Be prepared for revenge attacks, Thais warned
Pauline PuahPublished: Oct 28, 2004 12:11 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
A senior advisor to the Thai Senate today warned of revenge attacks following Monday's violence which killed at least 84 Muslims at Tak Bai in Narathiwat province, Southern Thailand.
The people in southern Thailand have better braced themselves for revenge attacks, a senior advisor to the Thai Senate has warned.
A senior advisor to the Thai Senate today warned of revenge attacks following Monday's violence which killed at least 84 Muslims at Tak Bai in Narathiwat province, Southern Thailand.
Sunai Pshasuk, advisor of the Thai Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, said that Thailand might be trapped in a series of violent revenge attacks because of the way the Thai government was dealing with the Muslim community.
"There have been revenge attacks since January. Each time the Thai government is alleged of killing a Muslim, a Buddhist will be murdered in revenge, he told malaysiakini in a telephone interview this afternoon.
News reports said that the 84 died from suffocation and convulsion in packed security trucks - after police and soldiers broke up a violent demonstration.
Since early this year, more than 414 people have been killed in the Muslim-majority southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.
Sunai said a coalition of Thai senators has been set up to pressure the Thai government to answer for the killings in the South.
"The senators want to know what exactly happened there? How could so many people suffocate in the trucks," he asked.
Should show restraint
Sunai, also a human rights activist in Thailand, blasted the Thai government for having over-reacted to the demonstration on Monday.
"The authorities should show the highest level of tolerance even if they were provoked. The violence could have been avoided had the soldiers exercise restraint," he said.
Sunai also said that if those rounded up were unconscious, they should not be dumped in the trucks.
He also accused the Thai government of only giving one side of the story to the public.
"They are trying to legitimise their violent action to the Thai people," he said.
Sunai added that a group of Thai senators will make a visit to Tak Bai within this week to see for themselves the situation there.
The Thai Senate is independent from the government. Thai Senate Foreign Affairs Committee chairperson Kraisak Choonhavan is known to be critical of the way the government is handling the situation in the south.
Sunai Pshasuk, advisor of the Thai Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, said that Thailand might be trapped in a series of violent revenge attacks because of the way the Thai government was dealing with the Muslim community.
"There have been revenge attacks since January. Each time the Thai government is alleged of killing a Muslim, a Buddhist will be murdered in revenge, he told malaysiakini in a telephone interview this afternoon.
News reports said that the 84 died from suffocation and convulsion in packed security trucks - after police and soldiers broke up a violent demonstration.
Since early this year, more than 414 people have been killed in the Muslim-majority southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.
Sunai said a coalition of Thai senators has been set up to pressure the Thai government to answer for the killings in the South.
"The senators want to know what exactly happened there? How could so many people suffocate in the trucks," he asked.
Should show restraint
Sunai, also a human rights activist in Thailand, blasted the Thai government for having over-reacted to the demonstration on Monday.
"The authorities should show the highest level of tolerance even if they were provoked. The violence could have been avoided had the soldiers exercise restraint," he said.
Sunai also said that if those rounded up were unconscious, they should not be dumped in the trucks.
He also accused the Thai government of only giving one side of the story to the public.
"They are trying to legitimise their violent action to the Thai people," he said.
Sunai added that a group of Thai senators will make a visit to Tak Bai within this week to see for themselves the situation there.
The Thai Senate is independent from the government. Thai Senate Foreign Affairs Committee chairperson Kraisak Choonhavan is known to be critical of the way the government is handling the situation in the south.
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