Security hits a low in South

EDITORIAL

Published: 30 Jul 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The deeply disturbing video leaked on to the internet from the deep South raises many questions about what is happening in the struggle with the country's most serious security problem. Tens of thousands of people in Thailand and worldwide have watched the video on various media. Authorities must explain how such graphic images of the planned ambush, murders and looting of bodies were released. But the public must know what the government and its security forces intend to do about the ruthless lawlessness exposed so blatantly.

It was exactly a week ago that the military was once again congratulating itself on alleged progress in the South. Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha, after a lightning visit to the region, claimed his soldiers were making advances. He expected attacks during Ramadan. Effective tactics by the military had forced the gangs in the South to change their tactics, and resort to car bombs instead of hit-and-run attacks.

During the week after those remarks, the anti-government forces violently increased their attacks. Ten soldiers and policemen were killed. Nine innocent and unarmed civilians were targetted, hunted, shot and killed. Entirely contrary to Gen Prayuth's confident assertion, all were killed in old-style ambushes and roadside bombs that the army commander claimed were no longer effective.

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howell
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Discussion 8 : 30 Jul 2012 at 22.578
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@Steve CM, Agree, local commanders essentially responsible but the situation was intensified by Thaksin's lack of an humane apology; his response was 'These people are separatists and we cannot allow them on Thai soil', i.e. that it was OK for them to die because they were all evil enemies. Would it be a surprise that the children of those killed are now angry, violent terrorists ?
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steveyinasia
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Discussion 7 : 30 Jul 2012 at 16.227
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"the military was once again congratulating itself" always full of empty self praise, why not get the praise of all the people by actually doing something.
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SteveCM
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Discussion 6 : 30 Jul 2012 at 15.146
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meme (#1) - "their" massacres?

Few even try to deny that Thaksin's overall handling of the situation in the South was anything short of disastrous - but "their" in these two cases belongs squarely to the military commanders responsible. At Krue Se, the local commander ignored Chavalit's explicit instructions from BKK to end the siege peacefully. At Tak Bai, it was local military personnel who fatally mishandled transporting the protesters they had arrested. One can maybe understand the infuriated local population refusing to see the difference. More difficult to excuse your portrayal of it.
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bern1005
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Discussion 5 : 30 Jul 2012 at 11.525
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While I do believe that PT have failed to take effective action to either combat the terrorists or to make changes to undermine their support (what happened to their promises of increased autonomy in the south?) even the Democrats (who actually do have political influence and support in the south) failed to solve the problem.

There is a natural instinct to want to strike back with more power and destroy the cowardly criminals who did this. Unfortunately, the lesson from other similar situations is that increasing the level of violence only leads to more violence. Perhaps it is time for a change and not just more of the same?
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geoffp
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Discussion 4 : 30 Jul 2012 at 10.134
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When will the authorities admit that the main problem in the south is land?

Southern lands are little more than endless rubber-plantations (alright, and some palm-oil) 'owned' by business in Bangkok and elsewhere.

Local people in the south have only a life subservient to those that stole their land. Of course there is 'unrest'.
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Just-1-Voice
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Discussion 3 : 30 Jul 2012 at 08.123
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IMO, one of the biggest problems with the situation in the south is all about "face". The oh-so-proud Thai cannot bring themselves to admit what the rest of the world is clearly aware of - that there are terrorists operating within their borders, and the Thai police, military and government are, basically, powerless to do anything to stop it. This is evident in their continual use of the words "militants" and "insurgents" and "separatists" instead of calling them what they really are - terrorists. Brings to mind the old saying: "A rose by any other name, is still a rose."
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montreal11
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Discussion 2 : 30 Jul 2012 at 06.132
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So disturbing to see the Puea thaksin regime DOING NOTHING to solve the problem ....to busy trying to bring back the fugitif ....soo sad POOR THAI PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH ,,nobody to help them ..where r the red shirts in the south ??????
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meme
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Discussion 1 : 30 Jul 2012 at 02.271
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The Puea Thaksin regime will never be respected by the Thais in the South after their massacres at Tak Bai and Krue Se.
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Security hits a low in South | Bangkok Post: opinion