunity?

- Treat them with respect because at root this is all about pride.

 

Finally, put me in charge of the world because no one else seems to have a clue.

 HaHa Your solution??????? Its no good pulling the army OUT the General has to make the army DO THEIR JOB.As for you in charge of the world------ I love your sense of humour----- I wouldn't put you in charge of watering my garden !!!!!!!

Thepa is a sad place. The beach there is beautiful. Before Tak Bai it was a holiday spot for Muslims and Buddhists alike.

 

Now, the beach which makes up part of the district is mostly barren and unpopulated.

 

The previous Buddhists residents have all been threatened, and killed or fled. My extended family held land on the other side of the road from the beach in recent memory, but had to sell bevause it was not safe to be there.

 

It is one of those don't stop areas in the south now. And further north than the normal terrorist activity in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

 

 

16 hours ago, ddavidovsky said:

Here's the solution:

- Pull the army out altogether. Yes, altogether. That's essential to create a foundation of mutual trust.

- Give them more cultural and political autonomy.

- Invest heavily in developing the region, particularly in tourism so that everyone there has a long-term vested interest in peace and stability. Currently there is zero tourism in this region - have they not spotted the opportunity?

- Treat them with respect because at root this is all about pride.

Respect? Your methods won't work for those types. They absolutely despise you and anyone that doesn't think like them. Here's my solution. Let them have their autonomy, pull everyone (Buddhists) out, run a border along Yala/Pattani. Any further grief, roll through there with everything they've got and cleanse the land.

25 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Respect? Your methods won't work for those types. They absolutely despise you and anyone that doesn't think like them. Here's my solution. Let them have their autonomy, pull everyone (Buddhists) out, run a border along Yala/Pattani. Any further grief, roll through there with everything they've got and cleanse the land.

Want to be more realistic?

Clearly, you're the one doing the despising. In my experience Malay Muslims are extremely friendly and hospitable. They don't expect the whole world to follow their culture, they just don't want to be treated like second-class citizens in their own country, and like any society, they are brutes among them who stand up and fight - to repeat: like any society. The Northern Irish are also friendly people on the whole. Exactly the same situation there, and the same solution applied.

I'm as fed up of this situation as anyone, but there is absolutely no other solution than the one I have stated. Don't like it? Very well, carry with decades more conflict and futile whining.

16 hours ago, ddavidovsky said:

Governments have let the army manage things down there, and now the army is the government there can be no improvement.

 

Here's the solution:

- Pull the army out altogether. Yes, altogether. That's essential to create a foundation of mutual trust.

- Give them more cultural and political autonomy.

- Invest heavily in developing the region, particularly in tourism so that everyone there has a long-term vested interest in peace and stability. Currently there is zero tourism in this region - have they not spotted the opportunity?

- Treat them with respect because at root this is all about pride.

 

Finally, put me in charge of the world because no one else seems to have a clue.

I think your 3rd point is your strongest...most conflicts can be solved once there is a real monetary incentive for the participants...and Thais will do anything for money, even play nice.

These and other Muslim people in the deep south can either quit supporting these rebels, and

rat them all out when they are seen, or ship the lot of them to the Malaysia border, and say good riddance!

 If the Muslims in the deep south, want to seperate, then let them freely leave Thailand instead go to a muslim country like Malaysia and live there. Thailand does not need to lose an inch of Thai soil to any of the

Muslim population. No country should let a small part of their population dictate any demands like

that. RIP to the unfortunate couple who lost their lives to these animals.

Geezer

Thailand does not need to lose an inch of Thai soil to any of the Muslim population.

 

I suggest you check your history.  This land was NOT part of Thailand.  It was transferred to Thai jurisdiction without the agreement of the local (almost 100%) Muslim population.

 

 

19 hours ago, sweatalot said:

resolve this problem in less than 2 years? Governments before him not only escalated it but did not achieve (or even  try) anything in more than 10 years

 Your comment is sadly inaccurate.

 

"A breakthrough in peace talks came in February 2013 when the government, by then headed by Yingluck Shinawatra, younger sister of former premier Thaksin, signed a peace deal with one of the rebel groups, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). It was the first time the government had given any of the groups formal recognition"

See Violence in southern Thailand, by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, 8 Aug 2013 that provides a timeline of government involvement with the Southern insurgency back to 2004.

http://news.trust.org//spotlight/Thailands-southern-violence/?tab=briefing

 

BRN was and is the largest Malay-Thai insurgency group. Two of the major differences with previous governments (both elected and juntas) in approach to peace talks was that Yingluck excluded the military leadership in peace negotiations and embraced autonomy for the four Southern provinces.

 

When Prayut forcibly came to power in May 2014 he vowed to end southern violence within one year. http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-prayut-peace-in-south-by-2015-48923.php

As of today there has been no peace deal, no end to southern violence.

