Thailand says no to U.N. probe of Muslim deaths

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK147724.htm

BANGKOK, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Thailand has told the United Nations it cannot yet investigate the deaths of 85 Muslim protesters last month as an independent inquiry was underway, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday.

Most of the protesters died of suffocation in army custody after a protest in the southern Narathiwat province.

"We are considering their request, but I don't think we are ready now," said foreign ministry spokesman Itti Ditbanjong.

"Our independent commission, which has been accepted by all sides, is doing its work and we should wait for them to finish first," he said of a request by a U.N. expert on human rights.

more...Woops. Friend of the U.S.A. Nothing to see here. Move along now. Ain't there some swastikas painted on a few 100 year old grave stones to fret over some where?

[UL_Approved]

1. More bullshit

These guys think they can do anything, and we let them. The UN needs to push this.

[rpannier]

2. Both are atrocious

I live in east Asia and I find what is going on in Thailand to be disturbing. But, I also find the swastikas oainted on grave stones to be equalling troubling.

[rooboy]

3. Another country run by a billionaire.

What a surprise to see this. :eyes:

[dttk0009]

4. Well...

I was born and raised in Bangkok, so from a relatively local viewpoint things look real grim down there. Everyone I know suspects the people detained were probably beaten to death. Personally, I'm more worried about the people who are threatening to 'burn Thailand's cities'. I also find the killing of monks and bombing of Temples completely un-acceptable. Ugh, the world is so screwed up at the moment :(

[newyawker99]

5. Hi dttk0009!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Yupster]

6. Question dtt

I didn't realize there was a significant Muslim population in Thailand. Can you educate me?

[Igel]

7. A few links

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/thailand2.htm

http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/religions/Muslims.html

I don't vouch for the accuracy of these sites, esp. of the cloying government site (sunsite.au.ac.th), but the maps are good; I'm guessing the details aren't probably what you want.

From what I understand (which isn't much), they're part of the linguistic and cultural continuum that continues across the border with Malaysia. But for the shenangigans of their ruler when the little political divisions were being amalgamated, they'd be in Malaysia.

Of course, they're at the bottom of the socio-economic scale in Thailand, for all sorts of reasons: geographic backwater, linguistic/religious minority, etc. Long-standing separatist movements.

[dttk0009]

8. Yup

That about sums it up real nice. But it's OK! Our PM has come up with a 'fool proof' plan! He's going to have every Thai citizen make an origami paper crane, load the lot of them into airplanes and release them over the southern regions. Then everyone there will realise the error of their ways, hold hands and praise life and love. That or they'll get pissed off that 60,000,000 pieces of paper were just dropped on their homes, streets and klongs, which will probably take a long time to clean up too.
PS - Thanks for the welcome :)