The jihad against Buddhists continues: “8 wounded as gunmen attack southern Thai temple,” from Taiwan News, June 23:
Suspected Muslim insurgents opened fire on a Buddhist temple in southern Thailand on Monday, wounding eight people, an army officer said.
Lt. Col. Piyawat Chalermsri said at least four attackers shot into the compound of the temple in Narathiwat province as about 30 people were taking part in an aerobics class there. Buddhist temples often serve as community centers in Thailand.
The wounded included a 1-year-old girl and a local Muslim, said Piyawat.
The temple hosts a small army encampment, like others in the insurgency-plagued region.
“The security forces fired back as soon at the attack began, otherwise there might have been more casualties,” Piyawat said, adding that the attackers arrived on motorcycles.
More than 3,500 people have been killed in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces since a separatist insurgency flared up in January 2004.[…]
The insurgents make no public pronouncements, but are thought to be fighting to carve out an independent Muslim state in the three southern provinces. While many there do not support the rebels, there is widespread distrust among Muslims of the predominantly Buddhist Thai authorities.