Stories tagged with terrorism
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Unrest in Thailand’s deep south continues
Although Thailand’s armed forces are still actively trying to suppress the almost daily militant attacks in its southern provinces, little headway has been made in solving the underlying grievances. The Thai government has found no way to reach a compromise with the Malay Muslims of the deep south, who are a minority in the region but also the source of the militant violence.
The International Crisis Group (ICG), based in Brussels, has reported that despite a small decrease in the number of attacks on local Thais, the Muslim insurgents are far from being defeated. In June 2007, a massive effort by the army was initiated to drive out the insurgents, but the "indiscriminate detention of thousands of suspected insurgents and sympathisers, and credible reports of torture of detainees” have only made things worse, according to the ICG.
Another Muslim died this week while in custody, reinforcing local beliefs that the Thai army is brutal in their handling of the situation. The ICG also feels the fact that the insurgents lack cohesive leadership or a unified platform is "a major obstacle in the search for a negotiated settlement."
The ICG report went on to suggest that “nonetheless, there is much that the government could do unilaterally to address Malay grievances in the realms of education, justice, language, history and economy. But this requires a rethinking on the part of the predominantly-Buddhist state, which needs to recognise the distinct ethnic identity of Malay Muslims and find ways of allowing them to be Thai citizens without having to compromise their cultural differences.”
Posted by: Andrew on 31 Aug 2008, 14:53 -
Revelers in South warned over Songkran
Authorities have warned residents and tourists in the Thai deep south to remain extra vigilant for terrorist attacks during the Songkran celebrations next week.
Reports have come in from intelligence that suspected separatists have started to transfer weapons in possible preparation to launch an attack. Areas most likely affected are said to be Yaha and Bannang Sata districts in Yala province.
Along with the traditional Thai New Year of Songkran in April is the fourth anniversary of the Krue Se massacre where numerous militants were killed in a mosque by the army.
April 2008 also sees the 60th anniversary of the 1948 Dusongyor riot in Narathiwat (April 28), which is widely cited as the beginning of the southern separatist movement.
An explosion was reported on Monday morning in the Joh Airong district of Narathiwat province causing a blackout. No injuries were reported, however.
Songkran is traditionally celebrated between April 13 to 15 and involves lots of parading and especially water throwing.
Tourists in the area should keep a low profile and celebrate the festival elsewhere in the country if they would like to get involved in the fun.
More on Songkran
Posted by: Andrew on 08 Apr 2008, 12:58 -
Narathiwat bomb injures soldiers
Separatist rebels attacked a security patrol wounding eight soldiers with a bomb and gunfire in Narathiwat province, officials said on Monday.
The rebels have once again struck in the southern province of Narathiwat which has seen a heightened amount of violence of late.
The soldiers were on duty when they were ambushed while patrolling railway tracks in the Rueso district.
According to officials, the attackers set off the bomb via remote from a nearby orchard and proceeded to shoot at the soldiers with an M-16 rifle. Two officers were hit by gunfire before the assailants fled into the dense forest.
The wounded soldiers were sent to hospital for treatment.
The attack comes a week after 37 civilians were wounded in a bomb attack in Yala a week ago and a viscous attack on a Thai patrol in Narathiwat a week before that.
Posted by: Andrew on 21 Jan 2008, 15:34 -
Another Yala bomb
37 civilians were wounded, six critically, when a bomb exploded in Yala's busy morning market on Tuesday morning. Southern militants detonated the device which was planted on a stolen motorcycle and parked near the market.
The market was crowded with food vendors and shoppers when it exploded at 06:40, said Yala Pol Col Poomphet Phiphatphetpoom.
The bomb was hidden inside a motorcycle, which was reported stolen the night before, and detonated by mobile phone, Poomphet said.
The attack on the market in Yala follows the violent attack on a Thai patrol in Narathiwat province on Monday which left eight soldiers dead.
The patrol was a protection unit for teachers which was surprised by more than 20 insurgents in the Chanae district of Narathiwat province, according to Army spokesman Col Akara Thiprote.
The insurgents first detonated a bomb under the army’s Humvee before executing the soldiers, one of which was decapitated. The patrol was returning to base after escorting teachers - who have been frequently targeted - to a government school.
It is probable the insurgents live locally in Muslim communities making it very difficult to identify them. ‘We really need some good intelligence to guide us,’ Akara said.
‘These people will bury their guns and turn into ordinary villagers before we reach them. It is not easy.’
Posted by: Andrew on 15 Jan 2008, 11:56