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| Southeast Asia |
| Thai govt: No al-Qaeda or jihadis in the south |
| 2010-07-28 |
| The Thai government and its top military commanders overseeing counterinsurgency operations in its restive southern Muslim provinces have ruled out the presence of al-Qaeda or jihadi tendencies, saying the rebellion is essentially local and has no affiliations with global terrorism. "For a terrorist group like al-Qaeda Thailand is a very small target. The rebellion in three southern Muslim provinces (Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat) is a domestic issue. Some factions outside the country tried to make it an international issue," Ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Isorn Pocmontri said. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said that his government is determined to resolve the conflict in the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat through reconciliation and development. "My government is determined for establishing peace and stability in the south through justice and development," Vejjajiva said. The Prime Minister also said the security forces involved in operations in the restive regions will be made accountable for their actions amid complaints of military high-handedness in the areas. Thailand has managed to convince the Organisation of Islamic Conference that the southern insurgency is a domestic issue and has nothing to do with international terrorism, Pocmontri said. "No jihadi groups, no al-Qaeda are present here. They are only perpetrators of violence," Major General Udomchai Thamsarorat, Deputy Director, Internal Security operations, 4th regional forward post, Srindhoran Camp in Yarang district of the restive Pattani province told journalists. The army officer said there was no question of 'de-radicalising' people in the region as they are not radicalised. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 I think you nailed it, JosephM. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-07-28 22:42 |
| #1 Is the Thai Govt. certain about that, as it is broadly dealing wid covert, politically-saavy Personages + Groups, etc. whom aren't going to admit the fact of their Presence, Loyalties, Activities, Capabilities + Agendum iff they can help it??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-07-28 19:37 |