Violence in S. Thailand fueled by frustration

Violence in S. Thailand fueled by frustration

Agencies, Bangkok

Killings, torture and kidnappings of residents in southern Thailand by government agents have fueled the deadly violence now sweeping the Muslim-majority region, Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang said on Friday.

Chaturon traveled to the restive south and admitted that residents, Muslim leaders and civil officials told him they were angry over years of mistreatment at the hands of the government, and that the region's mounting frustration eventually bubbled over into violence this year.

"The main cause of the problem has been government officials who are alleged to have tortured and killed people which has fueled the problem of terrorism and separatism," he told reporters in Bangkok.

Chaturon was sent by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on a fact-finding mission to the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat which have been rocked by attacks that have left at least 59 people dead this year.

Meanwhile, suspected Islamic insurgents shot and killed a local politician on Friday as Thailand's prime minister admitted his government has been unable to do anything to stop the escalating violence in the Muslim-dominated south.

Daoh Kareeuma, 56, an elected official of a village administration in Yala province, was ambushed by two gunmen as he arrived home after going round his village on a motorcycle, police Capt. Jirasak Wichaicharoenying said.

Also on Friday, two gunmen shot and seriously injured the husband of a woman who works in a village administration office, said police Sub. Lt. Ith Boonrith.

The government's increasing desperation was evident in Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's most recent comments on the issue.

"We seem to know everything about what the bad guys are doing but we cannot do anything to solve even a single problem," he said Thursday. "Troubles in the south have affected the country's image very, very, very much."

He also complained that the insurgents easily go across the border to neighboring Malaysia because they hold dual citizenship.

Thaksin has said he plans to visit Malaysia on April 9 to meet with his counterpart Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to press for cooperation in tracking down the insurgents. Malaysia has not confirmed the visit.

"Villages on the Malaysian border are safe havens ... It's easy for them. They killed people here and went to Malaysia and openly held meetings about breaking away" from Thailand, Thaksin said.

He said he was not making accusations against Malaysia but only asking for their cooperation.

Muslim leaders in the south have long complained about the central authorities' handling of southern issues including the unrest, and said heavy handed searches or interrogations, unwarranted detentions and arrests have fueled animosity and anger.

Chaturon did not elaborate on the apparent extrajudicial killings or torture, but when asked if politicians were linked to the actions Chaturon said he believed some engaged in illegal activities "from time to time".

Last month a Thai court approved an arrest warrant for Najmuddin Umar, a Muslim MP and member of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party who faced charges of treason and separatism for his role in a Jan. 4 raid on a Narathiwat arms depot which killed four soldiers.

Chaturon said government would convene an extraordinary meeting next Monday when he would present his findings to Thaksin.

"The whole policy toward aiming and solving problems in the south will be overhauled in line with public suggestions and the resolution will be immediately implemented," he said.