Thailand's new headache: the movement of Muslim people from Cambodia is a cause of concern

Thursday May 17, 2007
Top separatist goes unnoticed

Bangkok Post

Keeps low profile, acts like an 'ordinary man'

A high-level separatist leader is in the deep South, but he keeps a low profile and goes unnoticed, army commander Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said yesterday.

According to Gen Sonthi, the person in question, whom he refused to name, wields more power than Sapae-ing Basor, the most-wanted insurgent suspect, but he has no political affiliation.

Mr Sapae-ing, a former headmaster of Thammawittaya school, is believed to be the commander of an insurgent group. He has reportedly fled the country.

Gen Sonthi, also director of the Internal Security Operations Command, said the unnamed man is believed to be the leader of the organisation at the head of the separatist insurgency but he acts as an ''ordinary person''.

The army chief said he received the information from overseas about two weeks ago and he believed it carried weight.

At a meeting with journalists at the Army Auditorium, Gen Sonthi said the southern insurgency had changed and a new approach was called for.

The Pattani United Liberation Organisation, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), Bersatu and Pattani Islamic Mujahideen Movement had weakened and become more symbolic, he said.

The BRN-Coordinate, which deploys terrorist tactics, was an emerging insurgency group to reckon with.

It comprised a leading organisation, an armed section known as RKK, or Rundi Kumpulan Kecil, and sympathisers.

''We have tried but cannot identify this head group. If we cannot talk with its leader, it is impossible to solve the southern problem. Their goal is clear, that they want to establish an autonomous state by means of violence,'' he said.

Gen Sonthi said the army was active in both military and political roles.

On the political front, the army worked through the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, which focuses on the reconciliation approach.

Security authorities need close cooperation from local leaders _ tambon chiefs, village heads, tambon administrative organisations and provincial administrative organisations.

He said it was important to keep the political operation free of violence and avoid international pressure.

''It can be said that our reconciliation approach is successful. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference understands the situation well.

''But I also want the whole country to understand, too, why the violence has yet to stop,'' he said.

The insurgents, despite being few in numbers and poorly funded, had strong determination and competence.

A security source said authorities were keeping a close watch on the influx of Muslim people from Cambodia and Burma, known as Rohingya, going to the deep South.

About 20,000 Muslim Cambodians had entered the country legally and travelled to the southernmost provinces and less than 20% returned home, according to the source. They reportedly brought medical materials and monosodium glutamate from Vietnam, which is said to be effective in stopping bleeding.

About 1,000 Rohingya had entered the country illegally over the past four or five months through coastal provinces of Ranong, Satun and Phuket, the source said.

Their arrival was discussed at a security meeting attended by people from the navy's Third Fleet and other agencies including the Labour Ministry on Tuesday.

Army chief-of-staff Gen Montri Sangkhasap said the matter was also on the agenda for another meeting next week.

''Besides the North Korean people, the movement of Muslim people from Cambodia is a cause of concern,'' he said.