]International Crisis Group] Recruiting Militants in Southern Thailand
"The Islamic schools in which pious young Muslims are recruited and radicalised are generally the larger, more modern and better-equipped institutions in a complex educational system that ranges from secular state school to traditional Muslim boarding schools (ponoh). The classroom is the point of first contact. Recruiters invite those who seem promising – devout Muslims of good character who are moved by a history of oppression, mistreatment and the idea of armed jihad – to join extracurricular indoctrination programs in mosques or disguised as football training. As recruits are drawn into the movement, they take an oath of allegiance followed by physical and military training before being assigned to different roles in village-level operations."
Report available from the above link[Al Jazeera English/AP] Temple attacked in south Thailand
"Eight people have been wounded in southern Thailand after suspected Muslim separatist fighters opened fire on a Buddhist temple in the latest violence to hit the troubled region.
Lieutenant Colonel Piyawat Chalermsri said at least four armed men shot into the compound of the temple in Narathiwat province on Monday as about 30 people were taking part in an aerobics class.
"The security forces fired back as soon at the attack began, otherwise there might have been more casualties,'' Piyawat told the Associated Press"
BP: This comes just a week or so after the attack on the mosque.[Bloomberg] Thailand Credit Ratings May Be Cut on Weaker Economy, S&P Says
“Recent events have damaged medium-term economic growth prospects,” S&P said in an emailed statement today. “Heightened political tensions continue to undermine support for the Thai sovereign ratings,” which may be cut if the “economic performance weakens sharply, causing government finance to deteriorate seriously or banks’ asset quality to worsen markedly,” the ratings company said.
[Bloomberg] Thailand May Extend Shariah Law in Violence-Ridden Muslim South
"Thailand may allow more local autonomy and consider extending Shariah law to defuse a separatist insurgency in Muslim provinces that border Malaysia, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said.
“More decentralization and provisions that respond to specific needs are fine,” Abhisit said in an interview in Singapore yesterday. “We can respond to needs on Shariah law, on the education system.”
[BP: Good summary of recent events]
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
