Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned that army repression in southern Thailand is favouring recruitment for local Islamic rebel groups, including Jemaah Islamiah.
ICG researchers say people are more scared of the army than of the rebels with government action against the insurgency pushing civilians into the arms of the rebels.
People are approached by rebels and within a few months of contacts many end up joining; some of them are participating in physical training already.
In the last 16 months clashes between rebels and the army have caused hundreds of deaths.
Rebel attacks usually involve homemade explosive devices put on railway tracks or by the roadside.
"They [the rebels] usually target police or soldiers but also [. . .] teachers and civilians, both Buddhist and Muslim, many of who are assumed to be informers," the report said.
Despite it, the population is siding with the rebels because of the government's violent reaction to attacks.
The Thai army in fact reportedly killed 78 people after soldiers dispersed Muslim protesters on April 28 in Narathiwat province
Government and NGOs operating in the country are concerned that the situation might draw foreign jihadists.
The ICG report suggests that rebels have already had numerous contacts with Islamic extremists in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.