Thailand's Muslim "insurrection"

2RHPZ · 08-30-2004, 07:42 AM

Motorcycle killer gives Thai army vital insight into terrorist methods
By Sebastien Berger in Pattani
30/08/2004

Sitting on a hospital bed and guarded by comrades of the soldier he murdered, Abdullah Akoh explained his part in southern Thailand's Islamic separatist insurgency.

Following orders from the commander of his cell, like him a teacher at an Islamic school, Akoh and a fellow militant fell in behind a pair of soldiers on a motorcycle in Yaha one morning. When their targets slowed down they overtook them and Akoh, the pillion passenger, shot one of the soldiers dead with a 9mm pistol.

Abdullah Akoh
The two turned back to kill the second serviceman, but their intended victim seized his comrade's M16 rifle and returned fire, hitting Akoh in the leg and stomach. The motorcycle crashed, the driver fled and Akoh, 31, was captured.

"I feel sorry," he said in a ward at Ingkayut army camp in Pattani. "It was wrong."

Unlike the rest of Buddhist-majority Thailand, its four southernmost provinces, on the border with Malaysia, have a Muslim majority. Formerly an independent sultanate based in Pattani, for four centuries they have been part of the kingdom but retain a distinctive character.

While in public everyone professes loyalty to Bangkok, Islamic militants trained, according to the authorities, in the Middle East, have fomented an insurrection that has claimed about 300 lives this year.

On the worst day, more than 100 people were killed, the vast majority of them militants armed only with knives, with 32 dying in the Krue Se mosque in Pattani after a siege by the military.

Akoh said his commander, Ismail Rayalong, known as Yusuf, "persuaded me to do it. He told me about the historical background."

He added: "The Thai government invaded this area so I fought back by killing government officials."

Yusuf also persuaded him that reading 70,000 words a day of religious tracts would make him invulnerable to knives or bullets. None the less Akoh, who is married with a seven-month-old son, was ready to accept martyrdom if he was killed fighting for Islam.

Unlike the al-Qa'eda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group, blamed for the Bali bombings, which wants to set up a Islamic caliphate across south-east Asia, Akoh said his group sought autonomy for Pattani under Islamic law.

Now he says he believes in peace and that Pattani should remain part of Thailand. "If somebody tries to persuade you to do something like what I did, don't believe them. Think carefully."

Akoh, recruited four years ago, described a cell structure in which no insurgent group knows any other and each carries out its own recruitment. The military are delighted with his co-operation since his capture, and it is likely he would be at risk from his former comrades if he was freed.

A senior officer who was present throughout the interview said Akoh will be put on trial but can expect a prison sentence rather execution.

But his capture, and those of about 20 other militants in separate incidents, represent relatively rare successes in Thailand's struggle against the insurgency.

Bangkok announces regularly that senior insurgents have been arrested, but the attacks continue on an almost daily basis, with fatalities every week.

The victims have not been limited to soldiers but have included civil servants, civilians, and Buddhist monks.

While no foreigner has been killed in the violence, diplomats have privately expressed fears that visitors could be the targets of a bomb attack.

The Foreign Office has issued warnings against all but essential travel to four southern provinces.

The Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, toured the three most troubled provinces last week under heavy security. He has ordered Islamic schools to be monitored more closely, and a number of teachers are being sought by the authorities on suspicion of being involved in the violence.

Throughout the south small motorcycles are a common means of transport, but after shootings like that carried out by Akoh the defence minister announced that pillion passengers were to be banned.

Kilgor · 08-30-2004, 07:46 AM

Thailand is interesting, because the usual suspects cant blame jews or americans for the islamic troubles.

Internet · 08-30-2004, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Unlike the rest of Buddhist-majority Thailand, its four southernmost provinces, on the border with Malaysia, have a Muslim majority.

As soon they become a majority in a former non-muslim country the trouble starts.... I think history has taught us that. And apparently it does not matter who are they colonising, jews, christians, buddhists or hindu's.

n4292936 · 08-30-2004, 08:42 AM

Some one should find the article of the "attempted" raid on police stations to steal guns early this year where the entire raiding force of islamic radicals was killed, even those that were in a mosque for shelter once it became clear that their gambit had fialed. The only criticism that the Thais drew was form western NGOs. Not a singel neighbor suggest that the violence was of an innappropriate level. Over 100 Islamic radicals died.

garoco · 08-30-2004, 11:06 AM

I was in Southern Thailand not long after the October 12th 2002 bombings in Bali, and I saw many pro-Bin Laden paraphenalia, car decals and so forth for sale.

I have a pic somewhere that one of my guys took from our mini-van - of a big OBL on some guys driver side window.

PeoplesPoster · 08-31-2004, 04:18 AM

Where do hell does the Islamic faith not stir up trouble? Muslims in Chechnya, Muslims in Darfor, Muslims in India, Muslims in Indonesia, Muslims in Thailand, Muslims in China. I swear to god, a majority of the violence today is related to if not caused by them. They seriously need a referendum in their religion. Religion of peace indeed.

