Civil War in The south

[BuffHello]

Thai insurgents set for civil war

Thailand has a fight on its hands, writes Daniel Pedersen in Bangkok

29oct05

 

THIS was the week that the Muslim rebellion in Thailand's south moved dangerously closer to all-out civil war.

 

Militants derailed a train, severed an arterial rail link and seized 92 military weapons in 63 co-ordinated raids on Thursday.

 

The Thai Government expects things to get worse. Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura on Wednesday said intelligence reports indicated insurgents were planning to step up attacks when the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan ended on November 3.

 

They will be well armed after seizing shotguns and pistols on Thursday from volunteers guarding their villages. Five people died, one an alleged militant. Lt-General Phalangkool Klaharn, from the southern border provinces peace-building command, said the guerilla actions were designed to serve a psychological purpose, by demonstrating that the insurgents were capable of large operations.

 

The attacks, each of which was carried out by a group of four to five men, were deliberately staged across a wide area to cause as much panic as possible, he said.

 

On Thursday, a train carrying more than 100 people was derailed with remote-controlled bombs in the deep south.

 

The train had just departed Sungai Kolok station and was picking up speed when two of four bombs on the tracks exploded simultaneously, authorities said.

 

Terrified passengers leapt from the train.

 

Rail Authority of Thailand southern region director Thanongsak Phongprasert was adamant that, regardless of the state of the tracks, train services would not resume until bomb squads and the military had thoroughly swept the line.

 

The insurgency began in earnest on January 4, 2004, with a lightning raid on a army camp from which more than 300 automatic weapons were taken.

 

It has since claimed more than 1100 lives. There have been thousands of bombings and hundreds of summary executions and ambushes.

 

There have also been allegations of state-sanctioned killings. And two soldiers taken hostage during what villagers described as a manhunt for militants were beaten to death by civilians earlier in the month.

 

The Government, in a bid to quell the unrest, has declared a state of emergency in the three southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani.

 

It has introduced a raft of laws that remove civil liberties, allow for censorship of news and grant military officials virtual impunity in the face of human rights abuses.

 

The decrees effectively place the country directly under control of one man ? Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ? who has worn harsh criticisms of his leadership throughout this conflict.

 

Mr Thaksin yesterday told a press conference in Thailand he would set up a special agency to pursue insurgents in the country's volatile south.

 

He is acutely aware how the insurgency is worrying Thailand's neighbours.

 

The Association of South-East Asian Nations has said it will not interfere in Thailand's affairs.

 

But at a summit slated for December 12-14 in Malaysia, the topic will be discussed on the sidelines.

 

The US has to date downplayed speculation that Thailand is a new front in an international terrorist movement.

 

It is a fact, however, that senior Jemaah Islamiyah figures are known to have travelled in the kingdom.

 

 

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17065658%255E954,00.html

[Nervous_Dog]

Sad it is indeed, and I think vey avoidable, but totally poorly handled.

 

That just led to more moral victories to the bandits and now this can grow to something horrible.

 

DOG

[BuffHello]

what ever thaksin does he is basically in the shite.

determined muslim terrorists ! same in the PI . Bali ....

[paul101]

 

First time I have seen Islamic terrorists described as 'bandits' People who want to put the blame on Taksin never come up with any alternative because there is'nt one- except force where these people are concerned. Don't forget the problem started decades before Taksin was elected.

[Guest lazyphil]

Theres no pleasing Muslims is there?...no matter where in the world they're causing trouble .....

[Nervous_Dog]

<<Don't forget the problem started decades before Taksin was elected. >>

 

And contained by a very good system. Not perfect but it worked.

 

Then Thaksin came along, removed the army that had good relaitions, but in place the police who then fucked it up big time.

 

Add to that the local crime gangs joining in.

 

Alternative, yep - go back to the Democrats solution which worked.

 

Personally I find there's no pleasing Anglicans - look at the problems they've caused all over the world.

 

DOG

[Guest]

"Then Thaksin came along, removed the army that had good relaitions, but in place the police who then fucked it up big time"

 

ND,

 

care to elaborate? read that Thai Army has a much better reputation among international organisations than the thai police but missed that detail in the south (missed many details to be frank at the beginning of the insurection). How did Thaksin replace the army?? Besides the South was/is a democrat's stronghold so Thaksin prolly added some more tensions opposing the democrats countrywide but that's difficult to point finger to him for that reason.

[ALHOLK]

That could be said about fanatics from any religion.

[..]

Prolly too sensitive for Khun Sanuk's liking to go into depth on this subject the board. I recommend looking at this site for some insight. They do a good job and are willing to risk shutdowm (and has been shutdown for a bit in the past) to go into such matters.

 

I will say that I feel that Taksin 100% has exacerbated the problem in the South during his tenure. JMHO, YMMV.

 

I do not necessarily blame Musilms given the simple logic of all insurgents *may* be Muslim (they may well also be opportunists), but not all Muslims are insurgents, making it hard for me to demonise a whole population.

 

Cheers,

SD

[Guest]

Thanks for the link SD, had no idea about this site. Some interesting info