South Thailand
The problems in Thailand’s Deep South aren’t getting any better. I read recently, I think it was in The Nation, about how insurgents are now targeting prolific teachers. They are taking out teachers based on their excellence.
Kesine Timthep, a well-loved teacher in Pattani, was gunned down, shot in the head, in front of her school while walking with some of her students. The news report asserted that insurgents are becoming increasingly more selective in whom they go after.
Two people arrested under Cyber Crimes Act?
The Nation is apparently incapable of confirming whether or not two people have been arrested in Thailand for making offensive comments about HMtK in an Internet chat room. The Nation called Sitthichai, but he told them he didn’t know anything about it. Ever-reluctant to follow up on real news, The Nation let it slide and simply said, “We don’t know.”
Thailand on BBC World
Have any of you seen the new advert by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on BBC World. I’m yet to catch it, but apparently it’s hilarious. It all goes along fairly well until at the end of the advert some guy proclaims, “Thailand! You can come whenever you want.”
Techno' tags: Thailand
I would love to see the government spend lot of time sorting out the problems in the south, instead of chasing a witch who bought a football club.
You were not supposed to mention the name of the Nation as you are going to attract someone instantly. At the same time, if you want to see that person express his or her excellent perspective on your blog, the name will be a good bait to lure "the shark" here.
I am not sure that I have seen the ad by the TAT, but I reckon it is going to amuse me too. What a tongue in cheek ad it sounds!
“Thailand! You can come whenever you want.” Let's come there(!)
Well, gee. Glad to know I can come there whenever I want. Somehow, my finances might not agree. LOL
Wish I could see the ad though. :)
Peace,
~Chani
http://thailandgal.blogspot.com
Hi! I've been reading your blog for a while now, but never commented! I live in the south just out of reach of the violence and apparently it's just come to light that the insurgents have a plan to kill 20,000 people to get international recognition for their cause…obviously top of their hit lists are officials to make it more likely to get on the news. Very sad situation with no end in sight.
Great blog by the way!!
Mel
http://www.southernthai.com
How did that add pass the focus groups. Or is the double entendre on purpose?? hahahahaha
don't you get it yet? Thaksin, Junta, south…it's all connected. Several factions in power and out benefit and thrive off of unrest and insecurity…same as all wars…big business. Where do you think these weapons are coming from/came from…some magic box in the mosque? Think again. If everyone just wanted peace, it would be much simpler but in the game of power and politics, war works! …unfortunately for human kind.
don’t you get it yet? Thaksin, Junta, south…it’s all connected. Several factions in power and out benefit and thrive off of unrest and insecurity…same as all wars…big business.
Perhaps, if it was a short, small insurgency I might give some credence to your statements, but this is not a "war in a far away land", many local businesses in the South are severely affected. The kind of "wag the dog" scenario loses credibility when people start blaming the government (applies to both Thaksin, Surayud administrations) for the violence. So the government is either shooting itself in the foot or deliberately allow sections of it to shoot itself in the foot.
Just because almost every movie contains some plot about a government conspiracy it doesn't mean that this is what happens in every case in the real world.
Where do you think these weapons are coming from/came from…some magic box in the mosque?
Umm, they started stealing them in 2002 and 2003, then of course the January 4, 2004 raid of an army weapons cache. In 2002 and 2003, about 50+ police officers/army officers were killed and many more injured in rural outposts in the 3 southern border provinces and in almost every case, which they still do today, they took all the weapons of the police/military. There was a concerted campaign over a long period of time to build up the necessary resources before the violence erupted in 2004.
Materials for bombs are relatively easy to obtain. So did the government/big business/illumanti also send these people to Afghanistan, Libya, and Indonesia for training/experience?
@bangkok pun
since you seem so sure about war motives and Thailand's southern issues, why don't you shed some light to how you KNOW that 'these people' trained in Afghanistan, Libya, and Indonesia? …and more importantly, how you have this enlightened knowledge of who 'these people' are and that they are not tied into any political power games.
War on Terror? Perhaps it is not scary that common folk are mislead by typical government endorsed sources, but what is disturbing is that someone like yourself who seems educated, actually insists/suggests that there is 'one' solid unified group of separatists responsible for not only the violence in the south, but possibly other mayhem in Thailand as well as opposed to political plays at the power game as so common in history, and the fact that Thailand is split in half politically at the moment is just a coincidence.
Well, than while you're on a roll, why don't you reveal who 'these people' or should I say 'Muslim terrorists' actually are, preferably by name nationality rank and funding, and ideally, other specific information. Heck, why not just send your list to the government so they can end this once and for all, since it is a clear black and white case as you have pointed out.
:)