ßå$tÄ®Ð¢HÏ¿ð · 08-31-2004, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoplesPoster

Where do hell does the Islamic faith not stir up trouble? Muslims in Chechnya, Muslims in Darfor, Muslims in India, Muslims in Indonesia, Muslims in Thailand, Muslims in China. I swear to god, a majority of the violence today is related to if not caused by them. They seriously need a referendum in their religion. Religion of peace indeed.

It is a religion of peace for the most part, until extremists get ahold of it. Ironically I can say the same about Christians and other religions, I'm sure you remeber the christian extremist groups operating in Lebanon? What about the ones in South America? See my point?

Extremism distorts the religion and bends and twists it to fit there needs.

Quote:

Yusuf also persuaded him that reading 70,000 words a day of religious tracts would make him invulnerable to knives or bullets. None the less Akoh, who is married with a seven-month-old son, was ready to accept martyrdom if he was killed fighting for Islam.

70,000 words a day to make him invulnerable to bullets and knives? Wow, someone should teach these guys physic's...Apparently he must have missed a day or so now that hes shot and in the hospital

seruriermarshal · 08-31-2004, 10:27 PM

F**k those terrorists !

Umm-Qasr · 09-01-2004, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoplesPoster

Where do hell does the Islamic faith not stir up trouble? Muslims in Chechnya, Muslims in Darfor, Muslims in India, Muslims in Indonesia, Muslims in Thailand, Muslims in China. I swear to god, a majority of the violence today is related to if not caused by them. They seriously need a referendum in their religion. Religion of peace indeed.

Yeah sure mate! Christians in Liberia, Christians in Rwanda, Christians in Burundi, Christians in Congo, Christians in Zaire, Jews in Israel ... all the colonization-**** that started the instability in these countries, selling weapons and arms to kill eachother ... support dictatorial regimes for oil ...

Gatling · 09-01-2004, 07:06 AM

Umm-Qasr

Quote:

Yeah sure mate! Christians in Liberia, Christians in Rwanda, Christians in Burundi, Christians in Congo, Christians in Zaire, Jews in Israel ... all the colonization-**** that started the instability in these countries, selling weapons and arms to kill eachother ... support dictatorial regimes for oil ...

Well the conflicts in Africa are more an ethnic confrontation than a religious one.

Umm-Qasr · 09-01-2004, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatling

Umm-Qasr

Quote:

Yeah sure mate! Christians in Liberia, Christians in Rwanda, Christians in Burundi, Christians in Congo, Christians in Zaire, Jews in Israel ... all the colonization-**** that started the instability in these countries, selling weapons and arms to kill eachother ... support dictatorial regimes for oil ...

Well the conflicts in Africa are more an ethnic confrontation than a religious one.

Is it? Don't all the parties have some kind of religion which drives them to do the things they've done? Cuz when it comes to muslims we apply a double standard!!

szr · 09-01-2004, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n4292936

Some one should find the article of the "attempted" raid on police stations to steal guns early this year where the entire raiding force of islamic radicals was killed, even those that were in a mosque for shelter once it became clear that their gambit had fialed. The only criticism that the Thais drew was form western NGOs. Not a singel neighbor suggest that the violence was of an innappropriate level. Over 100 Islamic radicals died.

I'm not normally the one with the extremist "kill 'em all!" reactions to topics on this site, but that's awesome! I hope police casualties were low..

Gatling · 09-01-2004, 07:22 AM

Umm-Qasr

Quote:

Is it? Don't all the parties have some kind of religion which drives them to do the things they've done? Cuz when it comes to muslims we apply a double standard!!

There's only 2 groups in Africa {that I can think of}who are "christians' and claim to fight for Christ. One is a group called the ninjas in Congo{brazza} and the other is in Uganda and is called the LRA.

PeoplesPoster · 09-01-2004, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umm-Qasr

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoplesPoster

Where do hell does the Islamic faith not stir up trouble? Muslims in Chechnya, Muslims in Darfor, Muslims in India, Muslims in Indonesia, Muslims in Thailand, Muslims in China. I swear to god, a majority of the violence today is related to if not caused by them. They seriously need a referendum in their religion. Religion of peace indeed.

Yeah sure mate! Christians in Liberia, Christians in Rwanda, Christians in Burundi, Christians in Congo, Christians in Zaire, Jews in Israel ... all the colonization-**** that started the instability in these countries, selling weapons and arms to kill eachother ... support dictatorial regimes for oil ...

I like how you list all these christians and yet have not listed anything they've done.

There is a flaw in the Muslim character, their religion has never gone through a reformation of any sorts, so in fact they are still stuck in a archaic series of practices. The majority might be peaceful, but the religion (as it is) itself lends itself to violence and abuse.

Felix · 09-01-2004, 11:36 AM

Quote:

All in all, it's been a pretty big week for Muslim terror."

Well put, I like how you said that. Thats why it really doesn't matter about the religions ways, the way I see it, we only have to worry about that small, teeny minority that has the balls to do something about what they feel.

