Southern Thailand's Insurgency

Narathewat - 8 troops were killed in an ambush bombing and shoting on 8 Jan 2008.
Militant also cut the head of one soldier.

Surge In Thailand -- Strategy Page

August 19, 2008: A Thai-style surge campaign, and change in counter-insurgency strategy, has lead to more than 50 percent reduction in violence in the first 6 months of 2008. Terrorism over the previous 4 years was threatening to get out of control, with some areas becoming no-go zone areas.

In 2004, there was a dramatic upsurge in the violence perpetrated by Islamic terrorists in the three southern provinces ("Deep South") of Thailand which border Malaysia. The population of these three provinces is 1.8 million and Muslims make up around 75% of the population whereas the rest of Thailand is 95% Buddhist.

From January 2004 until December 2007 there had been average of 160 terrorist incidents (assassinations, bombings etc) per month in the Deep South, but this reduced significantly to less than 60 incidents per month in the first 6 months of 2008. The number of killed or injured had gradually increased from 120 per month in 2004 to 200 a month in 2007, but this has halved to 100 per month in the first 6 months of 2008.

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More News On Thailand's Insurgency

Southern comfort - Thai insurgency falters -- Janes
Thai insurgents condemn 'cease-fire' -- AP
One killed, 17 wounded in insurgent attacks in Thai South -- China View
Thai southern insurgents shot dead three residents -- China View
Thai air force helicopter crashes; 6 officers dead -- International Herald Tribune
Three killed in attacks in Thai Muslim south -- Reuters
Seven bombs hit southern Thai tourist towns -- AFP
Insurgents bomb railway in Thai South -- China Daily

My Comment: The Thai military will win in the end. But low level insurgency from Thai Muslims will be a fact of life in Thailand for a very long time.