June 29, 2007:
The war against Islamic terrorism in the south is heating up. Rebels are
killing 20-30 people a week, but the police are now getting sufficient
information to make many more arrests.
Over 200 arrests have been made in the last ten days. The terrorists
have responded with several bomb attacks a week, and growing use of roadside
bombs against police patrols. The government has been pressing traditional
leaders for information on terrorists, and that appears to have had some
success. But the terrorists have increased their pressure on Moslems who they
suspect of cooperating with the government.
Long term, the Moslem population (two million) is too small, in relation
to the national population (65 million) to support a successful separatist
movement. Most Thai Moslems understand this, and live in fear of a violent
backlash from the government. A violent government crackdown is more in line
with Thai tradition.