US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK6595

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, Southern Thailand 
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 
----------------------------- 
 
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