Posted on 10/26/2004 6:50:14 PM PDT by blam
80 Thai Muslims suffocate after arrest at protest
By Sebastien Berger in Bangkok
(Filed: 27/10/2004)
Almost 80 Muslim demonstrators arrested in southern Thailand suffocated after being crammed into army lorries, the Thai authorities admitted yesterday.
Only six people were previously believed to have died when security forces opened fire to quell rioting on Monday in the Muslim-majority region adjoining the border with Malaysia.
Thai soldiers arrested hundreds after clashes outside a police station
The huge new toll, and the manner of the deaths, are bound to add to tensions and highlight methods to quell a 10-month rebellion that has claimed 400 lives.
In a comment likely to inflame Muslims, Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister, blamed the Ramadan fast for weakening those who died. A Muslim leader predicted that "hell will break out".
The men died after protesters in Tak Bai demanded the release of six village defence volunteers, arrested on suspicion of giving their weapons to militants.
Protesters allegedly threatened to storm a police station, and police and soldiers broke up the demonstration, killing six and arresting 1,300.
"After we brought people who were arrested into detention, we found that another 78 people were dead," said Manit Suthaporn, a justice ministry official. "According to the investigation, they died because of suffocation."
Pornthip Rojanasunan, chief forensic expert at the justice ministry, said the men could have been gagged to death. "It wasn't a case of not enough air to breathe, but they might have had something stuffed in their mouths or nostrils," she said. "Two or three had broken necks."
About 50 Muslims gathered at the Inkayut army compound, begging for news of relatives. "I don't know if my husband's alive or not," wept Piwarat Arwae, 38. "He took our two children to school and must have dropped by at the protest on the way back. He never came home."
Mr Thaksin said: "This is typical. It's about bodies made weak from fasting. It is not about someone attacking them."
Mr Thaksin added that the protesters had been mainly motivated by separatism. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist but unrest and separatism has simmered in the south for three decades.
"I cannot allow the separatists to exist on our land," he said. "We cannot allow these people to harass innocent people and authorities any longer. We have no choice but to use force to suppress them."
Live like ants, die like ants.
'Bout time - this sh*t has been going on since the 60's when I was there - maybe before as well.
Interesting aside - no arms or legs broken - but a few necks were.
Hmmmmmm
... it's a start!
Clarification: Muslim sh*t has been happening.
There's something weird about that photo. What's it trying to show?
Arrested and restrained.
What, no panties on their heads?
Ping.
The United States and the West could learn some valuable lessons from Thailand.
Things I'd like to hear from President Bush immediately after his re-election:
""I cannot allow the separatists to exist on our land," he said. "We cannot allow these people to harass innocent people and authorities any longer. We have no choice but to use force to suppress them.""
That should take care of the liberals. Next, the "religion of peace!"
I thought that PHOTO was of a bunch of North Koreans at the beach on holiday! Complete with guards to ensure no one has too much fun.
Oh, they just died from fasting. Ok.
This does not bode well for the future in this area. Things will get even more..."interesting" after this.
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