Southern violence steps WAY up !!!

[LivinLOS]

Looks like this is really kicking off..

Emergency declared in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Declaring "a time of national crisis" and appealing for unity, the Thai government took emergency action to cope with escalating violence in the mainly Muslim south after an assault by suspected insurgents on the provincial capital of Yala shocked authorities and residents alike.

The attack on Thursday night, in which two policemen were reported killed and 22 people injured, will revive critical scrutiny of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's handling of southern violence, which has claimed more than 800 lives since the start of 2004 and made Thailand a point of focus in the Muslim world.

As Thaksin and his ministers held an emergency cabinet meeting and the army commander flew south to the scene of the attack on Friday, another small bomb exploded near Yala's hospital, injuring four people, and two teachers were killed in neighboring Narathiwat Province.

"This is a time of national crisis. I would appeal to all Thai people to be united and to join hands to fight against the people who have bad intentions toward the country," Interior Minister Chidchai Wannasathit said Friday.

The government also adopted emergency powers Friday that allowed it to monitor telephones, halt distribution of newspapers or magazines considered threatening to national security and to detain suspects without charge. "The last straw that prompted us to impose this law was what happened at 7 p.m. in Yala," said Wissanu Krea-Ngam, the deputy prime minister.

In their attack Thursday, insurgents on motorcycles struck eight targets with bombs or Molotov cocktails. They started by knocking out a power station and plunging the city into darkness before using firebombs and shooting at targets, and scattering metal spikes behind them to slow security forces.

The targets included a hotel, two 7-Eleven convenience stores and locations close to a restaurant and a railway line, said the army commander in southern Thailand, Lieutenant General Kwanchart Kraham. These were usually crowded with civilians, "so we can say the troublemakers targeted innocent people," he said.

Several thousand students and residents marched through Yala on Friday in a protest reportedly organized by town authorities. Marchers carried placards condemning the violence and calling for peace.

"This is one of the worst attacks," said S.P. Harish at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore. The careful planning and coordination behind the attack showed that "whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing and what they wanted to achieve."

The same cannot be said for the government, Harish added. "It's almost as if they have no clue as to what's happening," Harish said.

Thaksin has offered political and military initiatives in response to criticism at home and abroad that the harsh tactics he favored were only worsening the problem and threatening to turn a local conflict into an international problem.

The Yala attack, however, reinforced warnings from influential public figures that not enough was being done to contain or end the violence.

"If the government cannot halt daily atrocities in the region within a short time, it will be the government's failure," said Anand Panyarachun, a former prime minister appointed by Thaksin to lead a National Reconciliation Commission charged with formulating strategies for defusing the conflict.

--International Herald Tribune 2005-07-16

[LivinLOS]

Another report

Thai Thaksin Says Emergency Act Needed to End Southern Unrest

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said today that new legislation giving the government extraordinary powers to handle emergency situations is required to handle the rising violence in the country's south.

The Emergency Act, approved by the Cabinet at a special meeting yesterday, will be implemented in the country's three southernmost provinces once formally endorsed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, replacing martial law in place in the area since violence flared last year, killings hundreds, Thaksin said today in his weekly radio address in Bangkok.

Thaksin said the provisions of the new emergency act will give special powers to the civilian government to restrict some individual freedoms for limited periods of time, rather than the unlimited powers given to local army commanders under martial law. He dismissed media criticism that he was seeking absolute power.

``This government is fully committed to resolving the crisis and will only use legal powers limiting individual rights as much as needed,'' Thaksin said. ``I'm sure that people can understand and accept this is needed to protect them from bombers.''

Police estimate more than 800 people have died in 18 months of violence, which has included bombings, beheadings and shootings in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of Bangkok, closest to the Malaysian border. Another villager was killed by suspected militants this morning in Narathiwat province, the Thai News Agency reported today.

Thaksin today blamed the violence on ``several groups,'' including separatists seeking the independence of the Muslim- majority area. About 90 percent of Thailand's 65 million population is Buddhist.

--Bloomberg 2005-07-16

[JayBee]

Although no one likes to see individual freedoms restricted, because of the potential for abuse, and for applying the restrictions to the average person who had nothing to do with terrorism, I don't see what else they can do.

Drastic problems sometimes require drastic solutions. You simply can't allow people to be riding around on motorcycles throwing firebombs into 7/11s, restaurants, and railway/transit statons.

Terrorism must be stopped!

[void]

Originally Posted by JayBee

Although no one likes to see individual freedoms restricted, because of the potential for abuse, and for applying the restrictions to the average person who had nothing to do with terrorism, I don't see what else they can do.

Drastic problems sometimes require drastic solutions. You simply can't allow people to be riding around on motorcycles throwing firebombs into 7/11s, restaurants, and railway/transit statons.

Terrorism must be stopped!

I've had some interesting and very spirited discussions with my Thai wife on this. I tend to be more toward supporting a militant response, and she is more toward the left, and the push for solving the root of the problem.

