Is Thailand The Next Front In The Jihadi War?

Events are taking place in Thailand that very well may make it a prime target in the ongoing Jihadi Wars to be the next front. A lot of people may have heard at least a passing mention of the recent violent outbreaks between the group called the Red Shirts and the current Thai government. What has been under reported, and has slipped off the radar screen is the reporting of the Muslim surge in what the press has euphemistically called "restive southern Thailand". One needs to only put that phrase in the search engine of their choice to be greeted with a number of stories on this subject.

Here is where the two stories dove tail. The Red Shirts are primarily from the northern part of Thailand, and are the supporters of the former president of Thailand.

UDD is known for its support for the former premier Thaksin and the former two pro-Thaksin administrations led by Samak and Somchai. When the pro-Thaksin ruling People's Power Party (PPP) was dissolved by Thailand's Constitution Court in December 2008, and Abhisit Vejjajiva of the minority Democrat Party was elected prime minister later, the red-shirts turned up in force to hold rallies again.

It was not that long ago that Thaksin went to work to clamp down on the Muslim uprising in southern Thailand.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s swift response, including full-scale bilateral coordination efforts with bordering countries (Malaysia and Indonesia) amplifies the government’s precarious position of eliminating terrorism in a Muslim-dominated region. While necessary to sustain peace and order, acknowledging the presence and activity of Islamic separatists groups may prove more of a hindrance to Bangkok’s efforts, further widening the existing gap between the already discontented Muslim population and government authorities. Meanwhile, local community leaders have warned that such heavy-handed action could drive away future tourism and foreign investment opportunities to the area.

What we have here is the type of opportunity that jihadist love to exploit, and that is a weakness in the central government. In this case they have a built in enemy whom they already have grievances with, to further excuse any violent acts on their part. With the acquiescence of the western world to always try to somehow assign blame to the radical Islamists by ignoring the real reason they act they way they act, and instead try to chalk it up to economic or social ills, the jihadists are free to laugh in face of the very people they are about to target.

Of course our illustrious state department can not be bothered to take time from their international apology tour and nobody in this administration has the courage to actually confront an enemy or even take sides in a debate, unless the target is Fox News or the Tea Party, and is no doubt blithely going about it business oblivious to what is happening and instead concentrating on those radicals in Arizona.

Maybe nothing will happen. Maybe all out civil war will erupt. The worst case scenario is that the two different factions of the Thai government go at each other while the jihadist sit by moving their base of operations further northward, unnoticed and stand ready to swoop in at an opportune time. And of course taking the world by surprise, yet again.

'Flamboyant Monks' Get Some Etiquette Lessons

I guess the proper ways to sashay and accessorize aren't included in these etiquette lessons.

SENIOR Thai monks are to teach Buddhist etiquette to homosexual novices to help curb "flamboyant" behaviour including wearing lipstick and overly tightening their saffron robes.

They said numerous reports of new monks plucking their eyebrows into a feminine arch, walking with a exaggerated swing of the hips and carrying handbags were all sullying the reputation of the conservative Buddhist faith.

"The aim of teaching them etiquette is to educate them on how they should act, talk, eat and dress properly," leading preacher Phra Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi, who is launching the behaviour classes next month, said.

"The biggest concerns are they don't walk properly, they wear lipstick... and carry colourful bags. Some also indulge in sexual behaviour," he said.

But Phra Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi said that, while monks found to have sex in their sleeping quarters would be thrown out, homosexuality itself was not banned.

"Otherwise more than half of them would be defrocked," he said.

Memo to Customs: Beware of Containers Labeled 'Gay Lube Oil'

I guess when you're an operation smuggling steroids out of Thailand, there's always the potential to have some language snafus when translating to English. But you might want to put someone on the payroll with at least a semblance of a clue and coherent command of the language.

Otherwise you commit a blunder so laughable even a sleeping customs inspector would have his radar (or is it gaydar?) ringing.

Australian Customs has seized more than 100 bottles containing illegal liquid steroids hidden inside sexual lubricant packaging.

Customs is investigating the sophisticated drug smuggling network after the bottles, labelled as "gay lube oil", were seized in five states since the start of the year.

The bottles contain prohibited performance and image enhancing drugs from Thailand.

Customs national manager of investigations Richard Janeczko said the so-called gay lube oil contained various active ingredients including testosterone and deca durabolin.

He said these drugs could not be imported into Australia without a permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

"Despite the professionalism of this smuggling operation, Customs officers were not fooled by the labelling and its misdescription," Mr Janeczko said today in a statement.

Regular supersleuths they've got there.

School Kids Attacked in "Restive" Southern Thailand

The attacks carried out by the Muslims in the southern portion of Thailand continue on an almost daily basis. This time the object of their affection was a school bus with teenage children on board. Since 2004, 3,000 civilians have been killed by the Muslims in the southern portion of the country. You think some of you liberals could take some time, now that the war in Iraq is over, and start a running body count for Thailand like you did on our service members? What is minimum loss of civilian life necessary before you take to the streets in protest? We know one military death can get you fired up and dressed up in all sorts of crazy costumes to rail against the government and the military, but what does it take to get you to do the same thing for civilians? Maybe your candidate Barack will demand an immediate Cruise missle attack like his buddy Bill Clinton used to do. Maybe an invasion, is that what you want? How do the liberals intend to address the ongoing violence by members of the Islamic cult against others? Maybe parachuting 2,000 lawyers armed with warrants and a few judges will solve the problem.

Thailand Transfixed by Transvestite Pageant

I can't imagine this goes over too well with the headchoppers in the restive southern portion of Thailand. Apparently, though, it's a blockbuster on television.

A teenage transvestite who grew up on a military base was crowned Thailand's most beautiful transvestite late Friday, in an extravagant annual pageant which transfixed the nation.

