Abdullah : 11 held in South not Malaysians

Wan Nor : Wada plays no role in insurgency

POST REPORTERS and AFP

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied militants captured recently in Narathiwat with a cache of weapons and money are Malaysian citizens and were trained in Malaysia, according to reports yesterday. Mr Abdullah said there was little evidence the group of 11, caught on Wednesday by soldiers in Narathiwat province, were Malaysians.

''They could be Thai nationals. It is only that they had Malaysian currency with them when they were arrested. Maybe they wanted to enter Malaysia,'' he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

''However, without any other solid evidence, I deny that those people were Malaysians or that they were trained in Malaysia,'' he was quoted as saying from Saudi Arabia during a trip there.

In a related development, former interior minister Wan Muhammad Nor Matha yesterday led the Wada group in a press conference to deny the group's involvement in the southern insurgency.

He was responding to an allegation by Council for National Security chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin against the group.

''He should have studied the issue more carefully and be mindful of the consequences of his remark,'' said Mr Wan Nor.

He dismissed as incredulous a confession by a suspected insurgent arrested earlier who claimed to be a Wada member. Mr Wan Nor said suspects had a tendency to lie to get themselves off the hook.

He said the group, which he heads, has carried out political activities in an open and accountable manner.

''The group has never thought of joining forces with the separatists,'' he said.

The southern office of the Internal Security Operations Command may ban motorcycle pillion riding by males and also ask Muslim women not to wear the all-enveloping clothes in public.

Chamlong Khunsong, the office's chief-of-staff, said it was the wish of local residents to impose a ban on pillion riding, saying it could help reduce the number of drive-by shootings.

The cooperation on clothing was sought after recent protests in the deep South saw women protesters wearing long veils to cover their faces, except the eyes.

Maj-Gen Chamlong said the army would consult Muslim religious leaders before enforcing the ban.

If all goes well, the ban could be in effect by the weekend.

Alhamad Somboon Bualuang, a former member of the National Reconciliation Commission, said the proposed ban was not a solution. ''It would only fan distrust.''

Two separate bomb attacks rocked Pattani yesterday, killing one military officer and injuring five others while they were making routine patrols.

In Sai Buri district, an elderly man died after a gun attack on his house yesterday.

In Yala, security troops detained Masuedee Kami, 16, who was wanted on an arrest warrant, and seized an M16 assault rifle and an 11mm pistol from him following a raid on his hideout in Yaha district yesterday.

Bangkok Post

Saturday March 31, 2007