Article

2007-02-24 Southeast Asia

Embassies warn of terror threat to Bangkok

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Posted by ryuge 2007-02-24 02:09|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The Australian, Canadian and British embassies both revised their advisories cautioning travelers

now that's just good professional writing...

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-02-24 07:17|| 2007-02-24 07:17|| Front Page Top

#2 Bangkok doesn't have subway stations. All railways are above ground.

The IHT/NYT strikes again.

Posted by phil_b 2007-02-24 07:28|| 2007-02-24 07:28|| Front Page Top

#3 'Sorry Phil - There is indeed an extensive subway system here in Bangkok - called the MRT. I take it every work day.

The warnings are pretty much overstated. The PULO separatists in the disputed southern provinces habve no interest in Bangkok. Theire only interest is in driving th Buddhist populations of Pattani, Yala, and Narithiwat provinces out of those locales. And - they have devised and carried out a very effective "ethnic cleaning" campaign - focused on the Thai educational system.

Devout muslim students attend madrassas - their Buddhist neighbors attend either public or private schools. In the three disputed provinces, the Muslim separatists have pursued a consistent policy of trying to drive the Buddhist polpulation away by attacking the non-Muslim schools - killing teachers, school administrators, and students. The reasoning is: Buddhists without school-aged children will simply die off - those with children will refuse to let them face the risks of attending school - or their teachers will refuse to continue teaching - because the risks are too high.

The separatists believe (correctly) that Buddhist parents will not allow their children to grow up without education - so they will be forced to relocate their families to safer provinces.

Regretably - this is a very effective strategy - and the Thai government has done a very ppor job of countering this strategy.

Bottom line: As a daily commuter in Bangkok, I dismiss these warnings as not meaningful.

Posted by Lone Ranger 2007-02-24 11:28|| 2007-02-24 11:28|| Front Page Top

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