THE HEAD OF THAI MILITARY JUNTA IS...A MUSLIM!

SOBAKA NEWS WIRE ^ | 09-09-2005 | Gerald Walker

[Traianus]

Thailand: Mollifying the Muslim
Pacification by PR
Gerald Walker, Sobaka Contributor
September 9, 2005

Bangkok announced today that the position of commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army had been filled by an unusual candidate: the first Muslim to hold the office in the nation's history.

The appointment, which came in the name of the titular King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was rumored for weeks. The generals in Thailand more or less swap positions every year, but General Sonthi Boonyaratglin is believed to be the highest-ranking Muslim ever to ascend the ranks of the army. In promoting Boonyaratglin, the government is hoping to bring order to the violent southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, where more than 800 (and possibly as many as 1,200) people have died in bombings and targeted attacks by Muslim insurgents.

Boonyaratglin claims that he will take a "new and effective" approach to a crisis that has all of the attributes of a low-intensity civil war. He dismissed claims that the government, almost two years after the uprising began, still has little information about the insurgent groups fighting against them.

"The army is informed [of who the insurgents are] and will carry out their duties," he said.

At the same time, he promised to open a channel of dialogue. Before American anti-Muslims get offended, the Thai government has successfully negotiated with rebel movements for more than fifty years. In fact, a similar uprising in the same southern provinces in the 1980s was defused when the guerrillas reached an accord with the government. Some of the former guerrillas, who are considered "uncles" by the people of the south, have tried to receive official backing for talks with the active insurgents in the last several years, but have been switched off by the government.

Sonthi Boonyaratglin has an interesting biography. He graduated from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, served on the American side in the Vietnam War, and is a former leader of the "special warfare command" based in Lop Buri, which are one of Thailand's most elite anti-guerrilla forces. In other words, he would be a perfect adversary for the guerrillas - a pro-government Muslim willing to offer an olive branch and beat the insurgents with it if they reject his overtures. --GRW

-30-

sobaka / sobaka news wire

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The coup was not based on religion.

[kingsurfer]

This has been covered elsewhere on this board and commented on by seasoned expats and Asian based freepers.

Basically the guy is okay and hates terrorists.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Dude, no muslim is running Thailand.

Trust me.

[Dad yer funny]

hmmmm , I betcha there'll be a certain percentage of the "Thai Vacation Crowd" that will now , well , reconsider

[highlander_UW]

Well he must not be a very good muslim...he didn't kill lots of people.

[Traianus]

Dude, no muslim is running Thailand.

Trust me.

ARE YOU SURE?

Last Updated: Tuesday, 19 September 2006, 23:20 GMT 00:20 UK

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Profile: Thai coup leader

Gen Sonthi is the first Muslim to be commander-in-chief

The leader of the coup in Thailand, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, has made his mark in recent months with some very public disagreements with the man he has overthrown, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Appointed commander-in-chief last year, Gen Sonthi is known to be close to the country's King, Bhumibol Adulyadej, and has been seen as an unofficial spokesman for the monarch.

After parliamentary elections in April, which were later annulled because of concerns about their legitimacy, he said that King Bhumibol was "saddened" by the situation.

Gen Sonthi, 59, graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1969 and was commissioned to the Royal Army Infantry Corps.

A decorated combat veteran, he headed several top Thai army units including the elite Special Warfare Command.

Muslim insurgency

Gen Sonthi was appointed commander-in-chief last year, the first member of Thailand's Muslim minority to hold the position.

The move was seen as an attempt by the government to curb an Islamist insurgency in the south of the country which has killed more than 1,400 people in the last two-and-a-half years.

His first major spat with the government came when his proposal for talks with the militants was rejected.

And when the political crisis blew up earlier this year, with the opposition Democrat Party boycotting elections amid claims that Mr Thaksin was abusing his power, Gen Sonthi voiced his - and the king's - concerns.

"The country's problem, which originated some time ago and has prevailed until now, has saddened his majesty, which has upset and worried me," he was quoted by local media as saying.

"As a soldier of his majesty, I would like to help him relieve his worry and the army will adhere strictly to whatever advice he gives us."

[Thai-Anti-Taqiyya]

Read more about this news here!

http://www.faithfreedom.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28756&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=ac17168a307784bf0929183e9d11218f

Thaksin is a threat to Thai democracy. And this coup will gave back real-democracy soon. General Sondhi is not the supreme leader of this coup and he a trustworthy nominally Muslim. He's not Taqiyya(kit man). Don't panic!

[Fred Nerks]

Welcome to Freerepublic!

[Northern Alliance]

He is truly Thai. Amongst politicians, and that is what he is in spite of the military title - making money by any means possible takes precedence over religion!

[MadJack]

Not for one moment. When I briefed the boys on this earlier today, their only concern was potential impact on the price of Singh-ha and overnights.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Welcome~~~FRiend~~~The Thai Welcomed Me And My Brothers In
The 60's~~~The Thai Fought And Died With US In Viet Nam~~~
B~Town Was A Happy Place~~~And Safe~~~I Pray They Are Safe Now...

[killjoy]

This is hardly breaking news. Please remove it.

[killjoy]

I know many who have served under Sondhi and I have never heard anyone say anything except praise for the man. He is not the enemy.

[Zhang Fei]

This guy looks like an ethnic Thai, not Malay. My feeling is that this may have helped him gain acceptance.

[backhoe]

From LGF:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=22642_Thailand_Coup_Installs_Muslim_Prime_Minister&only
Thailand Coup Installs Muslim Prime Minister

Comments are illuminating:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=22642_Thailand_Coup_Installs_Muslim_Prime_Minister#comments

Poster "carridine" lives there.

And for more, here's a blog:

http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/

[killjoy]

Poster "carridine" lives there.

I live "there" also.

[backhoe]

Poster "carridine" lives there.
I live "there" also.

Ok, so what are you observing?

[killjoy]

Ok, so what are you observing?

Everything is peaceful. No problems. Everyone is going about their normal business. For the most part, everyone is very supportive of what has happened.

[backhoe]

Everything is peaceful. No problems. Everyone is going about their normal business. For the most part, everyone is very supportive of what has happened.

Appreciate it- carridine did not seem to be too concerned, either.

[August West]

"the Thai government has successfully negotiated with rebel movements for more than fifty years."

If you have been negotiating for more than 50 years and the problem still exists, then the negotiations could not possibly been been successful - If they had been successful, then you would not have to have had to negotiate any more.

[TomGuy]

FoxNews report this morning had this tone:

PM was evil. PM's Family sold business for $Billion and didn't pay taxes. People didn't like PM anyway.

So, General went to King and got permission to overthrow the PM.

[I guess they don't have an 'impeachment' clause in their laws.]

[VOA]

bump