News and Analysis - Thailand – Sectarian Violence and Militias, 25 Mar 2007

Over the last two weeks there is a growing indication that sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Southern Thailand is escalating. This seems to be related to an increasing sense of frustration of the part of the Buddhist minority that military and police forces have not been able to improve the security environment by reducing the number of violent, often deadly, attacks against Buddhist civilians. Southern Thai Buddhists are apparently starting to take action on their own in retaliation for suspected Muslim militant initiated violence, such as the execution style killing of a van full of Buddhist civilians last week. A recent attack on the Islamic Bamrungsart Boarding School that resulted in the deaths of a 12 year-old and two 14 year-old Muslim youths and the wounding of seven others is indicative of this new trend. Part of the government’s plan to counter Islamic militant activities and assuage Buddhist concerns in the region is to increase the number of Thai Rangers. Thai Ranger units, though having Muslims assigned, are predominately composed of Buddhist villagers, and although uniformed, are not professional soldiers. Instead, they are essentially local militias formed to police local areas where insurgent activity has been present. Leadership for the Rangers is provided by Royal Thai Army (RTA) officers and noncommissioned officers who are assigned to key positions. The Rangers receive only limited training and are issued weapons that they oftentimes keep with them at their private residences providing Ranger affiliated villagers with easy access to military small arms. (Comment - As more and more paramilitary Rangers are employed, there is the possibility that rather than working to reduce or quell the violence that has wracked the region for over two years, that they will exacerbate the problem, throwing Southern Thailand into an ever growing downward spiral of tit-for-tat sectarian violence. The history of militias in Southeast Asia is extremely mixed with example after example of militia human rights abuses with militia actions in Aceh and East Timor being the most recent examples. Thailand’s own history shows us the danger of government/military supported civilian organizations, such as the action of the Red Guar and Village Scouts in the 1970’s, both of which were associated with human rights violations. Additionally, the Philippines faced similar problems with militias like the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU) during the 1980’s. CAFGU abuses proved so embarrassing to the government that they were disbanded by the Aquino administration in 1988. Besides being associated with human rights abuses that work against government strategic objectives and further fan the flames of armed rebellion, these units also can become a source of supply for insurgent forces either through corruption or through the theft of poorly secured weapons and ammunition. On the other hand, with an appropriate religious mix, proper training, constant supervision, and sound leadership, the Thai Rangers, with their knowledge of the local area, may be able to make a positive difference, but history up until this point should tell one to be extremely wary.) [slr]