One thing we both agreed upon, is that it is possibly impossible to deal with a situation like this, and expect immediate results. Instead results have to come over a long period of time.

A former Thai Prime Minister, who is well respected, was appointed head of a commission to go the south, and come up with recommendations that can be implemented to solve the problems that have lead to this. This is a slow approach, and many could be killed while this process is "playing out".

But is there a faster approach? Can what Thaksin is implementing, in terms of reduced freedoms, solve the problems?

There is a view held by many educated Thai's, that Thaksin could be adopting the wrong approach. By cracking down on freedom's in the south, by install curfew in Southern areas, he could create more dislike for the Bangkok based Thai government. The argument (against Thaksin's approach) is that his freedom reducing and militant supporting approaches could lead to southern people support to the evil fanatical terrorists.

Instead, there is a view held by many Thai's that a better approach is for the Government to try to win the confidence of the southern people. For example, the Thai government had promised funds/support to victims of these attrocities, and had promised funds/support to improve other aspects in the south. The view is that corruption, possibly amongst southern officials, has stopped the funds from getting to the people. The view is also that the Thai Government in Bangkok has turned a blind eye toward this corruption. ... This in turn has supported a turning away of the southern people from the Bangkok based Thai goverment.

I tend to agree with you that one "can't allow people to be riding around on motorcycles throwing firebombs into 7/11s, restaurants, and railway/transit stations", but after some lengthy and spirited discussions with my wife, I don't see how these new measures are going to directly stop that activity. These new measures, instead, could cause more unrest, and could very well amplify the current bad situation.

Sadly there are no simple answers.

In the end I did partly agree with my Thai wife. Like her, I too am curious to see progression in the recommendations of the former Thai Prime Minister. And I think significant re-education, combined together with a longer term of ongoing "enlightened" education in the south is needed. And I also think internal ongoing support is needed from the southern Thai people themselves, to help root out and destroy these fanatics. Without the support of the southern people, I am afraid that no amount of Bangkok Thai government reductions of Thai freedoms, and other Bangkok Thai Government militant measures, are going to "immediately" solve the problems in the south.

But unlike her, I also wonder if there is not a way to take a more pro-active, militant type response, in dealing with terrorists, ... even if it is not an immediate answer.

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by void

I've had some interesting and very spirited discussions with my Thai wife on this. I tend to be more toward supporting a militant response, and she is more toward the left, and the push for solving the root of the problem.

One thing we both agreed upon, is that it is possibly impossible to deal with a situation like this, and expect immediate results. Instead results have to come over a long period of time.

A former Thai Prime Minister, who is well respected, was appointed head of a commission to go the south, and come up with recommendations that can be implemented to solve the problems that have lead to this. This is a slow approach, and many could be killed while this process is "playing out".

But is there a faster approach? Can what Thaksin is implementing, in terms of reduced freedoms, solve the problems?

There is a view held by many educated Thai's, that Thaksin could be adopting the wrong approach. By cracking down on freedom's in the south, by install curfew in Southern areas, he could create more dislike for the Bangkok based Thai government. The argument (against Thaksin's approach) is that his freedom reducing and militant supporting approaches could lead to southern people support to the evil fanatical terrorists.

Instead, there is a view held by many Thai's that a better approach is for the Government to try to win the confidence of the southern people. For example, the Thai government had promised funds/support to victims of these attrocities, and had promised funds/support to improve other aspects in the south. The view is that corruption, possibly amongst southern officials, has stopped the funds from getting to the people. The view is also that the Thai Government in Bangkok has turned a blind eye toward this corruption. ... This in turn has supported a turning away of the southern people from the Bangkok based Thai goverment.

I tend to agree with you that one "can't allow people to be riding around on motorcycles throwing firebombs into 7/11s, restaurants, and railway/transit stations", but after some lengthy and spirited discussions with my wife, I don't see how these new measures are going to directly stop that activity. These new measures, instead, could cause more unrest, and could very well amplify the current bad situation.

Sadly there are no simple answers.

In the end I did partly agree with my Thai wife. Like her, I too am curious to see progression in the recommendations of the former Thai Prime Minister. And I think significant re-education, combined together with a longer term of ongoing "enlightened" education in the south is needed. And I also think internal ongoing support is needed from the southern Thai people themselves, to help root out and destroy these fanatics. Without the support of the southern people, I am afraid that no amount of Bangkok Thai government reductions of Thai freedoms, and other Bangkok Thai Government militant measures, are going to "immediately" solve the problems in the south.

But unlike her, I also wonder if there is not a way to take a more pro-active, militant type response, in dealing with terrorists, ... even if it is not an immediate answer.

I agree that there is never an easy solution, and that it is important to win support from the people. But I also think that people will appreciate knowing that the government is taking action against the perpetrators of atrocities.

