Conspiracy of Silence: The Insurgency in Southern Thailand

by Zachary Abuza

Overview

In this eye-opening volume, the author examines the roots of the current southern Thai conflict, gives a detailed overview of the present crisis, documents the flight of the south's Buddhist community, and argues that the Thai government has woefully misplayed its hand.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781601270023
Publisher:	United States Institute of Peace Press (USIP Press)
Publication date:	06/28/2009
Series:	Perspectives Series
Pages:	172
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Zachary Abuza is a professor of political science at Simmons College. A leading specialist in Southeast Asian security issues and militant Islam, he is the author of Uncivil Islam: Muslims, Politics and Violence in Indonesia and Militant Islam in Southeast Asia.

Table of Contents

Foreword Richard H. Solomon ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Abbreviations xv

Map of Thailand xvii

Introduction 1

1 Historical Roots of the Conflict 11

2 Populism, Politics, and the War on Terror 35

3 Violence Erupts 53

4 Who is behind the Attacks? 101

5 Is Transnational Terrorism Involved? 145

6 The One Baht COIN: Thai Counterinsurgency Efforts 163

7 The Insurgency's Impact: and International Implications 211

Appendix A Examples of Insurgent Leaflets 241

Appendix B The BRN-C "Seven-Step" Document 251

Appendix C Examples of Extortion Documents 253

Appendix D Key Points of the Emergency Decree 257

Index 259

About the Author 285

Editorial Reviews

"The book brings to the fore several issues that have been ignored in the discussion on the southern Thai violence thus far, focusing on the possible links between some of the southern Thai Muslim militants and other militant Muslim groups in Southeast Asia and the Muslim and Arab world. It alerts us to the dangers of groups like the Jema'ah Islamiyah becoming strongly involved with the southern Thai militants in the event of greater repression by the Thai state. It provides useful material to Thai security and state forces planning solutions to the current violence in the south."

“Abuza has long been one of America’s leading experts on terrorism and insurgency in Southeast Asia. Conspiracy of Silence is easily the most informative book on the nature of the conflict in southern Thailand and the weakness of the Thai government’s response so far.

From the Publisher

"The book brings to the fore several issues that have been ignored in the discussion on the southern Thai violence thus far, focusing on the possible links between some of the southern Thai Muslim militants and other militant Muslim groups in Southeast Asia and the Muslim and Arab world. It alerts us to the dangers of groups like the Jema'ah Islamiyah becoming strongly involved with the southern Thai militants in the event of greater repression by the Thai state. It provides useful material to Thai security and state forces planning solutions to the current violence in the south."

Saroja Dorairajoo

“Abuza has long been one of America’s leading experts on terrorism and insurgency in Southeast Asia. Conspiracy of Silence is easily the most informative book on the nature of the conflict in southern Thailand and the weakness of the Thai government’s response so far.

Daniel Byman