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| Monday, 08 November 2004 |
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Buddhists live in fear as reprisal attacks mount in Thailand's south BANGKOK, Sunday (AFP, REUTERS) Buddhists in southern Thailand say they are living in fear of attack by militants out of revenge for the violent deaths of 87 Muslims at the hands of Thai security forces. At least 25 people have been killed, mainly Buddhists, since dozens of Muslims died after being piled in trucks by troops and police following the break up of a riot 13 days ago. Many were crushed or suffocated. Meanwhile Two more Thai Buddhists have been killed in gun attacks in Thailand's troubled, police said on Sunday. Paosan Tayamanon, 42, was shot dead in his grocery shop around midday Saturday in the southern province of Narathiwat by two men posing as customers, police said. Another man, Chan Monopak, 40, was shot by two gunmen on a motorcycle late Saturday, also in Narathiwat, while travelling home from work and he died later in hospital. The deaths sparked fury in the Muslim-majority south and have been followed by a spate of shootings and the beheading of a Buddhist official. Some of the attackers have left notes blaming the killings on the October 25 deaths. Monks, Buddhist scholars and Thai temples have all been targeted -- a Muslim guard at one was killed in a gun attack -- as fears grow of a wider sectarian battle in the insurgency-hit region. Militants behind almost daily killings since January, that have left at least 537 people dead during a separatist-inspired uprising, have previously targeted monks and Buddhist temples. But Thai officials say the militants have shifted from attacking mainly security forces and government officials to focusing on "softer" targets as the government builds up its forces in the region. Since Friday, a teenage Buddhist student and an elderly Buddhist have been killed. Armed guards have accompanied monks collecting alms in the region for fear of further attacks. "The situation here is not normal. It seems to have deteriorated every day and many Buddhists have fled ... since they were being killed every day," said temple abbot Pra Khru Sri Pariyatpipat from one of the worst hit provinces of Yala. Militants have left leaflets there advising Buddhists to leave the area or they would be in danger, according to media reports. Meanwhile With a general election less than four months away, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is hardening his stance towards unrest in the largely Muslim south. After numerous policy and leadership changes in 10 months of violence that has killed more than 450 people, Thaksin is falling back on military might to restore law and order against what the government says is a Muslim separatist uprising. Shrugging off appeals for restraint by Muslim leaders and Thailand's highly revered king, Thaksin told Thais in a weekly radio address he would instruct the army and police to work "more decisively" to deal with militants. "If you don't trust me, don't vote for me," he said. |
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