Posted on Fri, Oct. 29, 2004


Thai PM Explains Detainees' Deaths on TV


Associated Press

Facing new violence and harsh criticism, the prime minister said Friday he would set up an independent commission to investigate the deaths of 85 Muslim youths in southern Thailand, including 78 who suffocated or were crushed to death in military custody.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said in a televised address that he regretted the actions leading to Monday's deaths in Narathiwat province, blaming bad decisions by lower-ranking military officers and a shortage of army trucks to transport 1,300 people who had been arrested during a riot.

Thaksin's government has come under severe criticism for its handling of the problem, with some fearing that predominantly Buddhist Thailand has a full-blown Islamic insurgency in the making in its Muslim-majority southern region.

Violence continued in the south, with two bombs exploding Friday near a tea shop, killing a police officer and wounding 19 other people. The blasts targeted security forces, accused by some in the south of corruption, criminal activities and discrimination against Muslims.

The 78 Muslims were arrested after a protest at a police station turned violent. At least seven others died during the riot, apparently shot by security forces.

Thaksin offered his regrets to families of the victims in his speech, which was mostly an explanation of government policy toward the south and an account of the events around the riot.

Earlier, he offered apologies to Muslim leaders who came to his office, presenting them with about $250,000 in compensation to victims and to spend during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Families of the dead each will receive about $250.

"The tragedy should not have occurred. It was mishandled. It was a mistake, and since we did the wrong thing, I admit to the mistake," Thaksin told the leaders. "But one thing I want all of you to understand, that the government still cares and is concerned for the Muslim people and what happened has nothing do with religious discrimination."

The first explosion Friday took place as morning customers crowded tea shops and was planted at the foot of tree in the provincial capital of Yala province, 745 miles south of Bangkok. Eight people, including three police officers, were injured by the time bomb, said Yala's police chief, Maj. Gen. Parinya Khwanyuen.

About 40 minutes later, while a bomb squad was clearing the cordoned-off area, a second explosion injured 12 policemen, four critically, Parinya said. One later died, police said.

He said it was unclear whether the second bomb was triggered by a timer or a mobile telephone signal. Militants in southern Thailand have recently been using such phones to set off explosives, police say.

In neighboring Narathiwat province, gunmen on two motorcycles shot and seriously wounded a Buddhist villager while he was driving his motorcycle to market Friday, police Lt. Kuma-an Sanya said.

The new attacks followed an explosion in Narathiwat Thursday night that killed a Malaysian tourist and two Thai women. At least 20 people, including three Malaysian tourists, were injured in the blast at Sungai Kolok.

No one claimed responsibility, and no arrests had been made.

Three Muslim-majority provinces in southern Thailand have been hit by a surge of violence that officials attribute to Islamic separatists. More than 400 people have been killed since January.

Outraged Islamic leaders have warned that Monday's deaths could ignite more violence.

Waedueramae Mamingchi, chairman of the Islamic Council of Pattani, said video of Monday's incident proved that Thai security forces treated Muslim youths as if they were "lower than animals."

"The anger and feeling of hate in the hearts of people, especially the youth, is hard to heal now," he told The Associated Press.

Foreign governments, including predominantly Muslim Malaysia, expressed concern.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad urged Thailand to consider granting autonomy to its southern Muslim provinces, comparing the insurgency there with the Palestinian problem.





© 2004 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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