Thailand's Islamist Insurgency Is Growing

Fears In Thailand About War On Islamist Guerrillas Escalating -- Washington Times

BANGKOK — Diplomats are warning that Thailand’s war against Islamist guerrillas in the south could escalate into an international security crisis similar to those in Afghanistan and Yemen.

More than 5,000 people, mostly Muslims, have been killed in bombings and gun battles in Thailand’s south since 2004, and the government has spent more than $3.5 billion in a failed effort to quell the insurgency.

“There may come a day when the troubles of the south will become the troubles of the region as a whole. And I dare say this, it might become a magnet for people to create havoc from elsewhere,” said Asif Ahmad, British ambassador to Thailand.

“We’ve seen it in Yemen. We’ve seen it in Afghanistan. You cannot be immune.”

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Update: Thailand's Islamist War Could Become Yemen or Afghanistan -- Scoop

My Comment: Thailand has been beset by it's own political unrest for the past few years, but with incidents like this and this .... coupled with the Islamist insurgency in the south .... they will have to realize that they will now have to focus on confronting and resolving their troubles with the predominantly Muslim south. If not, this will probably escalate into something that will resemble what the Philippines has been confronted with in the past few decades.