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| Southeast Asia |
| Thais alarmed by separatists' adoption of al-Qaeda tactics |
| 2005-05-21 |
| Defence Minister Gen Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya has expressed concern over the adoption of al-Qaeda terrorist-style weapons training by some private Islamic boarding schools in the South. Gen Thammarak said he has ordered security forces to raid suspected Islamic schools in the region. So far, no evidence has been found to link southern militants to al-Qaeda terrorists. The use of al-Qaeda-style terrorist weapons training was aimed at creating fear among residents, he said. ``Some schools have used al-Qaeda's weapons training as a training model. It's worrying because it is a battle in urban areas with the adoption of brutal terrorist-style attacks. ``Intelligence reports found no links between southern militants and al-Qaeda terrorists. The southern violence is an internal problem. As one school has been found to have adopted al-Qaeda weapons training, further investigation is needed.'' Earlier, troops from the 22nd Task Force raided Jihad Witthaya school at Ban Taloh Kapo village in Pattani's Yaring district and found several CDs showing al-Qaeda terrorist-style weapons training and documents written in Arabic. They also found a weapons training site behind the school. Four students admitted that weapons training had been held there. The task force yesterday inspected Jihad Witthaya school again and found a number of empty cans used as targets at the school's weapons training site. Bullet holes were found in coconut trees in the area. Gen Thammarak said troops had closely monitored the school for a lengthy period before the raid was conducted. Deputy Education Minister Rung Kaewdaeng has been assigned to tackle education problems at ponohs, or private Islamic religious boarding schools, by bringing them into the formal education system, said Gen Thammarak. The defence minister is scheduled to attend the Thai-Malaysian Border Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur on June 1-3 to discuss border cooperation and joint patrols along the border. On key separatists who had fled to Malaysia, Gen Thammarak said Malaysian authorities have provided Thailand with full cooperation to trace their whereabouts. ``I have asked relevant officers to send a list and backgrounds of runaway separatist leaders to Malaysian authorities to hunt for them,'' he said. He instructed the military to explain southern problems more clearly to local residents. The military would hold frequent press conferences to discuss the situation. ``I will make frequent trips to the South, but will do it quietly. Actually, I really want to work at the operational level like in the past when I was a junior soldier. At the time, we worked out a plan and acted on it. As the top commander, I just give my commands. I want the problem to be tackled soon,'' said the defence minister. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday held a meeting with relevant agencies to discuss the southern unrest and instructed Interior Minister Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit to adjust security work in the far South, particularly the chain of command. Pol Gen Chidchai said the prime minister wanted concerned agencies to be more proactive and for procedures for issuing commands to officers at the operational level shortened. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |