Thailand: Officials Warn Of Possible Retaliation After Deaths Of Over 100

[Robbien]

Prague, 29 April 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Thailand's defense minister today warned of possible retaliatory attacks a day after more than 100 Muslim militants died in clashes with security forces in the south of the country. Defense Minister Chettha Thanajaro said troops are prepared for a "second and third wave of attacks." Soldiers were meanwhile fanning out through three southern Muslim-majority provinces to restore order.

The violence broke out early yesterday when militants, mostly teenagers and young men, stormed several security outposts in an apparent attempt to steal weapons. Troops later stormed a mosque in the city of Pattani where militants were staying, killing at least 30. Five soldiers and police were also killed. The attackers were primarily armed with machetes.

The violence shocked local Islamic leaders. Umar Bin Yussof, the secretary of the Pattani Islamic Council, said: "It's a sad, sad thing that happened. We've never seen anything like this before and had never thought that it could ever happen here. I can't believe that more than hundred people have been killed and wonder why it happened. There has never been this terror in Pattani."

Authorities said the deaths were justified as the only way to halt separatist violence. But the number of deaths left many wondering whether the government used too heavy a hand in putting down the militants. The New York-based rights organization Human Rights Watch, for one, says the response by security forces appears to have been disproportionate.

Bin Yussof agrees. "I don't think the relatives of the dead will agree with the authority's actions,” he said. “ had entered the mosque, which meant they were cornered and surrendered. Why didn't the authorities just surround them for a few days? Killing in a mosque is really bad."

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