Bangkok in difficulties over southern region

[dArKeR]

By Nopporn Wong-Anan
REUTERS , BANGKOK
Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004,Page 9

After five months of violence that has killed more than 200 people, Thailand is still groping to find the cause of and develop a strategy to end the unrest in its mainly Muslim south, analysts say.

Despite an ultimatum by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to his top security staff last week to restore peace in the region in 30 days, violence persisted with shootings of security officers and civilians, arson attacks and bombings.

Thaksin, who chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to find long-term solutions for the poorly developed region, has ordered security forces to "go on the offensive" by stepping up patrols and intensifying searches to prevent attacks.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/06/15/2003175151