Thais tend to be blindly patriotic, and few would take the time to question the Army’s counter-insurgency operations in the conflict-afflicted South, where Patani Malay separatist movements are testing the predominant notions of Thainess and the nation-state. A decade ago, during the peak of violence in the far South, the Army was using friendly non-governmental organisations as go-betweens. Often, young men are blacklisted just because of their association with someone who is actively militant. Fourth Army commanders occasionally repeat this episode, going through the same bogus motions to enhance their standing in the eyes of citizens outside the South. Citizens of the South, both Muslims and Buddhists, are all too familiar with these PR events and somewhat indifferent to the ceremonies and to claims that they are effective.

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 06, 2018 18:00 UTC