| Mar 1990 |
Thai police arrested a Muslim suspected of involvement in the murder of three Saudi diplomats in Bangkok in early February. The event is likely to affect Saudi-Thai relations about 140,000 Thais who work in Saudi Arabia remit about $500 million annually. Also, about 120 Thai Muslim students study at Saudi Universities. |
| Jun 1990 |
Libya has denied backing Muslims in southern Thailand. The denial was conveyed to a Thai Ambassador attached to the Foreign Ministry by a Libyan envoy based in Manila. Although Thailand and Libya established diplomatic relations back in 1977, they have not yet set up permanent embassies in their respective capitals. Libya categorically denied reports of training Thai Muslims in sabotage tactics. Libya stated that it granted scholarships and job training to a large number of Thai Muslims, but it was not aware if some of them were bad elements. |
| Feb 1991 |
In predominantly Buddhist Thailand, some leaders of the minority Muslims who mainly live near the southern border with Malaysia, have denounced Saddam Hussein's action in Kuwait. However, in a split among the ranks, some Muslims endorsed Iraq's `holy war', defying the leaders. Gradually a Muslim backlash has developed against the Gulf war. On February 3, the Bangkok Post wrote the following editorial "Much against Thais' wishes, it now looks like this country has become embroiled in the Gulf war -albeit in an indirect manner....To avoid complication, the central government in Bangkok should open a serious dialogue with the Thai Muslim population in the South to assure them that Thailand is not - and does not want to be - a direct party to the Gulf conflict" (02/03/91). |
| Jul 1991 |
A Malaysian plan to erect a wall along its border with Thailand has strained relations between the two states. Of the four Malaysian states along the 515-km border with Thailand, only the northern Malaysian state of Kelantan does not have border fencing. The proposed wall would cover about 100km of frontier between Thailand and Kelantan. Kelantan's Parti Islam state has reportedly been giving shelter to rebel Thai Muslims. |
| Sep 1991 |
For the first time in Thai politics, four Muslims were elected to the national Parliament under the general elections that resulted in the formation of a coalition government. In the Democratic Party-led new government, headed by Chuan Leekpai, an ethnic Chinese, the Deputy Foreign Minister and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament were chosen from the Muslim community. |
| Dec 1991 |
For the first time, the new Thai Constitution recognizes the right of minorities to practice and propagate their languages. It also provides support for the administration of Islamic affairs and the teaching of minority languages. In the past, Thai Muslims had to contend with the rigidly assimilationist policies of successive Thai governments. Muslim minorities form a large majority in the four southern provinces Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Satun. |
| Dec 1991 |
The police suspect that Thai Muslims were behind a bomb blast in a Bangkok bus terminal. Investigators found a piece of paper with a message in Jawi, a script used by Thai Muslims in the south. |
| Apr 1993 |
A bomb blast at a railway station in southern Thailand killed three people and seriously injured more than a dozen. Most of the victims were women and girls standing near a noodle stall. |
| Jul 1993 |
Malaysia's Prime Minister paid an official visit to Thailand. Mahathir Mohamad assured his Thai hosts that the "Malaysian government never supported the gangs of bandits or terrorist movements operating inside Thailand". |
| Sep 1993 |
The Thai military has blamed rebel Muslims for three attacks involving arson at schools, the ambushing of trains and buses and the fire-bombing of a Buddhist temple in provinces bordering Muslim-dominated Malaysia. The regional commander of the Fourth Army based in southern Thailand says "We are fairly certain the PULO (Pattani United Liberation Organization) and the BRN (National Revolutionary Force) were responsible for the violence"(IPS, 09/03/93). However, Thai political analysts and observers reject such claims. Their rejection is reinforced by a muted and unusually restrained response to the crisis on the part of the military. |
| Sep 1993 |
A senior member of the PULO has been arrested by police forces. Da-o Krongpinang is reported to be behind most of the major sabotage incidents in the south (BBC, 09/21/94). |
| Sep 29, 1993 |
A brief gunbattle with Thai soldiers has resulted in the deaths of at least three members of the Barison Revolution National movement. The BRN is a faction of the umbrella Pattani United Liberation Organization (Reuters, 09/29/94). |
| Oct 1993 |
A construction company was damaged by rapid gunfire by a group of men claiming to be members of the Pattani United Liberation Organization. A letter was left at the scene demanding a two million baht protection fee (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 10/04/94). |