But, realistically, I think that there is no single solution, and that it takes trying a number of approaches, including the reduction of corruption and improving the lives of the people there. Any government is faced with a tough situation when a minority demands the surrender of sovereignty over a large piece of land over which it has ruled for many decades, especially when that minority constitutes a majority of the population in the area in question. Throw in the fact that you are dealing with some radical Muslim elements and you have a recipe for violence. Of crucial importance is keeping the al Quaida and international terrorists from inserting themselves into the mix.

[Lightemup]

Think hearts and minds, my friends.
Two in the heart, one in the mind.

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Lightemup

Think hearts and minds, my friends.
Two in the heart, one in the mind.

When you're in a battle zone, you'd best think that way! The alternative could be hazardous to your health.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by JayBee

When you're in a battle zone, you'd best think that way! The alternative could be hazardous to your health.

Aye! It is That!

[LivinLOS]

Bomb in Big C... They dont seem to have much direction or military targets.. Just civilian effect..

Bomb hits superstore in deep south

PATTANI: -- A small bomb exploded at a giant superstore in Pattani Monday afternoon, injuring one person and forcing the evacuation of customers and staff, in the latest of a string of attacks in the troubled region within less than 24 hours.

Police said the bomb, hidden in a plant pot, was triggered remotely by a cell phone signal at Big C Superstore in Pattani's Nong Chik district, and damaged two cars parked near the store.

The store was closed temporarily for further investigation.

In a separate incident, a police bomb squad in Yaring district successfully defused a bomb planted under a car belonging to a local defense volunteer.

The bomb, which weighed 10 kilogrammes, was set to be detonated by a cell phone signal.

Police suspected that it was the work of the same insurgents who wanted to detonate a bomb at the Yaring District Office. Fortunately, the volunteer's wife noticed the suspicious object and alerted the police.

In the neighbouring province of Narathiwat, insurgents planted a bomb in a fire-extinguisher along a road leading to a teachers housing unit. The bomb was timed to explode while a security team escorting teachers back home.

No one was hurt in the incident which police suspected was the work of insurgents who want to create disturbances in the region.

More than 800 people have been killed since violence erupted in the predominantly-Muslim south early last year.

--TNA 2005-08-01

[LivinLOS]

Bangkok Post piece

Bomb explodes at Big C in Pattani

PATTANI: -- One man was injured and two cars were damaged after a remote-controlled bomb exploded at the Nong Chik branch of Big C superstore in Pattani's Muang district.

Another device exploded at the entrance to a teacher's home in Narathiwat, injuring one man and damaging several vehicles.

Elsewhere, a police officer's son and a former village headman were seriously injured in separate attacks.

At the Nong Chik branch of Big C, chaos erupted when a bomb went off in its car park at about 2pm.

The store's management immediately urged all staff and customers to leave the site and temporarily closed the store so a police investigation could take place.

The homemade device had been placed in a flower pot and was triggered by a mobile phone.

Earlier yesterday, a bomb exploded at the entrance to a teacher's home opposite a rubber research centre in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district. The bomb, believed to be targetting soldiers providing protection for teachers, exploded at about 8.05am when a protection team arrived. The teacher's home was slightly damaged, but nobody was hurt in the attack.

The impact of the explosion damaged a pick-up truck and motorcycle parked nearby.

In Pattani, a suspicious-looking box was left in the driveway of a defence volunteer. A bomb squad was called in to destroy the iron box left near the home of Vareesaran Daralanchakorn, 36, a defence volunteer from Yaring district. The box, weighing around 5 kg, contained fertiliser material, a stick of dynamite, iron rods, a mobile phone and a SIM card.

Meanwhile, the son of a police officer was seriously wounded in a gun attack in Narathiwat province. Theerapong Apipinyo, 17, son of Pol Sen Sgt Maj Piphat, was attacked at about 7.30am on the Tak Bai-Sungai Kolok road in Tak Bai district by two men on a motorcycle as he rode his motorcycle to school.

In the same province, a former village headman was shot and seriously wounded in an attack that took place on the Sungai Padi-Sakor road in Sungai Padi district. Arsae Hesamee, 73, was attacked by two men on a motorcycle while driving his jeep to the centre of town around noon. The pillion passenger sprayed several rounds at Mr Arsae, prompting him to return fire. He was seriously wounded in the attack. One of the assailants also suffered gunshot wounds, but managed to flee the scene.

Leaflets threatening to kill Muslims working under the government's job creation scheme were yesterday distributed in several areas in Yala's Yaha district.

The leaflets, written in Malayu and Thai, were distributed in tambons Patae and Katong in Yaha district. The leaflets attacked the government for using ``tricks'' to encourage locals to work as defence volunteers. The insurgents threatened to kill local Muslims who were working for the government.

Meanwhile, Pol Lt-Gen Somsak Bupphasuwan, chief of Police Region 8, said the issuing of the executive decree had driven many southern insurgents to seek refuge in the nearby provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani. Police have been asked to monitor the situation closely.

Meanwhile, a source said there is a strong demand for second-hand Nokia 3310 mobile phones in the three southernmost provinces. Police were investigating whether or not these phones could be used in bomb attacks, he said.

--Bangkok Post 2005-08-02