| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Thai Leader Rejects Foreign Criticism |
| 2004-05-01 |
| Thailand's leader shrugged off international criticism of his government's crackdown on suspected Islamic militants, saying in speech to the nation Saturday that he had no choice but to use overwhelming force. More than 100 suspected militants — mostly young men wielding machetes — were killed Wednesday when they attacked police and army posts in pre-dawn raids in three southern provinces. Three police and two soldiers were also killed. On Friday, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights demanded that Thailand investigate the killings, citing treaties that require security forces to refrain from using excessive force. International and local human rights groups have also called for investigations. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra responded with defiance. "Please don't intervene. Please leave us alone," he said in a radio address Saturday. "It is my job and we can cope with this matter. We are trying to explain this to foreigners. But if they do not understand or ignore our explanation, I don't care because we are not begging them for food," Thaksin said. Thaksin initially blamed drug traffickers and organized crime but the government now says it suspects the attacks were the work of Islamic separatists. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 More than 100 youths were killed by security forces, after they carried out a series of raids on police and army posts in three southern provinces. ... The New York-based group Human Rights Watch said on Thursday that Thailand should investigate whether "such a high level of lethal force was necessary", and Muslim leaders have also questioned the severity of the authorities' response. ...On Friday, senior security adviser Gen Kitti Rattanchaya said the attackers had been trained both in Thailand and overseas, and were ready to sacrifice themselves. Tuesday's attacks took place in three separate provinces heavily dominated by Muslims: Yala, Pattani and Songkhla. However, given that the attacks were coordinated makes it highly unlikely that these would simply be the work of errant "youths." Anyone who thinks these well coordinated attacks were not the acts of Islamist terrorist groups is a few tacos short of a fiesta. "Errant youths" do not stage orchestrated attacks upon police stations with pistols and machetes in search of automatic weapons. Shinawatra should be commended for dismissing criticism flung at him by such flaccid members of the world community. Things wouldn't be nearly so bad if these same whiners squawked half as loud about the slaughter of innocent Israelis by the score. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-01 4:40:15 PM |
| #4 Since Bangkok has some very nice hotels, they deserve to be investigated and should submit themselves immediately and be contrite and respectful of their UN betters. Besides, the UNHCR voted last week that they'd like to eat Thai food this week. Mmmmmm, Panaeng Kai! "Chart nah", assholes. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-05-01 3:53:40 PM |
| #3 Nice response Thaksin. Tell this selective Ugly Nations to fly a kite. What is this UN doing about things in Sudan and in the subSahara region? Excessive force? Who attacked who first. Besides what about the 100 odd innocents(including harmless Buddhist monks and teachers)who were already murdered by these killers. It meant perhaps that more soldiers and policemen should be killed in the UN terms? Idiotarian and hypocritical UNHCR! |
| Posted by: wits0 2004-05-01 2:25:46 PM |
| #2 by the way - welcome back Fred! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-01 10:29:11 AM |
| #1 killed attacking militants and the |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-01 10:28:37 AM |