As Jihadwatch has noted in the past, Thailand is rapidly becoming one of the main fronts in the worldwide struggle against jihadism. Aided by Al-Qaeda linked groups based in Southeast Asia, along with Thais trained in camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the local Islamic insurgency is beginning to threaten the very stability of the overall Thai state. As an article in today's Taipei Times notes, the capability and scope of the jihadist insurgency in Thailand stands to increase considerably over the coming months:
Involved in the violence are Thai Muslims trained in Libya and Syria, who fought beside Indonesian, Filipino and other Asian militants against Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s. The veterans maintain ties with their comrades-in-arms and may be getting updates on terrorist technology, said Police General Jumpol Manmai, who heads the National Intelligence Agency.Malaysia has repeatedly denied rebel training camps exist on its soil. However, it has long served as a sanctuary for Thai Muslim dissidents and a source of funds provided by sympathetic Muslims. Most recently, 131 villagers fled into Malaysia reportedly out of fear of the military, but the Thai government said the exodus was instigated by insurgents to make Thailand look bad.
Perhaps most important are connections to Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian terrorist network linked to al-Qaeda. Captured in Thailand in 2003 and now in US custody, the group's operational chief, Riduan Isamuddin -- an Indonesian better known as Hambali -- met with Thai militants who gave him and other JI operatives shelter and logistics support. In the end, Jemaah Islamiyah didn't go along with local militant plans to bomb Western embassies in Bangkok and tourist sites frequented by foreigners, according to Thai intelligence officials.
After 20 months of attacks, Thai authorities haven't pounced on a single major safe house, weapons cache or bomb laboratory and haven't captured more than a handful of possible suspects.
"Why? Because the insurgents operate inside the Muslim community which won't point a finger at them, and the military is out there in the cold on its own," said Worawit, who teaches Malay studies at Prince of Songkhla University in Pattani. Muslims comprise only about 5 percent, or 3.1 million, of Thailand's population of 62 million -- nearly all of them in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
Zachary Abuza, an expert on terrorism in Southeast Asia who recently visited the region, said he believes the militants have a broad agenda: "This is much more than an insurgency. This is much more of an attempt to transform society," he said. He noted that the rebels have targeted moderate Muslims and through their leaflets have warned clergy not to perform funeral rites for those they kill and threatened people who do business on Friday, the Muslim holy day.
While other experts disagree, Abuza links the violence to the growth of Salafism, which preaches a puritanical interpretation of Islam in a society where moderation and tolerance of Buddhist neighbors prevailed in the past.
Could ethnic cleansing be the final step for Thailand? If all the Muslims are in cahoots with the terrorists, are they not as guilty as the terrorists? I thought Thailand is supposed to be tuff on Islam and have never been conquered by the Islamists. Now they sound like Europe, confused and dhimmified. I thought they would be a lot harsher, and am still hoping for it.
One facet of the security problems facing Southeast Asia that needs attention is the MILF-held territories on Mindinao Island in the Philippines. This is where Jemaah Islamiyah and other groups are training their recruits.
The Philippine government must either re-assert its authority over southern Mindinao or compell the MILF to ekiminate the camps. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away.
This is a nightmare, US has to help Thailand against islamism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brigade
Vacation time looms.
Dear Jan Sobieski:
Part of the Thai dilemna is that not all of its Muslim minority supports the secessionists; and despite the secessionists' inciting villagers to flee to Malaysia, the Malaysian government dropped all support for the Pattani secessionists way back in the 1960's (both Thailand and Malaysia were fighting Communist insurgents back then). Hence, ethnic cleansing probably is not in the cards.
For further information on the diversity of Thailand's Muslim minority, here's a website:
http://www.cpamedia.com/history/north_thailand_muslims/
OT--BTW, Mr. Spencer, since moving back to the States, I've borrowed your rather interesting PIG via the local library. Good job!
From the article above:
Zachary Abuza, an expert on terrorism in Southeast Asia...links the violence to the growth of Salafism..."
Beware of Wikipedia, which defines Salafism thusly:
"Salafism is a mainstream type of Sunni Islam and fairly moderate belief..."
O when, O when, will we stop dithering around in bullshit...!?
This is a nightmare, US has to help Thailand against islamism.
Posted by: Franze at September 19, 2005 04:37 PM
Why should the USA help any one??
We the people of the USA see all the Protest against the USA we know there are many mulsums who go to the streets BUT where are the people who are against the monsters??
Sounds like they need to call on God and Heros amoung their own people Franze why does your country not send your armys to help these people???
MORE ISLAMIC TERRORIST DEAD TODAY!!!!
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
GOD BLESS THE USA AND HER FIGHTING FORCES AND ALL WHO FIGHT WITH HER GIVE THEM STRENGTH, WISDOM, SIGHT, AND COURAGE TO STAY THE COURSE TO DESTROY ALL ISLAMIC TERRORIST AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM LET NOT THE WORLD BE DECEIVED BY THEM GIVE THE WORLD COURAGE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT THEM AMEN
PS
Why not call the French Franze
Wikipedia can be modified by Anyone, apparently... I can't imagine the twists and turns some things are being put thru, to satisfy those who hold whatever beliefs about them...
The Religion of Peace is up to its' old tricks.....
Thailand is in trouble if it does not send a clear message to every mosque in the country ASAP: Desist or be bulldozed. Not only alienate, but lean on, the street.
Wish there were some way the West could more directly help with training and info.
Help the Thai's against the Muslems.... a great idea, but we are having much difficulty in getting the West to wake up to their own danger!!
Thais have laws to combat islamic terrorism which the countries in S-E Asian region would never dare to enact.
Thais have laws to combat islamic terrorism which the countries in S-E Asian region would never dare to enact.
Fat lot of use those paper cranes were against the Jihadists, and a primitive and bloodthirsty death cult that seeks to become the universal religion.
This is a nightmare, US has to help Thailand against islamism.
Posted by: Franze
This thinking was OK if Thais did not have the wherewithals. Every country which has the resources should put their house in order themselves. US and other countries can help just by looking the other way when the Moslems start to die but......!
"Wish there were some way the West could more directly help with training and info."
From a poster above.
The West needs training and info, and plenty of it. Just look at this utter fool Jack Straw and the disgrace of Spain, the hapless Zapatero who appears to be entirely clueless about the history of his country, just look at GWB and his piccaninni:
The West needs training and info more than anybody.
From another post above:
"Could ethnic cleansing be the final step for Thailand? If all the Muslims are in cahoots with the terrorists, are they not as guilty as the terrorists? I thought Thailand is supposed to be tuff on Islam and have never been conquered by the Islamists. Now they sound like Europe, confused and dhimmified. I thought they would be a lot harsher, and am still hoping for it."
I am afraid that we all are simply too afraid. We will not be accused of 'ethnic cleansing' -as in the Balkans, where we have now 3 Islamic states, (thanks to NATO and the US,) we will not be accused of 'racism' although Islam is not a race, so we retreat, each time, every-time.
Just to see 'them' finally do to us what we could not get ourselves do to them first, while we still could!
It's late in the day, but we are not Islamic yet.
There is still a chance to prevent it.
Why should the USA help any one??
We the people of the USA see all the Protest against the USA we know there are many mulsums who go to the streets BUT where are the people who are against the monsters??
Sounds like they need to call on God and Heros amoung their own people Franze why does your country not send your armys to help these people???
MORE ISLAMIC TERRORIST DEAD TODAY!!!!
PS
Why not call the French Franze
Well, my country, Spain, not France, is governed by a bastard called Zapatero, I was one of the 10 million people who voted against this man, and is a sold of the islamic terrorism.
I said that, because in this war, we have to know that avoiding the problems, it isn´t "my problem" produces terrorism and more pain, there are to prevent.
But well, I know that mass media are heavy, and many times US isn´t welcomed by some people but nor for everybody. Thanks for listening to me.
Franze
por supuesto saben que usted es de España? ¿Hemos escrito nosotros para sobre un año que recuerdo que usted pensó cuando usted vio la alegría de los estudiantes árabes que miraron con la alegría el decapita??
¿Qué yo digo es dónde están a los en pro de americanos en sus calles?? ¿Cómo puede esperar usted los Estados Unidos de América para salvar el mundo??
¿No es su posee que tiene que ayudar?
Recuerde que digo a Dios Bendice los países que tienen a héroes y se compadece los Países que los necesitan no Amén
La parte del Tribu americano
El Cazador de la ardilla
El Asesino de la araña
El dios Bendice los Estados Unidos de América y TODO que Lucha con ella les da Fuerza, la Sabiduría, la Vista, y el Coraje para Destruir a TODO Terrorista Islámico y TODO que Sostiene ellos Da la Fuerza de Mundo para Pararse y Luchar esta Mal Permitió no que el Mundo Sea Engañado por ellos Amén