| Oct 14, 1993 |
Officials in Thailand's southern border areas will set up a special task force to suppress bandit groups that are demanding protection money from business firms. The officials believe that influential groups (who were not named) are colluding with local officials in making these threats while using the name of the PULO (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 10/14/94). Meanwhile, provincial officials are restructuring a program intended to help former members of the Muslim separatist movement. The focus of the project was on allotting land to the rebels. However, now, legal assistance, welfare services, and special skills training will be emphasized. It is estimated that about 300 rebels have taken advantage of the government project (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 10/14/94). |
| Oct 21, 1993 |
A former leader of Thailand's small Shi'ite community has been jailed for 31 years on charges of sedition and insulting the Thai monarch. The charges against Sorayuth Sakunasantisart stem from disturbances in southern Thailand in 1990. Sorayuth is alleged to have led a campaign in the province of Pattani to protest government plans to designate a local mosque as a historical site and tourist attraction (Reuters, 10/21/94). |
| Jan 1994 |
Security for Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and other national VIPS has been increased following an apparent sabotage attempt in Hat Yai. Two suspected saboteurs died when a home-made bomb they were carrying accidently went off. Police have discovered further explosives at the house of one of the victims (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 01/05/95). |
| Jan 9, 1994 |
There is still much confusion over which organization was responsible for the bomb blast at Hat Yai on January 5. The Special Branch claims that the PULO was responsible for the blast while other officials believe it was the work of Shi'ite Muslims who were seeking revenge for the imprisonment of their leader, Sorayuth Sakunasantisart (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 01/09/95). |
| Jan 11, 1994 |
Thai army intelligence reports claim that a new dissident group known as the New PULO was formed in 1993. The leader of this new organization is reported to be Ar-rong Moo-reng. The government blames the New PULO for the torching of more than thirty schools in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat in August, 1993 (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 01/11/95). |
| Jan 16, 1994 |
The Malaysian government has warned Thai Muslim separatists living in Malaysia to halt terrorist activities against Thailand or face expulsion. Malaysia has been known as the safe haven for groups such as the PULO and the BRN (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 01/16/95). |
| Jan 22, 1994 |
The Consul-General of Kota Baru, Malaysia indicates that increasing numbers of southern Muslims are joining the PULO in order to obtain privileges in Malaysia. PULO membership cards reportedly enable Thai Muslims to work in Malaysia without fear of arrest by Malaysian authorities (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 01/22/95). |
| Feb 1994 |
A bomb planted near the provincial governor's residence in Yala was defused yesterday. A letter left at the scene stated that the PULO was concerned over the government's response to an incident at Yala Teacher College last year when female Muslim students wearing the hijab (traditional Muslim dress) were barred from attending classes. The government conducted an investigation but did not remove the teacher involved despite the recommendations of local officials. Yala religious leaders do not believe that the PULO was behind the bombing attempt and instead attribute it to other forces who are seeking to create tension in the area (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 02/01/95). |
| Feb 19, 1994 |
A government soldier was injured during a clash between a government patrol and members of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional in Yala (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 02/19/95). |
| Mar 1994 |
Reports indicate that the Thai military will be providing anti-insurgency advice to the Burmese junta. Relations between the two countries have been improving despite frictions over cross-border incursions by the Burmese army fighting the Karen rebels (UPI, 03/03/95). |
| Mar 26, 1994 |
Security measures have been increased in Thailand's five southern provinces in order to counter possible subversive activities by Muslim separatists. A highly-placed source (who was not named) states that the BRN has declared its intention to form independent Islamic states in the areas of Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Satun. The BRN is also alleged to have set up a Muslim Commando Unit to conduct non-violent separatism in both rural and urban areas (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 03/26/95). |
| Apr 1994 |
A high-level Border Patrol Police source alleges that the PULO is planning to sabotage religious and other important places in Bangkok. Security measures have been increased in preparation for any possible attacks (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 04/05/95). |
| Apr 14, 1994 |
Old tires were burned on fourteen bridges and roads in Thailand's southern provinces and officials believe that a new Muslim separatist organization is responsible. The organization, the Tantra Jihad Islam (TJI) claimed responsibility for the attack. The TJI is reported to have begun its campaign in January when its men attacked a police station. Officials state that the TJI is a loose organization comprised of disgruntled members of the PULO and the BRN. The PULO and the BRN are reported to be less active due to defections and government suppression (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 04/14/95). |
| May 1994 |
Three members of the Border Patrol Police in Yala province were seriously injured when they stepped on a landmine. Police believe that the mine was planted by the BRN (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 05/20/95). |
| Jun 1994 |
A clash between government forces and Muslim separatists in Yala resulted in the death of one soldier. It is not known if the rebels were members of the PULO or the BRN, both of which are known to be active in the area (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 06/28/95). |
| Jul 1994 |
Snap elections were held on July 2 following splits within Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai's five-party coalition government. The Chart Thai emerged as the single largest party, winning 92/391 seats. Banharn Silparcha was appointed Prime Minister; he heads a seven-member coalition called the Thai Development Front (Reuter Textline Business Monitor, 12/22/95). |
| Aug 1994 |
A military unit was reportedly attacked by members of the BRN in Yala. One soldier was wounded (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 08/02/95). |
| Aug 8, 1994 |
The PULO has reportedly asked Thai Prime Minister Banharm Silpaarcha to resume talks to settle the separatist issue in the southern provinces. Talks between the two sides were suspended in late 1992. Some government officials question whether the request, in the form of a letter, is really from the PULO (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 08/08/95). |
| Oct 1994 |
During the past month, several Muslim separatist groups are reported to have demanded protection fees from local businesses in the southern provinces (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 10/31/95). |
| Dec 1994 |
Members of the PULO are alleged to have attacked an army outpost in Pattani province. There were no casualties (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 12/20/95). |
| Dec 23, 1994 |
An arson attack at a school in Yala has been blamed on the PULO; however, a top army officer says that such a claim is premature. In August of 1993, 30 southern schools were simultaneously torched. It is still not clear who was responsible for that incident. The New PULO, the TJI, and other elements that are seeking to destabilize the southern areas are the prime suspects (Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 12/23/95; Reuter Textline Bangkok Post, 01/07/96). |
| Jun 9, 1996 |
Thailand began a national celebration of the 50th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s reign. The king is considered by many to be a unifying force in the country and essential to keeping the peace in the country and facilitating Thailand’s process of democratization. (AFP) |
| Aug 1996 |
Days after police defused a 15-kilogram bomb in Yala, another bomb exploded at a school in Narthiwat. Those who claimed responsibility for the bombs pledged allegiance to the Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO). Despite pledges from the Thai army that security would be heightened in the southern provinces, the Muslim residents of this region expressed great concern over the events. (South China Morning Post, August 14) |
| Apr 3, 1997 |
Thai paramilitary forces killed four members of the separatist National Revolutionary Front (BRN) in Narathiwat. Officials and members of the press in Thailand referred to the rebels as communists rather separatists. (AFP, April 24) |
| Apr 24, 1997 |
Approximately 10 rebels claiming to represent a new Muslim separatist faction in southern Thailand executed 4 workers at a rubber planatation in Yala and took a fifth female worker hostage. Later reports indicated that the rebels were members of the PULO. (AFP, April 24, May 4) |
| May 4, 1997 |
Border patrol police in Yala killed two PULO members during a clash with a group a rebels. About 15 guerillas had seized food and supplies from local villages prior to the deadly clash. (AFP) |
