Thai government's crackdown on Muslim protests

Thai government's crackdown on Muslim protests

The persistent clashes in Thailand's southern provinces are consistently cast by the government as a law and order issue. On Monday, the third serious outbreak this year alone saw lawful authority challenged when protesters attacked a police station to free defense volunteers held on suspicion of passing arms to Islamic militants. The cause and effect is troubling enough, without resurgent Islam having re-energized a dormant secessionist lobby. Some 400 people have died this year in three big clashes. All of these had elements of a political challenge to an elected government, street rioting, and pure criminality such as thefts of arms.

Where does drug- and gun-running end and the funding of agents out to undermine the state begin? Why is it that the Muslims never fail to mention discrimination in jobs and education? Is despair feeding anti-government sentiment? Where does militant Islam fit into the picture? Mr. Thaksin told southerners the authorities will not be permitted to harass the locals, and "bad locals" will not be allowed to harass the authorities and other peaceable people. This was close to acknowledging that mutual animosity is deep-seated. -- The Straits Times, Singapore