The acquittals in February and May this year of three Thai Muslims by the courts in the Kelantan state of Malaysia of charges ofpossessing explosives and bomb-making materials have casted as big doubt among Thai security officers about the cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia in curbing Islamic insurgency in the restive deep South.
Justice process which cannot assure justice is cited as one of the factors contributing to the unrest problem in the deep South. This assumption was discussed in an article recently written by Poonyawee Prachuablarp, an assistant judge and a member of the Thai Bar Association. The followings are extracts of her article.
The Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) has started disbursement of compensation payments to the disabled and relatives of victims killed or injured by state officials and insurgents in the restive deep South.
The first half of the fasting month of Ramadan which ended on August 18 was one of the bloodiest period of the year with 13 bombings, 10 arson attacks and scores of shootings leaving 18 people dead and more than 25 injured.
Deputy Army Commander-in-Chief General Dapong Rattanasuwan warned in his August 10 press interview that Thailand might lose the three southernmost provinces if a referendum was to be held to allow the people down there to decide whether they want self-determination or not.
The Fourth Army Region is mapping out certain areas and back roads which are vulnerable to insurgent attacks to be placed under curfew expected to be imposed after the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
The Thai army has recently approved the acquisition of a new batch of bomb detectors for use by its troops fighting against Islamic insurgents in the rrestive deep South.
Two roadside bombing attacks within a month which seriously damaged two armoured cars, killed one officer and injured three others have raised suspicion among security officials in the far South that the Islamic militants might be capable of making more lethal improvised explosive devices (IED).
Drive-by shootings by insurgents in the deep South occur every day now, causing havoc, emotional distress and fear. Many members of the security forces, teachers and innocent villagers, have been killed and injured during the past eight years of senseless violence in the restive region.
The most popular question that I was lately asked by fellow journalists was: "Has the unrest situation in the Deep South improved?" This is a simple question but it is very difficult to answer because there are various perspectives related to the situation.