| Oct 1997 |
The King signed into law a new constitution which guaranteed "the most sweeping free press laws in Asia," according to an organization for journalists' rights and protection. (AFP, March 26, 1998) |
| Oct 16, 1997 |
Leading Thai Moslems elected former Bangkok parliamentarian Sawasdi Sumalayasak to be the Advisor to the Thai King on Islamic Religious Affairs. (AFP) |
| Nov 12, 1997 |
Officials for the country's Interior Department announced that security had been enhanced in southern Thailand following the resumption of local bombings by Muslim separatist groups. (AFP) |
| Dec 1997 |
A series of small bombs exploded throughout southern Thailand, including one bomb on a major bridge and one near a police station. No person or group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, and officials blamed "miscreant teenagers" and "drug traffickers" for the bombings. Local residents, however, suspected that bands of Muslim separatists were responsible for the incidents. The Prime Minister called for heightened security in the area and increased intelligence gathering. (AFP, December 15) |
| Dec 30, 1997 |
A bomb exploded at a school fair being held in the province of Yala and left 3 teenagers dead and another 12 people injured. Police suspect that the blast was retaliation for the arrest earlier in the week of four men associated with the PULO. The Minister of the Interior called for security in the region to be taken over by the military rather than local forces. (AFP) |
| Jan 1, 1998 |
Police killed one terrorist after he and a colleague had thrown a hand grenade at a police post in Narithwat. (AFP) |
| Jan 4, 1998 |
During a meeting in Malaysia, the Thai foreign minister warned that the international economic development zone in southern Thailand could be jeoparized by suspected Muslim separatist violence. (AFP) |
| Jan 16, 1998 |
The Thai army launched a large-scale security operation in the Muslim-dominated provinces of the country, incorporating both military and police officials. (AFP) |
| Jan 18, 1998 |
Thai Muslim leader Sawasdi Sumalayasak visited with local Muslim chiefs in the country's southern provinces in an effort to ease simmering ethnic tensions ignited by recent bombings. Sawasdi Sumalayasak called on Muslims to work together and with Thai officials to insure security in the region. (AFP) |
| Jan 22, 1998 |
Officials arrested three men, allegedly connected to the PULO, as suspects in the recent terrorist attacks in southern Thailand. The three men confessed to a series of attacks and encouraged PULO members to end the campaign of violence. A fourth suspected leader was arrested three days later. (AFP, January 22, January 23, January 25) |
| Jan 24, 1998 |
A village leader in Narthiwat was shot six times as he approached a mosque. Authorities believe that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the apprehension of separatist terrorists earlier in the week, as the victim was an alleged PULO informant. (AFP) |
| Feb 8, 1998 |
In an effort to ease ethnic tensions in southern Thailand, the country's police chief met with Muslim leaders and assured them that corrupt officers in the southern provinces would be removed from duty. Some Muslim leaders allege that recent terrorist attacks in the region were in retaliation for corrupt and discriminatory police behavior and were not part of a Muslim separatist movement. (AFP) |
| Feb 14, 1998 |
Two police officers in Yala suffered injuries during a grenade attack on their car. The assailants escaped, nobody claimed immediately responsibility for the attack. (AFP) |
| Feb 16, 1998 |
A gang of men armed with AK47s attacked seven Thai police officers in Yala. Authorities arrested three Muslims suspected to be involved in the attack the following day. (AFP) |
| Feb 22, 1998 |
Suspected leaders of the Muslim separatist group PULO in southern Thailand are believed to have escaped to Malaysia, en route to European and Middle East destinations. (AFP) |
| Mar 9, 1998 |
Reports indicate that separatist terrorists in hiding in Malaysia told Thai Muslims in Malaysia that they would be subject to arrest if they returned to Thailand, spreading concern and confusion among the Thai communities. (Bangkok Post) |
| Mar 10, 1998 |
In anticipation of the expiration of an offered amnesty offer, fifty Moslem separatists--not suspected of specific terrorist acts--from PULO and BRN surrendered to Thai authorities, but the Thai interior minister noted that over 100 rebels remained at large. (AFP, March 12) |
| Mar 15, 1998 |
A bomb exploded near a busy market in the province of Pattani, leaving 5 women and a 2 year-old girl wounded. No one claimed responsibility for the explosion at the time of its detonation. (AFP) |
| Mar 23, 1998 |
A delegation of Islamic diplomats expressed optimism that a peaceful resolution would be reached in southern Thailand after the officials toured the provinces. Leaders from the region offered their support for a peace plan between the Muslim separatists and officials in Bangkok. (AFP) |
