[Tlc] T-Southern Thai violence

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Forwarded from Al Valentine.
Thanks,
justin



http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/8650/number-of-attacks-dropbut-not-the-threat
Number of attacks drop, but not the threat

    By: Wassayos Ngamkham
    Published: 25/12/2008 at 12:00 AM

After a surge of violence last year, the frequency of attacks in the South has declined, but authorities warn there is no reason to be complacent.
In 2007, police recorded 2,475 incidents - the highest annual figure since the violence in the South broke out afresh in January 2004. The frequency of shootings, bombings and arson has dropped since then.

Assistant national police chief Pol Lt-Gen Adul Saengsingkaew attributed the decrease to the rebels making "adjustments to their plotting of violence'.'

Although there were fewer attacks in recent months, the degree of violence was increasing, said Pol Lt-Gen Adul, who is commander of the Police Operation Centre's Forward Command in charge of the four restive provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla and Yala. The office is based in Yala.

"The situation seems to be better on the surface, the insurgents still keep building confidence among themselves in the three provinces to show their power," he said.

Pol Lt-Gen Adul cited four car bombings - in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat - this year as indicating the changing tactics of the insurgents. The car bombings were not expected and had made a big impact, he said.

Pol Lt-Gen Adul said the southern insurgency would not be easily quelled as rebel groups were resorting to more violent tactics.

"It's difficult for the situation to become peaceful because those who mastermind the attacks include influential business people," he said.

These people helped fund the insurgent violence, providing additional cash to that donated to the separatist movement, he said.

He said one reason for the violence increasing last year was because the government of then-prime minister Surayud Chulanont launched its reconciliation policy in the far South.

Although the policy was unclear at the beginning - as security forces were ordered to limit their operations, including surrounding target areas for inspection - it ultimately had a positive effect, Pol Lt-Gen Adul said.

"Officers understood that reconciliation doesn't mean doing nothing - we have to enforce the law as well," he said.

Since 2004, 15 insurgents have been sentenced to death. There are 9,207 suspects awaiting trial over their possible involvement in insurgent activity.


______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu