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The War in Southern Thailand

"The attacks look like they are well-organized, but we do not know what group of people is behind them." - Chariman of the Narathiwat Islamic Committee Some trace the modern day southern insurgency back to the separatist fighting succeeding World War II, demanding Patani independence from Thailand. Others claim the insurgency derive merely from ordinary people tired of Thai cultural imperialism over a predominantly Malay Muslim area. Others still believe insurgent attacks are game pieces in the Thai political game, some, as Bangkok Senator Sophon Supapong, going as far as accusing United States of masterminding attacks. Attacks are rarely traced to a group or organization; no one ever claims responsibility for incidents taking place. All government and army initiated attempts to negotiate have come to a halt as they have consistently failed at identifying with who to negotiate with. Former Thai Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra regarded the three southern provinces Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani as the local front in the global War on Terrorism. Attempts have been made at linking the insurgency movement to Al-Qaeda and label the insurgents as Islamic extremists, but none supporting evidence of such claims has yet been found. Victims are civilian bystanders; Muslim and Buddhist alike. © Fredrik Härenstam

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