 

Build a wall!

get the Malaysians to pay for it?

easy... ?

On 3/1/2017 at 2:09 PM, tracker1 said:

I thought the good general was Gunna resolve this problem !

 

maybe I missed something.....WHO the hell is this "good general" you are talking of ....?

5 hours ago, simon43 said:

 

 

 

I suggest you check your history.  This land was NOT part of Thailand.  It was transferred to Thai jurisdiction without the agreement of the local (almost 100%) Muslim population.

 

 

This border was agreed between the British and Siam. History has it that border division deals where the British have been involved can easily develop into some sort of civil war. e.g. the division of Cyprus, Northern Ireland segregation, India/Pakistan, Malaysia/Thailand, Israel/Palestine, there are possibly more. There must be a message there somewhere but I am not sure what it is.

5 hours ago, simon43 said:

 

 

 

I suggest you check your history.  This land was NOT part of Thailand.  It was transferred to Thai jurisdiction without the agreement of the local (almost 100%) Muslim population.

 

 

As this occurred in present day Songkhla, the Sultanate of Singora may be a more appropriate reference than that of Patani, but the history is similar for both.  In either case, the Malay Peninsula, including what is current day Thailand and Malaysia, consisted of a number of Sultanates and Principalities who paid tribute to various empires, including the Khmer and the Srivijaya.  The "land" referred to in your quote, passed from Srivijaya control (Hindu/Buddhist), around the 11th century, and was firmly under the influence of the Sukhothai and then Ayutthaya empires since the 14th century.  The King of Patani converted to Islam, becoming a Sultan, shortly afterwards, after being cured of a skin condition by a Muslim, while the founding Sultan of Singora, in the 17th century, was a Persian (whose descendants, interestingly, apparently include General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh).  They were briefly independent during the turmoil following the fall of Ayutthya, before coming back under the control of King Taksin, around 1770, (who also captured the kingdom of Lanna around the same time, making the Southern provinces as Thai as Chiang Mai is), and then the Rattanakosin Kingdom, led by Rama I of the current Chakri Dynasty, based in Bangkok.  This kingdom became Siam, and included not only the southern Thai provinces, but also the northern Malay ones.  If you travel down the east coast of Malaysia, you will still find Thai speakers all the way through Kelantan and Terengganu, and even into Pahang, which wasn't officially part of greater Siam.  In 1909, Siam ceded Kelantan and Terengganu, plus the other two northern Malay states of Kedah and Perlis, to the British.  

 

Therefore, contrary to your statement, this land has been part of Siam, and therefore Thailand, as long as the country has existed.  There is also no way that the ruling UMNO party of Malaysia want these provinces to become part of their country, as they would very likely join the other northern, conservative Muslim, states in voting for the opposition "Parti Islam Se-Malaysia" (PAS), giving enough votes to remove UMNO from office.  There is also no way of knowing whether the majority of residents of these provinces actually want to cede from Thailand, other than the fire brands who no doubt find Malaysia too open as well - another reason why UMNO wouldn't want them there stirring up trouble with the rest of the PAS agitators.  There is a group of women from various southern Thai provinces working (illegally in many cases) at the old Ampang Park shopping centre in KL who my wife got to know quite well when I was on assignment there.  Most do not wear Hijabs, but one confided to her that she had to wear one before travelling back home or her brother would beat her.  That's the type of mentality that needs to be overcome before having a serious discussion on this situation.  "I want a country where a man can be free to beat his wife/sister/daughter for the way she dresses" just doesn't cut it, I'm afraid.

 

11 hours ago, biplanebluey said:

 HaHa Your solution??????? Its no good pulling the army OUT the General has to make the army DO THEIR JOB.As for you in charge of the world------ I love your sense of humour----- I wouldn't put you in charge of watering my garden !!!!!!!

RE "I wouldnt put you in charge og watering my garden"

 

If the garden you refer to is located in Thailand, then its not Yours...;)

10 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

These and other Muslim people in the deep south can either quit supporting these rebels, and

rat them all out when they are seen, or ship the lot of them to the Malaysia border, and say good riddance!

 If the Muslims in the deep south, want to seperate, then let them freely leave Thailand instead go to a muslim country like Malaysia and live there. Thailand does not need to lose an inch of Thai soil to any of the

Muslim population. No country should let a small part of their population dictate any demands like

that. RIP to the unfortunate couple who lost their lives to these animals.

Geezer

That would be ethnic cleansing since the population in those 3 provinces is historically muslim.  The region used to have autonomy and was even rules by a muslim queen.  So if there is separation it would have to be the 3 provinces, Malasia does not want these 3 provinces and these muslims have no backing from malaysia, leaving some type of limited autonomy possible but it's hard to see the Thai military quiting the malaysian border to these crazies.