A new show of force by separatists in southern Thailand. More than 50 coordinated attacks targeted infrastructure and public property in three provinces close to Malaysia over the weekend. Buildings and vehicles were notably set on fire and a rail link interrupted. Three people were injured.
This violence takes place in a predominantly Muslim region that has been gripped by an insurgency against Thai central power for several decades. The conflict has its roots in the annexation, in 1909, of the former Malay Muslim sultanate of Patani by Siam, which has since become Thailand. The policy of assimilation carried out by Bangkok has gradually fueled a feeling of marginalization within part of the Malay and Muslim population. Several armed movements thus appeared from the 1960s. The main one, the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), demanded the creation of an independent Islamic state. Since the particularly deadly resumption of the insurgency in 2004, more than 7,000 people have been killed, according to the Deep South Watch observatory.
The scale of the latest wave of attacks does not mean that the violence had disappeared. “These types of attacks have happened every week, if not every day, for over two decades”recalls Matthew Wheeler, Southeast Asia specialist at the International Crisis Group, to AFP. Their coordination would, however, demonstrate the ability of the insurgents to continue their operations despite a significant security presence. In July, five soldiers were already killed during an attack on a checkpoint in Narathiwat province. Six civilians were also injured.
For several specialists, this new offensive could also have political significance. “The recent series of incidents is a signal of frustration on the part of the insurgents. Probably because the Thai government is not sitting at the negotiating table”believes Malaysian counterterrorism expert Munira Mustaffa to our colleagues. “So it’s probably a form of pressure to push the government to come back and negotiate”she continues. Discussions between Bangkok and the BRN, opened in 2013 under Malaysian mediation, have experienced numerous interruptions. The separatists are demanding in particular more autonomy and local power sharing, demands so far rejected by the Thai authorities. New negotiations are now expected at the end of October.
