Thailand and terrorism<\/p>\n
If the possibility of a terrorist attack on targets in Bangkok or
\nother parts of Thailand outside the Muslim-majority southern
\nprovinces used to be a taboo subject, then perhaps now is the
\ntime for society to shed its false sense of security and
\nfatalistic complacency.<\/p>\n
The long-held notion that Thailand - a predominantly Buddhist,
\npeace-loving country - has been remarkably tolerant towards other
\nreligious faiths, including Islam, and is therefore more or less
\nimmune to large-scale terrorist strikes, was shattered after
\nalmost 80 of the more than 1,300 Muslim protesters detained by
\nsecurity forces after a riot died in captivity under dubious
\ncircumstances.<\/p>\n
According to the government, most of the detained protesters
\ndied of suffocation or heat stroke or were crushed to death after
\nbeing crammed, hands tied behind their backs, into military
\nvehicles in order to be transported back to a military camp in
\nPattani for interrogation.<\/p>\n
The gruesome deaths, described callously by the Thaksin
\nadministration as an \"unfortunate accident\", have attracted
\nwidespread condemnation by many governments, international human
\nrights groups and Islamic organisations, as well as the wrath of
\nMuslims everywhere.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Thailand is repeatedly mentioned as a possible
\ntarget for international terrorist groups bent on avenging what
\nwas described as the brutal and inhumane treatment of Muslims in
\nthe deep South.<\/p>\n
There are two different ways for Thailand to learn to cope and
\neven live with what is shaping up to be a long battle against
\nIslamic militancy: do nothing and hope that Thai society will
\nsomehow be spared such an atrocity, or start getting ready now.<\/p>\n
It's time for both the government and the public to get
\norganised and improve the nation's capabilities to deal with
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
-- The Nation, Bangkok<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thailand-and-terrorism-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }