Our source in Thailand, Chai, reports this following:
"The level of Muslim jihad murders is surging in Thailand's south for the last month, but we are noticing a disturbing trend with the Thai national news media: many of the Muslim terrorist attacks are not being reported in the Thai news media at the time they occur. We only hear of them later if at all and then only in passing as if the news media had already covered the attacks in detail, which they did not.
"Thais do not know whether the lack of timely and detailed reporting is being driven by the 'fatigue factor' that the news outlets believe they can only deliver so much bad news before their audience turns them off, or whether there is some formal or casual agreement to limit the reporting of terrorist violence so as to not frighten away business and tourism. We can say for certain though that the true extent of the Muslim jihadist attacks in the south is not being accurately reported in the daily news media. Only now Tuesday morning, February 12, 2013 are we hearing that two rice farmers were murdered in their fields last Friday. That is in addition to the four fruit buyers murdered (not six as originally reported in the media) and five soldiers blown up on Sunday.
"Today we have one of the military commanders in the south saying that 'the violence wasn't as severe as many imagined - and insurgents were taking revenge for the arrest of their leading members.'
"This is reminiscent of several years ago when the government officials would claim that all Muslim terrorist attacks were as a result of drug dealers attacking other drug dealers. Everybody knew the truth but the government maintained the official line until it became a joke. That deception proved to be unsustainable when the Muslim terrorists started murdering teachers.
"The proof that things are getting much worse is that the Thai government is reportedly ready to implement a curfew again for all the southern provinces. As most of the bombs are planted at night this might help limit the terrorists' movements, but only at a cost of freedom and economic activity in the South. Thais are proud to call Thailand 'Land of the Free' because we are the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by a European power, but we face a far more insidious threat from the Jihadists because it is difficult to know which Muslims support the terrorists and which do not. How can one know until it is too late? That is our challenge in the South."
The Nation: PM says curfew yet to be decided as five killed in Yala Nation Multimedia
The Nation February 11, 2013 1:00 am
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday left the door open for night curfews in hot spots in the restless deep South as part of a review of security operations. "The decision on a curfew will hinge on the evaluation of specific conditions in a given area," she said.
"There was no rush to force residents to remain indoors as the curfew would be imposed as a last resort after other measures failed to curb the insurgent violence, she said.
The security assessment would explore what more should be done to smother the attacks, such as deploying additional bomb detectors and government forces.
Security agencies were gauging the security risk at each locality and she would study their recommendations before finalising her decision on a curfew.
She was speaking to reporters after a car bomb left five troops dead and one severely wounded in Yala's Raman district.
Police suspect it was the work of a terrorist group led by Abdul Rohing Da-eso, also known as Ustaz Rohing Asong.
Police said that the explosive was detonated by remote control when a six-wheel truck passed by carrying six soldiers from Yala Task Force 12 to provide an escort for workers at a pig farm.
Some six unidentified militants arrived at the scene and made off with five assault rifles belonging to the troops.
The device was assembled in a pickup truck stolen from Somsak Kwanma, the teacher who was shot dead in an insurgency attack in December.
Colonel Pramote Prom-in, a deputy spokesman for Internal Security Operations Command Division 4, said officials and villagers in the area were in a state of shock, as the unidentified militants had disguised themselves as soldiers.
Instead of helping the bomb victims, they suddenly shot and finished them off.
Bangkok Post: South Curfew likely Friday Bangkok Post
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says public opinion will be a key factor in deciding whether to impose a curfew in parts of the far South.
Ms Yingluck called an urgent meeting at Government House Monday to discuss the curfew proposal.
The idea was raised by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung last week after the murders of two farmers in Pattani and four fruit traders in Yala.
Ms Yingluck then expressed her support for a curfew following a string of attacks which killed five soldiers in Raman district of Yala and two other people in Pattani on Sunday.
Ms Yingluck said the decision on whether to impose the curfew is expected to be made on Friday.
Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) chief Pol Col Thawee Sodsong has been asked to survey local opinions and report the findings to the meeting, National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanathabutr said.
Pol Col Thawee's report on how residents of the far South feel about the matter would be given priority in the discussions, Ms Yingluck said.
Mr Chalerm said a curfew would make it harder for insurgents to stage attacks.
Critics have said the proposal would have little effect as most insurgent attacks in the deep South are carried out in daylight hours.
"If the measure doesn't work, we can lift it. That's nothing to be embarrassed about in that case," Mr Chalerm said.
If agreed, the curfew would be finalised by the Centre for Implementation of Policies and Strategies for Solving Southern Problems, chaired by Mr Chalerm, Mr Paradorn said.
Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said he would lend weight to the opinions of local people and authorities in the field.
ACM Sukumpol earlier opposed the curfew idea. He said Monday the Yala attacks which killed five soldiers were a "tactical mistake". Otherwise, there was nothing wrong with the security strategy in place, he said.
Fourth Army commander Udomchai Thammasarotrat said the decision rests with the government and the army is ready to comply. He insisted the situation in the South is under control despite last week's attacks in Yala and Pattani.
Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, the army chief-of-staff, will call a meeting Wednesday to assess the situation.
Meanwhile, a policeman was injured Monday when he and other officers raided a house in Khok Pho district.
Pol Cpl Sukree Sribu, 35, was hurt in an explosion when a police unit surrounded the house in Ban Pho after receiving a tip-off about the movements of potential insurgent suspects.
The squad later raided the house and killed a suspect identified as Maruding Yusoh, 23.