| Apr 4, 1998 |
Reports indicate that Thai Rangers shot and killed a separatist guerilla in the mountainous region of Narathiwat during a firefight. (AFP) |
| Jun 13, 1998 |
Three BRN gunmen executed a 24 year-old they suspected to be a government informant in southern Narathiwat. (AFP) |
| Jun 15, 1998 |
A gunfight broke out between police in Narathiwat and suspected Moslem separatist rebels. It was unclear whether the rebels were members of BRN or of PULO. (AFP) |
| Dec 8, 1998 |
On approaching the fiftieth anniversary of the UN's Declaration on Human Rights, analysts praised Thailand, relative to its regional neighbors, for its progress on ensuring and respecting the rights of all people. (AFP) |
| Jan 28, 1999 |
The state-run Thai Government Savings Bank announced plans to open additional Muslim bank counters in the south of the country after pilot projects proved to be a success. The policies of the Islamic counters reflect Muslim principles; for instance, the bank is "interest free," providing customers instead with periodic dividends. (AFP) |
| Jul 1999 |
After months of troubles, a European ratings agency announced that all six of Thailand's major banks were "on the road to full rehabilitation." (AFP, July 1) |
| Jan 2004 |
Following an attack on the Royal Thai Army in January 2004, the Prime Minister instituted Martial Law in three southern provinces. The Thai military, under the discretion of the government, authorized the search of premises and the detention of suspects, and the construction of military checkpoints throughout the area. The authorities arrested an unknown number of people under its provisions and increased the numbers of security forces in the area (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. accessed 06/06/07). |
| Jan 1, 2004 - Sep 30, 2006 |
Nearly 1,500 people have been killed in Southern Thailand since the unrest erupted in January 2004 (Philippine Star, 09/29/06, "Two killed, seven hurt in fresh attacks in Thai South"). |
| Jan 4, 2004 |
An unidentified armed group attacked a Royal Thai Army base in Cho Airong District, Narathiwat Province. Four soldiers were killed and some 400 weapons were stolen; at the same time 20 schools were set on fire, police posts were torched, and the following day, several bombs were set off in what appeared to be a coordinated operation (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. accessed 06/06/07). |
| Apr 2004 |
As many as 112 people were killed in clashes between security forces and militants who attacked more than a dozen security posts in three southern provinces. (GlobalSecurity.org. 2005. "Thailand Islamic Insurgency." http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/thailand2.htm. 06/13/2007.) |
| Apr 1, 2004 - Apr 30, 2006 |
Following an attack by an armed political group on government facilities on April 28, 2004, more than 100 Muslims were killed by security forces. In one incident 19 young men were shot dead by the security forces in Susoh village, Sa Ba Yoi district, Songkla Province. Fifteen of them were reported to have had gunshot wounds in the back of the head. A later source indicated that by the end of the day, 105 militants, one civilian and five members of the security forces were dead (Amnesty International, 2006. "Thailand." and International Crisis Group, 2005. “Thailand: Insurgency, Not Jihad."). |
| Apr 28, 2004 |
An armed political group launched coordinated attacks on government facilities in Yala, Pattani, and Songkla provinces. Groups of men armed with knives, machetes and guns attacked 11 bases and checkpoints in these provinces, resulting in the deaths of five members of the Thai security forces (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07.). |
| May 12, 2004 - Oct 1, 2006 |
A group of policeman forced a prominent Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit into a car. Somchai was chairman of the Muslim Lawyers Group and vice chairman of the Lawyers Council of Thailand's Human Rights Committee. A later source admitted to the death of Somchai, in which former PM of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, publicly stated that ”I know Somchai is dead, circumstantial evidence indicated that..and there were more than four government officials implicated by the investigation” (Patani Malay Human Rights Organization. 12/05/2006. "Thai Government Responsible for the Killing Somchai Neelapaichit." http://www.pmhro.net/S=ReadArticles&ID=12. 06/11/07.). |
| Aug 6, 2004 |
Suspected Islamic militants in southern Thailand fatally shot a retired Muslim police sergeant (Financial Times, 08/06/2004, "Thai-Malay deal to quell radicals"). |
| Oct 25, 2004 |
Some 1,500 people gathered in front of Tak Bai police station, Narathiwat Province, protesting the continuing detention of six "village defence volunteers" (Amnesty International. 01/04/2006. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07.). |
