The government position is apparently meant to prevent the lucrative tourism industry from being hit even though the popular beach destinations of Phuket and Koh Samui are hundreds of miles from Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
On Monday, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters: "Thailand is not a target for terrorists, so don't worry about the reports that there is some terrorist movement in the south."
People die, things blow up, but not to worry: it's not al Quaeda, so it's not terrorism. Now where have I heard this reasoning before?