On the surface, the Fourth Army Command has it right: the conflict in the Muslim-majority far South is a battle for hearts and minds. During this time tensions between local residents and Thai security forces have remained unchanged. Thai security forces must now acknowledge that they are not perceived as honest brokers in the far South. Another example of military short-sightedness is the push to have religious leaders in the far South issue fatwas that separatist insurgents do not have religious legitimacy to take up arms. The Thai state could use this period of political transition to pause and review its peace-building efforts and strategy in the deep South.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 27, 2019 18:00 UTC