| Dec 24, 2004 |
Two people were killed and at least six others were injured when a bomb hidden in a motorcycle exploded next to a bank. That attack was believed to be carried out by Muslim separatists in the insurgency-hit Southern Thailand (Agence France Presse, 12/24/2004, "Two dead, six wounded in bomb blast in restive Thai south"). |
| 2005 |
Muslim separatists launched raids in 63 locations and stole at least 92 government-issued weapons (IPS-Inter Press Service, 10/31/2005, "Southeast Asia: Insurgents Raise the Stakes in Southern Thailand"). |
| Feb 1, 2005 |
In general elections Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai Party won a majority of parliamentary seats and formed a one-party government. Later that month the Prime Minister established the 50-member National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), chaired by former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, to build "peace and reconciliation" in the Malay-Muslim dominated South (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07.). |
| Feb 1, 2005 |
The Prime Minister of Thailand declared that zones in Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala provinces would be categorized as red, yellow, or green according to the level of insurgent activities (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07). |
| Mar 1 - May 1, 2005 |
Source reports that Azizuddin Ahmad, secretary general of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, has sent charity missions to the south of Thailand in recent months (The International Herald Tribune, 05/06/2005, "Malays reject accusations they aid Thai Separatists"). |
| May 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006 |
Government officials closed one prominent Ponok, a Muslim boarding school, in the Pattani Province (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07). |
| Jul 1, 2005 |
Insurgents staged a raid on Yala, knocking out the town's power supply and throwing petrol bombs and grenades that killed two and injured 22 (Financial Times, 11/12/2005, "Thai and mighty The bloody violence in the south of Thailand has been blamed on bandits, Malaysia, Islamists, drugs - everything except the state itself, which has a sordid history of ethnic discrimination"). |
| Aug 2005 |
Thai authorities established a "blacklist", or "list of suspects" who were thought to be supporters of or sympathetic to the insurgents. Local Muslim men, feeling like they had no other choice, turned themselves in to the authorities. Subsequently, they had DNA taken from them, were fingerprinted, questioned by the media, and had their pictures taken. Most importantly, they were required to work at a military camp, where they were treated fairly and justly (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07). |
| Sep 2005 |
Irate Muslim insurgents took two soldiers hostage and subsequently murdered them (Financial Times, 11/12/2005, "Thai and mighty The bloody violence in the south of Thailand has been blamed on bandits, Malaysia, Islamists, drugs - everything except the state itself, which has a sordid history of ethnic discrimination"). |
| Sep 2005 |
Two marines were beaten and subsequently stabbed to death after being held hosteage in a single-roomed building (IPS-Inter Press Service, 9/27/2005, "Thailand: Marines' Murders Prompt Crackdown in Muslim Town"). |
| Oct 7, 2005 |
Insurgents riding in a pickup attacked six Army rangers with automatic rifles at an isolated roadblock in Narathiwat's Joh I Rong district (
The Nation, 10/7/2005, "Security Forces must reorganize"). |
| Oct 16, 2005 |
Suspected militants cut the throat of a 76 year-old monk and killed two teenage novices before torching a Buddhist temple (The Nation, 11/22/2005, "Southern Unrest: Sectarian violence is 'difficult to stop'"). |
| Oct 19, 2005 |
The Prime Minister of Thailand declared a state of emergency in Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani Provinces. The Emergency Decree’s provisions include inter alia: detention without charge or trial for up to 30 days; administrative detention; the use of unofficial detention centres; press censorship; and legal immunity from prosecution for law enforcement officers. The Emergency Decree was approved by Parliament in August. Under the Decree’s provisions, the government renewed the state of emergency in the three southernmost provinces in October for another three months (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07). |
| Oct 31, 2005 |
Insurgents derailed a northbound passenger train with powerful explosives. Miraculously, the derailing injured only one of the 100-plus passengers (IPS-Inter Press Service, 10/31/2005, "Southeast Asia: Insurgents Raise the Stakes in Southern Thailand”). |
| Nov 14, 2005 |
The Royal Thai Army announced that it would recruit, train, and arm a new group of civilians in the three southern provinces in order to defend their villages against Malay-Muslim violence (AAmnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07). |
