It is now violently apparent that Thailand's military-appointed government's policy of reconciliation toward its three insurgency-hit majority-Muslim provinces Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala was never really implemented on the ground.
Instead, southern Thailand's three-year-old conflict is veering in a dangerous new direction, where the government is establishing a growing number of loosely regulated local militias, and in response ethnic-Malay Muslim insurgent groups have commenced attacks against the economic lifelines of certain urban districts in an intensified effort to empty the restive region of ethnic-Thai and Sino-Thai Buddhists.
Full Story: Asia Times Online
Point of no return for southern Thailand
Point of no return for southern Thailand
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
I see that CNS head General Sonthi is planning a visit to Saudi Arabia to improve diplomatic relations and to meet with influential Muslim organizations. This is a positive move as the Saudis have considerable clout to help mediate resolve in this kind of dispute.
They also have ways of controlling those in the Middle East who encourage this kind of insurgency, but they will only do that if it suits them.
They also have ways of controlling those in the Middle East who encourage this kind of insurgency, but they will only do that if it suits them.