Kangsadarn Wongdusadeekul, known by her stage name "Nonk," cried as she accepted her Miss Tiffany crown from last year's winner.

Nonk, 19, particularly impressed the panel of judges with her question round.

Asked if she would be happy to join the army as a man, she told the audience: "Last year I went to register as a soldier but my figure had changed so the government did not let me.

"We are beautiful -- so we have no need to be soldiers," she said, getting the biggest laugh of the night.

Her win brings considerable financial reward: 100,000 baht (3,200 US dollars) -- equivalent to a year's wages for a factory worker -- and a Honda car.

Pig Races in Thailand: Heads Sure to Roll

Wait until the restive practitioners of the religion of peace get wind of this.

Here, Piggy, Piggy, Piggy!

Pigs race at Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chon Buri province, southeast of Bangkok, Thailand. The zoo has recently started training pigs to supplement its performing crocodiles and tiger breeding.

Another Teacher Murdered by Islamists in Thailand

The religion of peace strikes again. Of course, it's down in the restive south.

Suspected separatist insurgents shot and killed a Buddhist teacher on Tuesday in Thailand's restive Muslim far south, police said.

Somchoke Chitkongsat, 59, a teacher at a government-run secondary school was shot while waiting for a bus to school in Yala provincial township, said police Lt. Veerakij Kaewnuanjing.

Somchoke teaches in nearby Pattani province but lived in Yala, which is 780 kilometers (480 miles) south of Bangkok, and traveled by bus to work everyday.

"Police believe that the insurgents knew that he waited for the bus at that point every morning, and shot him today," Veerakij said.

Witnesses told police that the gunman arrived on the back of motorcycle and shot Somchoke at close range, then sped away, Veerakij said.

More than 2,400 people have been killed in Thailand's Muslim-majority southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, and the southern part of nearby Songkhla, since a long-simmering Islamic separatist insurgency flared up in January 2004

More at Jihad Watch.

Thais March Against Military Rule

They're not quite ready to be Islamified.

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Several thousand opponents of Thailand's military-installed government marched through Bangkok's streets Saturday, staging their most defiant protest yet against the regime that came to power in last year's coup.

About 13,000 protesters gathered Saturday evening at Sanam Luang, an open field traditionally used for political protests, said Metropolitan Police Col. Manit Wongsomboon. Part of the crowd then marched several miles to the military's headquarters.

No violence was reported.

Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman for the military council that helps run the country, said about 3,000 protesters gathered in front of the army headquarters late Saturday.

"They were using very foul language on the stage, but the authorities are using utmost patience to deal with their provocations," Sansern said.

Most in the crowd appeared to be supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a bloodless Sept. 19 coup.

Buddhism To Be State Religion in Thailand

The Islamofascist headchoppers won't be happy about this.

BANGKOK: In a step that could sharpen divisions in its increasingly violent, largely Muslim southern provinces, Thailand appears ready for the first time to make Buddhism the state religion in a new constitution.

Under pressure from masses of orange-robed monks who have rallied in the streets and distracted by other political challenges, the country's military-backed government is going along with a notion that has made little headway in the past.

The movement comes at a time of increased divisions and political tension in Thailand as the government seeks to pass a constitution, hold a parliamentary election and return the country to democracy by the end of the year.

We'll see how this goes over in the very restive south.

As temples have been bombed, monks beheaded and Buddhist teachers and residents murdered in the south, Buddhism and nationalism have become intertwined. Some Buddhist leaders warn that the religion itself is under attack from what they see as an alien religion.

"Buddhism is increasingly coming under threat," said Thongchai Kuasakul, head of the Buddhists' Network of Thailand, who led the biggest march last month, referring to the violence in the south.

Sanitsuda Ekachai, a columnist for the English-language newspaper Bangkok Post, wrote recently, "This national religion campaign is taking place amid widespread paranoia within the clergy against Islam."

Thailand Announces Anti-Waist Program

It's the no pot-bellies in the office campaign. Just imagine if the government tried something like this in the USA.

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has launched a pilot campaign targeted to rid the kingdom of persons with overlarge midsections, termed "No pot-bellies in the office" with the aim of reducing obesity and the increased risk of diabetes and other diseases, according to Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Morakot Kornkasem.

The senior health official said the ministry initiated the project after finding that Metabolic Syndrome, which is a concurrence of multiple medical indicators, is increasing at an alarming rate among both men and women in Thailand.

"A survey on Metabolic Syndrome among Thais aged between 19-59 years old by using waist circumference as a main indicator," Dr. Morakot said, "found that the number of Thai people with the problematic lifestyle indicator increased from 28 per cent in 2004 to almost 36 per cent in 2006."

Metabolic Syndrome is defined as having a waist circumference of more than 90 centimetres (cm) (35.4 inches) for men and more than 80cm (31.5 inches ) for women.

Simply speaking, many people eat too much, eat the wrong foods, and exercise little or not at all.

Thai Police Guard Schools Against Jihadists

Jihad Watch has the details.

Ironic how the police have to guard against practitioners of the religion of peace, isn't it?

More Jihadi Murders in Thailand

Islamofascism is becoming more defined daily by its senselessness and savagery. Thailand has a serious problem.

Yala - Two Buddhists were killed and another injured by Muslim insurgents while they were tapping rubber trees in a village in this southern border province Monday morning, police said.

Police said the three were tapping rubber trees in Sagai Village in Tambon Ban Reu of Yala's Thanto district at 9:29 am when a group of insurgents opened fire at them.

Luem Waewphet, 70, and Sumalee Thampradit, 26, died at the scene.

Sutham Thampradit, 60, was severely injured and rushed to the district hospital.

Via Jihad Watch.