| Nov 19, 2005 |
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed establishing a legal aid centre at the Pattani campus of the Prince of Songkla University to be jointly administered by the National Reconciliation Commission, the Lawyers’ Council of Thailand, and the National Human Rights Commission. Under the agreement, legal aid centres will be established in all three provinces in order to provide residents there with "legal protection" and to monitor the government’s implementation of the Emergency Decree (Amnesty International. 01/04/06. "Thailand." http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA390012006. 06/06/07). |
| Jun 1 - Sep 30, 2006 |
More than 50 government offices and 22 banks are hit in simultaneous bomb attacks in two separate incidents (The Nation, 09/19/2006, "Insurgency 'has crossed a new threshold'"). |
| Jun 3, 2006 |
Coordinated bombings of government offices, police stations and Army checkpoints at more than 40 locations in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat by Islamic militants/Malay separatists killed two and injured at least 16 others (The Nation, 06/04/2006, "Militants evolve as military wilts"). |
| Jul 30, 2006 |
A 46-year-old Buddhist teacher, Prasarn Martchu, was shot dead at close range inside a classroom full of children. The killing was believed to have been part of the ongoing spate of violence directed at civil servants - both security and non-security officials - in the three southernmost provinces. Authorities blamed the killing on a new breed of militant bent on driving a wedge between the Buddhist and Muslim communities (The Nation, 07/30/2006, "Edit headline in 2 lines"). |
| Sep 2006 |
Four police officers were wounded by a roadside bomb in the first attack in the troubled South since a military coup ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Also, six bombs exploded within less than an hour 10 days earlier in central Hat Yai, killing four and injuring more than 70 people (The Nation, 09/26/2006, "Bomb blast injures four policemen"). |
| Sep 19 - Oct 1, 2006 |
A bloodless coup, led by Thai General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was subsequently replaced, upon approval from Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, by retired Army Chief Gen. Surayud Chulanot--who now acts as interim Prime Minister of Thailand (Asian Tribune, 10/04/2006, "Thai coup leaders exposed of their political duplicity"). |
| Oct 6, 2006 |
Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad quietly helped arrange at least two meetings between Thai officials, including some generals, and Muslim separatist leaders on Malaysia's island of Langkawi, but the talks produced no major breakthrough, rebel and government sources said (BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific-Political, 10/11/2006, "Thai separatists said ready to drop independence demand - Malaysian agency"). |
| Oct 11, 2006 |
The Putrajaya-based Perdana Global Peace Organization (PGPO), which is headed by former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, brokered talks between the Muslims and Buddhists. Also, PGPO oversaw a draft of the Joint Peace and Development Plan geared towards bringing stability to southern Thailand (BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific-Political, 10/11/2006, "Thai separatists said ready to drop independence demand - Malaysian agency"). |
| Oct 28, 2006 |
The Surayud government and the Council for National Security have agreed to reactivate the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) - a multi-agency body charged with keeping peace and promoting reconciliation in the insurgency ravaged Muslim South. The centre, which has jurisdiction over the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat as well as parts of Songkhla and Satun, will begin its work on Wednesday (The Nation, 10/28/2006, "Old wine in a new bottle?"). |
| Nov 9, 2006 |
300 women and children in Yala's Bannang Sata district staged a noisy protest to force the withdrawal of a border police unit stationed in their village to protect a local school (Thai Press Reports, 11/09/2006, "Thailand Commentary - Southern Violence Entails Many Traps and Pitfalls for the Government"). |
| Dec 10, 2006 |
Muslim rebels shot dead a 34-year-old Muslim man at point blank range at a grocery store in the Narathiwat province (Philippine Star, 12/10/2006, "Two shot dead in Thailand's restive South" http://www.australiandefencereport.com.au/12-06/two_shot_dead_in_thailands_resti.htm). |
| Dec 17, 2006 |
Four Muslims, a 16-year-old boy, a 39-year-old rubber trader, and a young couple, were shot dead by suspected Islamic militants in Thailand's insurgency-torn South (Agence France-Presse, 12/17/2006, "Muslims Shot dead in South Thailand" http://www.australiandefencereport.com.au/12-06/muslims_shots_dead_in_south_thai.htm). |
