Sunday, August 24, 2008

Discovery causes concern in South

'Warfare bibles' found in suspected insurgent houses

Discovery causes concern in South

By Assawin Pakkawan

Insurgents in the South may be using tactics learned from old ''warfare bibles'' from the communist era, which have been discovered in the houses of suspected insurgents in Narathiwat, according to an intelligence source.

Books on military strategy from Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong and from two famous Vietnamese generals were recently found in houses belonging to suspected insurgents in Tanyong Limor, a village in Narathiwat's Rangae district.

The discovery has caused concern among authorities, who fear the insurgent network could be more complex and sophisticated than many previously thought.

The source said the books on warfare detailed the political ideas and military strategies of Mao and of Van Tien Dung and Vo Nguyen Giap, the two Vietnamese generals who were revolutionary figures of the People's Army of Vietnam.

The source said militant groups still used guerilla tactics and had no known permanent command centre. Also, most of the insurgents were educated.

''Now the insurgent groups are trying to seek sympathy from Islamic schools,'' the source said.

''They trick security personnel into mounting a raid on such schools to arrest religious teachers and students. The end result is a widened distrust and misunderstanding towards state authorities,'' the source said.

The most serious concern for authorities was the spread of radical ideas developed by Bersatu leader Wan Kadir Jehman and the circulation of the violence-provoking books in Pattani, the source added.

Meanwhile, Salae Himmud, the deputy chairman of the Phatthalung Provincial Islamic Committee, yesterday called on misguided religious leaders to redeem themselves by observing and adhering to the sanctity of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which starts early next month.

He said the holy period presents a timely opportunity for rogue spiritual leaders to reform themselves before it was too late.

No comments: