No al-Qaeda, jihadis in our South: Thailand govt

The Thai government and its top military commanders overseeing counterinsurgency operations in its restive southern Muslim provinces have ruled out the presence of al-Qaeda or jihadi tendencies, saying the rebellion is essentially local and has no affiliations with global terrorism.

“For a terrorist group like al-Qaeda Thailand is a very small target. The rebellion in three southern Muslim provinces (Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat) is a domestic issue. Some factions outside the country tried to make it an international issue,” Ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Isorn Pocmontri said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said that his government is determined to resolve the conflict in the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat through reconciliation and development.

“My government is determined for establishing peace and stability in the south through justice and development,” Vejjajiva said.