Sign of improved cooperation between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur?
Was the arrest of 11 Thai nationals in two separate raids in northern Malaysia last December a healthy sign of improved cooperation between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok in dealing with the southern insurgency problem?
This question was quietly raised by certain media and Thai security officials in the three southernmost provinces as the arrests took place after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s visit to the strife-torn region in the company of his Thai counterpart, Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva, on December 9.
The first arrest was made on December 14. Malaysian’s Kelantan state police in collaboration with bomb demolition squad and internal security officials raided a house in Kelantan state, opposite Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district. After a thorough search, the Malaysian authorities found one M16 assault rifle, a AK47 assault rifle, 136 dynamite sticks, hundres of ammunition, five kilogrammes of ammonium nitrate, six automotive remote control devices, torch batteries and one Potron saloon. Three Thai nationals in the house were arrested. They were identified as Muhamad Faro bin Yakariya, 27; Mayunai bin Jehdorlor, 32; and Saree Muhamad bin Abdulhasi, 37. All are natives of Narathiwat.
One week afterward on December 21, Malaysian security officials arrested eight more Thai nationals, also in Kelantan state. The arrested suspects were identified as Zahudin Jehdee,23; Muhamad Arsaree Jehdee; Ni-arlawee Abdulbut,23; Suhaimee bin Yuleeya, 24; Abdulbashi Yunu,25; Alhata bin Dolor, 20; Nipa Nareh, 29; and Muhamad Yuneeson,20. All are natives of Narathiwat.
One Malaysian was also arrested in the raid and ten mobile phones were seized at the scene, according to Colonel Banpot Poonpien, spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command based in the deep South.
Out of the eight Thais arrested, three were later released with the rest held on illegal immigration charges. Of these five men, three of them were identified by Thai intelligence as southern militants.
As for the three Thais arrested on December 14, it was reported that they were charged with illegal possession of firearms, an offence liable to death, and illegal immigration.
Colonel Banpot said that the three had been tried for illegal immigration in the Kotabaru court and were each sentenced to ten months imprisonment plus three lashings. Trial for the illegal firearms possession charges is due to start on February 25.
Lt-Gen Kasikorn Khirisri, commander of the Civilian-Police-Military Task Force in the deep South, said he had instructed authorities concerned to closely follow up the case and to coordinate with their Malaysian counterpart to facilitate the possible visit of the detaines by their Thai relatives. He added that Thai authorities were unable to interfere with the judicial proceedings in Malaysia.
A senior Thai military officer recently told Isra news agency that no Thai officials were allowed to question all the arrested suspects. Neither were officials of the Thai consulate in Kotabaru allowed to see the detainees, he said, adding that the arrest of Thais by Malaysian officials was not surprising.
However, the officer noted that what he had wanted most is for Thai officials to be involved in the interrogation of the suspects “so we can get to the bottom of the insurgency network”.
The officer went on to say that he didn’t the arrests of the eight Thais had nothing to do with Mr Najib’s recent visit to Thailand. It might just be a coincidence but, nevertheless, it was a healthy sign, he said.
However, Lt-Gen Kasikorn said that the Thai military wanted the Malaysian authorities to have a free hand in handling the case in accordance with the Malaysian law. “We just want the militants to be reminded that they can longer seek safe haven in Malaysia and, at the same time, commit offences in Malaysia with impunity,” he added.