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| Southeast Asia |
| Thailand's forgotten war |
| 2011-02-24 |
| It was five years before Thailand admitted it had a separatist movement on its hands—a well-structured organization consisting of five related groups operating across four provinces. Identifying the leaders proved tricky, although the National Revolutionary Front-Coordinate (BRN-C) can be traced back to the 1960s, and has held the highest profile among southern separatist movements. There has also been evidence of links with al-Qaeda and regional terrorist outfits like Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) (although this group is currently in decline). As an example, a series of interviews thought to have been granted by the self-described head of al-Qaeda in Southeast Asia, ‘Abu Ubaidah’, talkative until last year but who has since gone quiet. ‘What’s happening in Pattani isn’t an internal conflict, some (fighters) come from the neighbouring country, some come from far away, many thousands of miles,’ he stated, while encouraging Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia to join his jihad. He also said, through a series of Malaysia-based blogs, that the conflict has changed since 2004, when the struggle was based more on nationalistic assertions. Killings that year at the Kerisik Mosque, where over 100 died, and at Tak Bai where at least 85 were killed, had transformed the rebellion. ‘Now they fight fully and only for Allah,’ Abu said. Officials say the first of the five groups under the BRN-C consists of Islamic leaders and teachers. The second group works at the grassroots by occupying administrative positions. A third group is responsible for funding and has found allies among influential local business leaders, according to assistant national police chief Abdul Saengsingkaew. The Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK), a small guerrilla combat unit, makes up the fourth group. There are an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 RKK troops in the south. Finally, there is the Permudor, a fifth column of young sympathizers who watch official movements, obstruct police wherever possible, and support RKK fighters. This rabble of teenagers is meant to graduate into the ranks of the RKK over the coming years. In opposition, the Thai Army has an ambitious plan aimed at recruiting heavily from the southern provincial troops, with these forces expected eventually to be used to quell dissent and resolve issues among the predominantly Malay Muslims. They are backed by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has promised to find a solution by establishing a permanent administrative office, a special economic development zone, and through co-operation with Muslim countries. |
| Posted by:ryuge |