SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: DEEP ANGER FOLLOWING TEMPLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 006595

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, INR, S/CT
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER TH
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: DEEP ANGER FOLLOWING TEMPLE
ATTACK

REF: BANGKOK 6093

Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton. Reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY/COMMENT: During the early morning hours of
October 16 a Buddhist monk and two novices were killed during
a brutal attack on a Buddhist temple in the far southern
province of Pattani. In the wake of the incident, Prime
Minister Thaksin has vowed swift justice against those
involved in the murders. The temple murders, following the
September mob killings of two Marines, is an extremely
inflammatory event that appears to be another attempt to
create divisions between the Buddhist and Muslim communities
in the South and provoke a harsh government crackdown. END
SUMMARY/COMMENT

THREE KILLED IN TEMPLE ATTACK
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2. (SBU) On October 16 at approximately 1230 a.m. a group
of as many as twenty assailants attacked a Buddhist temple
in the Ponare district of Pattani province. Local police and
press accounts report that the attackers used rifles and
shotguns to fire into temple dwellings, killing two teenage
novices before setting fire to the structures and destroying
Buddha statues and other temple property. The assailants
also brutally killed a 76 year old monk, using a knife to
stab and nearly behead him.


3. (SBU) Separately, local police confirmed a near
simultaneously arson attack on a multi-purpose building in
another part of the Ponare District. A number of
spray-painted messages were left at this scene, including:
"You killed the innocent Malay people, I'll kill the innocent
Siamese." Meanwhile, there are press reports that large
numbers of Buddhist monks have suspended activities in the
deep South, or are preparing to leave the region in the wake
of the murders. The director of the Buddhist Office in Yala
said he expects half of the monks in his province to move out
of the province because of fears they would be targeted for
future attacks.


4. (C) These murders follow the September 21 mob murders of
two Thai Marines who were being held hostage at a Muslim
village in Narathiwat (reftel). This incident sparked
widespread public outrage and the attention of the royal
family.

ANOTHER "TRAP" FOR THE GOVERNMENT
--------------


5. (C) Following the September murders RTG authorities
vowed a measured response -- despite widespread public calls
for reprisals. Senior Thai officials told us following the
September attacks that they were aware that these types of
incidents were "traps" meant to provoke a harsh response and
attract international attention. During an October 13
meeting with the Ambassador, Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai
again vowed that the government would not fall into the
"trap" the militants were setting by attempting to provoke a
crackdown in order to draw attention to their cause.


6. (C) However, following this latest incident, the
government does not appear inclined to respond carefully.
Prime Minister Thaksin reacted very strongly to the attacks,
calling the murderers "sub-humans" who would be dealt "the
swiftest punishment." He stated that security forces would
be given additional leeway to go after the militants to
"settle the score." Defense Minister Thammarak echoed these
remarks, saying that lines of command would be trimmed in the
South to allow security forces to be more aggressive.


7. (C) Prime Minister Thaksin's strong language in response
to the attacks reflects the general public's outrage over the
incident. Postings on popular Thai websites and text
messages sent to radio and TV call-in programs have been
filled with strong, sometimes racist, messages against
southern Thai Muslims -- similar to those seen following the
September murders. The timing of this attack -- in the
middle of Ramadan, one week before the anniversary of Tak
Bai, and while the Queen is in neighboring Narathiwat --
makes the incident even more inflammatory.

COMMENT: RELATIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE
--------------


8. (C) As noted above, there are officials in the Thai
government who understand this incident for what it is:
another "trap" set to provoke a harsh response that will
attract international attention and further estrange the
Buddhist and Muslim communities in the South. However,
judging by the comments from administration leaders the
government appears to be reacting to public calls for a
counter stroke.


9. (C) Relations between the local communities have long
been on a downward trend. Over the past year we have
witnessed and reported on deteriorating relations between the
Buddhist and Muslim communities in the South; including
apparent deliberate attempts to intimidate Buddhists into
leaving the region. This latest attacks is a continuation of
this trend. (NOTE: A Pattani based reporter told emboffs
that there have already been whispers among local Buddhists
calling for a revenge attack against a Muslim mosque. END
NOTE). In this vein, this latest incident should not be seen
as a reflection of genuine religious intolerance by local
Muslims, but rather another calculated provocation by
militants to spark sectarian strife in order to further the
separatist agenda. Thaksin's tough talk is troubling, but
the security forces have, overall, exercised restrain in
recent months, and many seem to understand the danger of
responding with excessive force. Nonetheless, this latest
attack will test the government's resolve. END COMMENT
BOYCE