Share your thoughts

Discussion 1 : 06/10/2012 at 04:44 PM

I think this article says it all. 70% of the locals do not trust or believe the national security forces or the central government. The key word here is "adapt", sort of like compromise. The rich and the powerful are very stubborn people and do not bend (face).

Discussion 2 : 06/10/2012 at 03:53 PM

D4: better still, let's do away with Buddhism altogether, start practicing Shariah law, stop girls going to school, women from driving or being seen in public without a male family member, all women and girls over 10 years of age covered from head to foot. Let's have women only shops, banks and restaurants. Let's all go to the Mosque on Friday, after prayer, and watch men have their heads or hands cut off and women get stoned to death! No? Thought not! from iPhone application.

Discussion 3 : 06/10/2012 at 02:01 PM

While it normally is never good to give in to terrorists one can understand the people living in the south not trusting some General safe in Bangkok. The army cannot even protect their own soldiers so why should the people listen until the authorities can show some progress in protection. This current government does not really care what happens in the south. They perceive this are to be an opposition stronghold so they won’t spend the least amount of effort. I suggest there are no high ranking government officially or their families living in the south.

Discussion 4 : 06/10/2012 at 01:59 PM

@pjt In Lebanon there was a popular, well loved Muslim cleric who preached tolerance for other religions and non-violence. Radical Muslims killed him.

Discussion 5 : 06/10/2012 at 01:34 PM

What will they demand next? Burkas for all women, muslim and non muslim,in Thailand?

Discussion 6 : 06/10/2012 at 11:40 AM

Your are these people cowering to terrorists in their own country ? Why isnt Yingluck doing something ? This isnt Afghanistan.

Discussion 7 : 06/10/2012 at 10:54 AM

and meanwhile , in other breaking news , Sukumpol was seen in the defense ministry file room rummaging through dusty old filing cabinets. He was heard muttering that he had better things to do than chase ghosts for the desert dweller just so he can nail a certain toffee nosed hi-so dem. When asked about Southern problems, he said what problems-nobody told me about any problem.

Discussion 8 : 06/10/2012 at 10:41 AM

Khun Eric #4, it is either islamic Sharia Law or the Thai Constitution, but not both. My question to you is why can't the Muslims in the Deep South practice their Islam peacefully, without killing anybody or blowing anything up? Beat me!

Discussion 9 : 06/10/2012 at 10:30 AM

This is what the muslims want...total control of the people in the south and threat them with violence and death. What a shame for Mohammed´s prophecies. The Islam is heading for world domination! Sound quite overreacting, but its fact.

Discussion 10 : 06/10/2012 at 09:57 AM

How sad when their own security forces can't be bothere to protect them. If they want peace a mass exodus is the only solution.

Discussion 11 : 06/10/2012 at 09:47 AM

D4@eric I see no problem if Muslims wish to observe Friday as their day off and leave everyone else to rest on Sunday (or whatever day they choose). What is completely unacceptable is for Muslims extremists to intimidate other religions (and indeed other Muslims) into not working on a Friday - which is what seems to be the case here. It is high time the moderate Muslims and Muslim clergy stood up and pushed back with a message of tolerance that everyone should be free to choose what day they rest

Discussion 12 : 06/10/2012 at 09:15 AM

Due to the incapability of the Thai government, Thailand has now become a muslim state.

Discussion 13 : 06/10/2012 at 08:55 AM

Eric. Most Muslim countries do not close their business on Fridays. Some do as a choice. The Thai Muslim extremists are not offering a choice, they threaten with violence and death. That is terrorism. And that's what they are Muslim extremist terrorists. No one should appease terrorists. It's all about messed up religion. Christian's day of rest is Sunday but most keep their business's open if they want, they don't have to close through fear of being killed.

Discussion 14 : 06/10/2012 at 07:43 AM

The people in the South have over the years and successive governments lost faith with the military and civilian control of the region. Unlike all of the pontificating civilians and military nominally running the area THEY KNOW that control of the area IS in the hands of the militants or call them what you will. To keep the area under control would need 1 soldier (or 3 on a 24/7 basis plus a reserve) to be with each man woman and child assuming that the people would allow it. As the IRA said years ago we only have to be lucky once, the military has to be lucky ALL the time. So it is in this case.

Discussion 15 : 06/10/2012 at 06:34 AM

Government worth considering allowing the 3 southern provinces to have Friday as rest day replacing Sunday. It show religious understanding and acceptance by the government and on the Muslim side, acknowledgement that they religious practice is acknowledge. It's a win win situation. Not unique in any circumstances as Malaysia has duo rest day where Kelantan and Trengannu have Friday as rest day and rest of country, Sunday. Also synchronize the border trading between both countries. Non Muslim can still do their businesses just like any Sunday.

Discussion 16 : 06/10/2012 at 05:26 AM

When you look at the success rate of the security forces to effectively halt the now daily violence compared to the success rate of the instigators to bomb, shoot and kill at will, then it makes total sense to shut the shops for a few days. Sadly, the intimidation worked because the people have zero trust in the government and its new command center based in Bangkok hundreds of kilometers away. Plus the government has other things on its mind like the pesky and persistent cabinet re-shuffle to gain absolute total party control over the government. Oh and we must not forget the mysterious flooding that magically appears every year about this time.

Discussion 17 : 06/10/2012 at 04:27 AM

.....Soorry for those thai people but you will need to wait til the goverment euuhhh....decide to have a look at the situation in south....be very patient. Thai goverment is very busy now with ...?? ohh yes busy with reconciliation and bring back the Dubai man .....then they will manage the problem with the next flood after it will be your turn ...around 2015-17.... Be patient your turn is coming ...sarcasm but probably true...

Discussion 18 : 06/10/2012 at 04:23 AM

It is clearly visible what value the people in the deep south give to anything the government in Bangkok say.