Is it about time to admit the truth in the restive deep South?

Three powerful bomb explosions within a duration of eight days right in the middle of Yala and Narathiwat provincial seats are one too many to tolerate for the seven years of insurgency war in which the present and past governments as well as security authorities concerned have maintained all along that they have been on the right direction in tackling the problem and that the situation is improving.

We strongly condemn all the perpetrators responsible for all the violence whether they are separatists, influential figures, drug gangs, contraband smugglers or politicians.  Because what you have done is already too much to bear.  Many innocent people have died or maimed almost on daily basis.  There are no reasons whatsoever to justify the indiscriminate attacks.

Every victim has a home and a family like the perpetrators.  Hence, their deaths or injuries will only deepen the wounds and cause more pains.  If all the violence perpetrated were for the sake of separatism, then the separatists themselves will never enjoy peace because the day when you are in the open after your success in the separation effort, those who were victimized will come back to take the revenge.

If all the violence were committed by drug gangs, opportunistic influential figures or other outlaws, again, you will never find happiness.  If some politicians were responsible, they will never succeed in the ballot boxes because the truth will one day be exposed.

But as far as the government and security authorities are concerned, what the people in the restive deep South want to know is that – what is the real threat they are facing and whether the authorities concerned are in control of the situation?

If it was the influential figures and unscrupulous politicians who were responsible for the violence for whatever the reasons, then the authorities concerned must tell the people so that all stakeholders can join hands to address the problem.

Or if there are any officials involved in it, they must be removed without hesitation, investigated and then prosecuted if there are sufficient incriminating evidences against them.  The public, too, must be informed about the findings.

Just stop the sugar-coated words like those from Lt-Gen Udomchai  Thamsarojrach, the fourth army region commander such as:  “The perpetrators have been weakened and that the violenct incidents were perpetrated in order to maintain their status quo” or “the perpetrators are losing out and staged attacks in retaliation against the government’s success in soliciting support or cooperation among the local Muslims”.

Or the statement from Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, the deputy national police chief that recent major attacks by the insurgents were special missions carried out by groups of insurgents mobilized from different places.

But three bombs in eight days – two in Yala and one in Narathiwat – were definitely not the work of insurgents mobilized from different places to carry out special missions.  Security in the two townships has always been tight.

Also, Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senniam should stop claiming that the government has been on the right direction in tackling the insurgency problem and that the situation has improved to the point that it has decided to lift emergency rule in Mae Larn district.  In fact, it was just one of the 33 districts in the deep South that the emergency decree was lifted.  Please do not make claim of success because the people know that this was just meant for the forthcoming election.

Is it about time for the government and the security authorities concerned, the army in particular, to tell the truth, to accept their mistakes and to overhaul their strategies and tactics.

The people who like to see all the top-notch military strategists to come together for a brain-storming to work out new strategies and tactics to deal more effectively with the insurgents.  Also, the perpetrators should now be branded terrorists.

At this moment, we must admit the fact that the use of a huge army to carry out routine patrols and road checks, to man outposts and to provide escort has failed to deter the insurgents or failed to protect those supposed to be safeguarded.

I used to have a discussion with Lt-Gen Phirapong Manikit, former spokesman of the Defence Ministry.  He said that if he were a leader of the insurgents he would be able to operate at will – one day bombing a power pole and bombing a train the next day because the large number of troops being deployed will be split into smaller groups and sent to various places to provide protection.

A series of articles written by General Harn Leenanond, former commander of the fourth army under the title “Lessons from the War” which discuss about the formation lof troops and patrol units are worthy of consideration and put to tests.

It is about time to completely overhaul the military strategies.  Because if the violence on the streets cannot be stopped, development cannot proceed, tourism business and investment will be affected.  People will start moving out and the region will be a haven for the insurgents and the outlaws.

Last but not least, the daily shootings which took place in the restive region.  Although these violent incidents are no longer news in national media, the local people are fully aware of it.  For instances, the klllings of 23 Buddhists in 16 days; the killings of 10 couples in four months.  Or the killing of 13 Muslims and Buddhists in Panareh district of Pattani in one month this year.  All these violent incidents appear to be premeditated and meant to convey a sinister message.  And these did not include 50 other bombing incidents which took place in para rubber and oil palm plantations.

The situation is terrifying and mistrust between the Buddhists and the Muslims who used to co-exist peacefully is increasing.  Unless the violence is contained, the three southern provinces may, one day, be carved out of mainland Thailand because no outsiders will visit the region and those in there will try to move out for their safety.

That day will come sooner rather than later!