These same ethnics in the same provinces called themselves communists back in the 60's.
They weren't, but had to say they were to get support $$ and equipment from the USSR/PRC funders.
Last time I was in the south, the year before the big tsunami, I couldn't believe all the bullet holes in a few of the road signs out in the boonies. A sign on one curve had to have had at least 20 holes in it.
I can remember going through the region back in 1977 or '78, and was concerned about the bus getting stopped.
Muen Deum (if that's how you spell it in Tinglish). Same old stuff...