TENSIONS are simmering yet again in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces. The lynching of two policemen and the staging of “Al-Maunah style” arms heists at two military outposts last week manifest deep-rooted militancy and lawlessness in the region.
In the wee hours of last Monday, two groups of armed men staged daring raids into the posts in Yala and Narathiwat. At the Yala unit, one soldier was injured after a group of about 15 armed men opened fire and carted away 18 M16 assault rifles.