08-30-2004, 07:42 AM	#1
2RHPZ Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: ... back home, taking enough R&R ... Posts: 5,296	Thailand's Muslim "insurrection" Motorcycle killer gives Thai army vital insight into terrorist methods By Sebastien Berger in Pattani 30/08/2004 Sitting on a hospital bed and guarded by comrades of the soldier he murdered, Abdullah Akoh explained his part in southern Thailand's Islamic separatist insurgency. Following orders from the commander of his cell, like him a teacher at an Islamic school, Akoh and a fellow militant fell in behind a pair of soldiers on a motorcycle in Yaha one morning. When their targets slowed down they overtook them and Akoh, the pillion passenger, shot one of the soldiers dead with a 9mm pistol. Abdullah Akoh The two turned back to kill the second serviceman, but their intended victim seized his comrade's M16 rifle and returned fire, hitting Akoh in the leg and stomach. The motorcycle crashed, the driver fled and Akoh, 31, was captured. "I feel sorry," he said in a ward at Ingkayut army camp in Pattani. "It was wrong." Unlike the rest of Buddhist-majority Thailand, its four southernmost provinces, on the border with Malaysia, have a Muslim majority. Formerly an independent sultanate based in Pattani, for four centuries they have been part of the kingdom but retain a distinctive character. While in public everyone professes loyalty to Bangkok, Islamic militants trained, according to the authorities, in the Middle East, have fomented an insurrection that has claimed about 300 lives this year. On the worst day, more than 100 people were killed, the vast majority of them militants armed only with knives, with 32 dying in the Krue Se mosque in Pattani after a siege by the military. Akoh said his commander, Ismail Rayalong, known as Yusuf, "persuaded me to do it. He told me about the historical background." He added: "The Thai government invaded this area so I fought back by killing government officials." Yusuf also persuaded him that reading 70,000 words a day of religious tracts would make him invulnerable to knives or bullets. None the less Akoh, who is married with a seven-month-old son, was ready to accept martyrdom if he was killed fighting for Islam. Unlike the al-Qa'eda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group, blamed for the Bali bombings, which wants to set up a Islamic caliphate across south-east Asia, Akoh said his group sought autonomy for Pattani under Islamic law. Now he says he believes in peace and that Pattani should remain part of Thailand. "If somebody tries to persuade you to do something like what I did, don't believe them. Think carefully." Akoh, recruited four years ago, described a cell structure in which no insurgent group knows any other and each carries out its own recruitment. The military are delighted with his co-operation since his capture, and it is likely he would be at risk from his former comrades if he was freed. A senior officer who was present throughout the interview said Akoh will be put on trial but can expect a prison sentence rather execution. But his capture, and those of about 20 other militants in separate incidents, represent relatively rare successes in Thailand's struggle against the insurgency. Bangkok announces regularly that senior insurgents have been arrested, but the attacks continue on an almost daily basis, with fatalities every week. The victims have not been limited to soldiers but have included civil servants, civilians, and Buddhist monks. While no foreigner has been killed in the violence, diplomats have privately expressed fears that visitors could be the targets of a bomb attack. The Foreign Office has issued warnings against all but essential travel to four southern provinces. The Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, toured the three most troubled provinces last week under heavy security. He has ordered Islamic schools to be monitored more closely, and a number of teachers are being sought by the authorities on suspicion of being involved in the violence. Throughout the south small motorcycles are a common means of transport, but after shootings like that carried out by Akoh the defence minister announced that pillion passengers were to be banned.

08-30-2004, 07:46 AM	#2
Kilgor Falcons FTW Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Joh Country Posts: 10,215	Thailand is interesting, because the usual suspects cant blame jews or americans for the islamic troubles.

08-30-2004, 08:42 AM	#4
n4292936 Pug Loving Leather Wearing Squirrel Moderator Extraordinare of death! Join Date: May 2004 Location: engaging opportunities of opportunity Posts: 2,561	Some one should find the article of the "attempted" raid on police stations to steal guns early this year where the entire raiding force of islamic radicals was killed, even those that were in a mosque for shelter once it became clear that their gambit had fialed. The only criticism that the Thais drew was form western NGOs. Not a singel neighbor suggest that the violence was of an innappropriate level. Over 100 Islamic radicals died.

08-30-2004, 11:06 AM	#5
garoco Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West of Aotearoa Posts: 648	I was in Southern Thailand not long after the October 12th 2002 bombings in Bali, and I saw many pro-Bin Laden paraphenalia, car decals and so forth for sale. I have a pic somewhere that one of my guys took from our mini-van - of a big OBL on some guys driver side window.

08-31-2004, 04:18 AM	#6
PeoplesPoster Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 366	Where do hell does the Islamic faith not stir up trouble? Muslims in Chechnya, Muslims in Darfor, Muslims in India, Muslims in Indonesia, Muslims in Thailand, Muslims in China. I swear to god, a majority of the violence today is related to if not caused by them. They seriously need a referendum in their religion. Religion of peace indeed.

08-31-2004, 10:27 PM	#8
seruriermarshal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 6,991	F**k those terrorists !