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| Southeast Asia |
| Militants Not Ruling Out Attacks In Bangkok And Phuket |
| 2006-08-10 |
| Militant groups fighting for independence for the Muslim-majority southern provinces have not ruled out the possibility of spreading insurgency to capital Bangkok and tourist heaven Phuket. The Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) told the Nation daily that such a move would be possible if the government continued with their oppressive tactics against the local community who were mostly Malay-speaking. Pulo's foreign affairs chief Kasturi Mahkuta told the paper from an undisclosed location in Sweden that it was not entirely out of the question that any of the "Malay liberation groups" could be thinking about hitting targets outside the region. Kasturi said Pulo had a significant number of officials and armed troops in southern Thailand but declined to go into detail or take credit for any of the attacks in the region. "This is something we won't confirm or deny. I can't go into specifics," said Kasturi when asked which major attacks or incidents Pulo was involved. Pulo emerged in the 1970s during the armed struggle by ethnic Malays in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat seeking independence from Thailand. Peace was restored in the last decade but more than 1,300 people had died since separatists launched a campaign of bombings and shootings in January, 2004. But despite that, Kasturi told the paper that Pulo was willing to enter into talks with the government to discuss "solutions other than a total breakaway". He said Pulo leadership was concerned with the violence in the region and the high number of casualties, adding that there was tendency to blame all the attacks on Malay liberation groups. Security agencies have said that several new anti-Bangkok groups have emerged in the south and largely to be blamed for the violence. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #4 I'm sure an attack on Phuket, Bangkok, Pattia Beach, Chang Mai, or any of the other resort areas in Thailand would not be in the best interest of any muslims living in Thailand. It might even rile a few of the locals to get downright NASTY, especially if it were Japanese, American, or Australian tourists that were injured. I'm sure some of the N'ong or Hmong tribesmen that fled Laos for Thailand would be willing to lend a hand, which would NOT be pleasant for the malays in south Thailand. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-08-10 16:02 |
| #3 Camp Pawai, Tak or Nak anyone? LOPBURI: 46th U.S. Army Special Forces Co 10/66 - 4/74 "In October 1966 Company D, 1st Special Forces Group [Airborne], 1st Special Forces, which was organized 15 April 1966 at Fort Bragg, arrived in Thailand. The 46th Special Forces Company, 1st Special Forces was activated 15 April 1967 in Thailand using assets of Company D, 1st Special Forces Group. In 1968 the 46th Special Forces Company was headquartered at Camp Pawai near Lopburi and had three subordinate B-Detachments at Sakon Nakhon, at Camp Nong Takoo (Pak Chong) and at Ban Kachon. On March 31 1972 its assets were used to form HHD, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group [Airborne], 1st Special Forces. However for security reasons it was known locally simply as U.S. Army Special Forces, Thailand." Other A-Detachments were located for various periods during the war at: Camp Carrow (Trang), Chonburi, Kokethiem, Saraburi, Ratburi, Fort Narai (Lopburi), Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin, Bangkok, Udorn, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Mai Rem, Songkhia, Pranburi, Phitsanulok, Nam Phong. Chieng Kham, Ban Nong Saeng, Ban Haui Khu, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Nan, Ban Haui Sai Tai, Muang Loi and Samae San. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-10 10:55 |
| #2 Perhaps we need to seek independance from Muslims in non-muslim majority ares, and not rule out attacks? |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2006-08-10 10:48 |
| #1 from an undisclosed location in Sweden Kasturi said Pulo had a significant number of officials and armed troops in southern Thailand but declined to go into detail or take credit for any of the attacks in the region. "This is something we won't confirm or deny. I can't go into specifics," said Kasturi when asked which major attacks or incidents Pulo was involved. Am I the only one that thinks this guy's full of shit? I'll bet the freedom fighter personae impresses the hell out of Swedish babes. Probably beats the hell outta "dishwasher in a Thai restaurant". |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-08-10 10:25 |