SHADOW GROUP BEHIND MOSQUE MASSACRE, SAYS THAI LAWMAKER

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, June 10 (Bernama) -- The massacre at a mosque in the restive
southern Thailand province of Narathiwat Monday night was most likely carried
out by a "shadow group" which wants to wedge mistrust and conflict between the
majority Muslim population and the Buddhists and the government, a top Thai
lawmaker said.

Jehrrming Tohtayong, chairman of the Thai Parliament's Standing Committee on
National Security, said he believed that the killings were carried out by a new
group aimed at creating violence and causing a rift in the local population.

"We have information that one villager disappeared a few days before the
incident. Some people said he had a disagreement with militant groups before he
went missing," he said in an interview here.

Jehrrming, whose committee oversees security issues, said it was not easy to
pinpoint the people responsible for the attack in which 10 villagers were killed
on the spot while one died in hospital last night and 12 other people were
injured and remain hospitalised.

While admitting that separatist groups were involved in most of the violent
incidents in the region, the MP from Narathiwat said there were also drug groups
and local mafia involved in some disturbances. Thai Army Chief Gen Anupong
Paochinda had denied accusations that security forces were behind the killings
at the mosque.

More than 3,500 people have died since January 2004 when separatist groups
resumed their armed campaign to seek independence for the three Muslim-majority
provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

Jehrrming said the current government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
received good cooperation from the people, but many were also scared to
cooperate openly to restore peace in the region due to retaliation from the
insurgent groups.

Despite despatching about 60,000 troops to the restive region bordering
Malaysia, Jehhming said it was difficult for security forces to provide
protection for the whole population, adding that a long-term policy that
promoted justice, better development and education would play a crucial role in
solving the crisis.

He also denied allegations in some Thai media that insurgent groups were
receiving support from Malaysia, saying that the Malaysian government was
cooperating well with Thailand to develop the region.

According to him, it was important for the government to engage the local
people who felt that they had been neglected for a very long time, citing the
three region's reputation as the most poorest among the 76 provinces in the
kingdom despite having plenty of natural resources.

On the Tak Bai inquest which cleared government officials of any blame over
the death of 85 Muslims in October 2004, Jehrrming said the decision was based
on investigations carried out by previous governments, and added that he
believed that Abhisit would give priority to the case if the affected families
made an appeal.

Meanwhile, Mohd Razman Abdullah reports from NARATHIWAT that, according to a
militant who wanted to be known as Seman Abdullah, it was inconceivable for
Muslims to massacre fellow Muslims as had happened in the incident.

Seman told Bernama the area was a stronghold of the militants and no one
would be bold enough to stage an attack there unless they had sophisticated
firearms and access to intelligence.

"We are not blaming anyone, including the military or mercenary soldiers. It
is only that the attack will elicit response from the group which has fallen
victim," he said.

He also said that as a consequence of the attack, there would be people in
the area who would attempt to cross the border for fear of their own safety.
-- BERNAMA