This is in reference to the letter, “Plight of Rohingya refugees,” published in Arab News on Jan. 27.
The enigmatic violence in the deep south Thailand cannot be summed up simply by pointing finger at the Thai government. The troubles lingering on in the three heavily Muslim-populated provinces of Thailand cannot be comprehended without mentioning the perpetrators of violence. It is ironic that mentioning of an act of carnage by the terrorists who relentlessly continue to harm innocent civilians is not to be found in the above said story.
The situation in the deep south Thailand is far from being “the deadliest war zone in East Asia.” Rather, it is a series of one-sided cowardly and merciless ambushes by the presumably organized militants that kill and injure innocent people as well as off-guard officers. The Thai government seems to be swallowing a great deal of pain addressing peaceful approach toward the problem at its root causes and not being able to launch all-out fight against the separatist groups for fear of collateral damages on the citizens. Significantly huge budgets have been injected into the deep south areas to protect the innocent people, to provide the children secured schools to go to and to develop the infrastructures to further the people’s well being, among other things.
Thai Muslims in the deep south do not appeal for help from any international entity. The terrorists do. — Paul Madukon, Riyadh
No war zone in Thailand’s deep south
