ASIA/THAILAND - More than 80 people killed and many injured in clashes between militant Muslims and police - Some 1.300 arrests, fear of infiltration of radical elements

Tuesday, 26 October 2004

Bangkok (Fides Service) - Tension in southern Thailand where a Muslim minority group has created disorder in recent months exploded yesterday 25 October when a group of about 2,000 attacked a police station in Tai Bai about 800 km south of Bangkok, to free six local men arrested on 12 October for selling arms to Muslim militants. The men are detained in Narathiwat City prison about 40 km from Tai Bai. About 1,300 men were arrested after clashes with the Thai police in which about 80 were killed and many more wounded. Police and army units used tear gas and warning shots in the air to stop the rioters. They confiscated a large amount of guns, pistols and hand grenades. A local Muslim leader Abdulraman Abudulsamad head of the Islamic Council of Narathiwat province said the security forces were too harsh in their action, but political leaders defended the police.
The Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra said the demonstrators were members of a militant group which assaulted an arms depot on 4 January this year and stole about 300 rifles. Since that date Muslim militants have been in several clashes with the police.
Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, areas where Muslims are the majority, have claimed secession from Bangkok and they are connected with Malaysian Muslims. Recent events in the world have caused tension to increase and a new wave of Muslim militants has come from outside the country.
Fides sources say the Muslim protest is political but that it has reawakened old religious claims. In these southern provinces there are only about 70 Catholics in each province and so far they have not been affected by the violence. Church activity proceeds as usual and the local Church is appreciated for its service and assistance of HIV/AIDS patients. Thailand has a population of 60 million 90% dei 60 Buddhist. Muslims are 6%, living mostly in the south and mainly of Malay ethnic origin, and Christians are 2.2% including 280,000 Catholics.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/10/2004 righe 27 parole 279)


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