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Hermanolobo
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TROUBLE IN THE SOUTH: Yala cave a retreat for peaceful sect
Published on Apr 5, 2004
Common knowledge that gatherings occur there regularly, say locals
The secret cave in Yala suspected by officials of being a hiding place for Muslim insurgents is in fact a place of solitude for members of the mystical Sufi Islamic sect, local residents said yesterday.
Madari Sukuhama, a 54-year-old Ban Banangkuwa villager, said it was widely known that the Sua cave had been used by a group calling itself Talikat, whose members follow Sufism.
Talikat members regularly gathered in the cave to pray and practise their religious activities, notably during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, he said.
"The Talikat group are a people who practise religion for a peaceful life, and who are not terrorists," he added. The officials who raided the cave on Friday failed to ask local residents about what it was used for, Madari said.
Lab Maharatnang, head of Na Tham sub-district, said villagers had asked permission from the Fine Art Department to use the cave for their religious activities, but the department had rejected their request.
Senior officials, however, see a far more sinister purpose behind the Sua cave.
Army chief Chaiyasith Shinawatra, who led an inspection of the site yesterday, reached the conclusion that it had been harbouring a group of Muslim militants.
Commander of the Fourth Army Region Pisarn Wattanawongkiri, deputy 9th Police Region commander Thani Tavichsri, and deputy Yala provincial governor Panu Uthairat were also on the inspection team.
Colonel Wicharn Suksom, commander of the Yala Army task force, told senior officials during the inspection that the cave had been used as a hiding and meeting place for the training of young militants, and the production of bombs.
PVC piping, batteries, wire, sacks of cement and some Arabic and Malay-language documents found in the cave are solid evidence to back this conclusion, he said.
Wicharn gave the senior officials a diagram of the locations in the cave allegedly used for nefarious purposes. Chaiyasith told reporters that tip-offs and cooperation from local residents had led to the discovery of the secret hideout.
Abdullah Abruh, an academic at Prince of Songkhla University's Pattani campus, said the Sufi sect was an Islamic order that sought to isolate itself from the world and often sought peaceful locations for soul-searching.
"I don't think the Sufi sect has any link with the spate of violence in the South … and the cave is not a breeding ground for militants as officials understand it to be," he said, suggesting that officials should gain a more in-depth understanding of Muslim society in the South.
The Sufi sect was not popular among Muslims in Thailand as people saw it as irresponsible to neglect one's family to meditate in the jungle, he added.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 2:51 am on April 5, 2004
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Whisper
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May I humbly ask (in a very nice and caring fashion) what the motivation is for this topic? Is it:
(1) to genuinely warn fellow-brothers and recommend them not to travel to these areas?
(2) to make us all feel afraid of stepping out of our residences each morning (for those of us who live here) ?
(3) to be able to gloat when something bad happens and say, "I told you so!" ?
Thus far I have not seen any advice given - just a lot of scare-mongering from a bunch of whore-mongers.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:30 am on April 5, 2004
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Hermanolobo
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It's Thai news. As reported in this case by the BBC.
It is an important topic if you visit or live in Thailand whatever you get up to when you are there?
If you want to live like an ostrich?
Up 2 U ?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 3:39 am on April 5, 2004
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Whisper
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I think a Thai weather report would be more relevent and useful than the latest so-called "news".
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 3:45 am on April 5, 2004
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Hermanolobo
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Quote: from Whisper on 4:45 pm on April 5, 2004
I think a Thai weather report would be more relevent and useful than the latest so-called "news".
You have made a statement
Explain it ?
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:04 am on April 5, 2004
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hzink
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I think what Whisper is trying to say is that any 'news' coming from you, Hermanolobo, are highly suspect, for the simple reason that you (IMO) have very little credibility as EVERYTHING in your world is a conspiracy tinted by catastrophes...
In this case, I would far prefer it if there was ONE THREAD labeled 'Hermie's News' instead of you guffing up the board with a new thread for each and every 'sky is falling' item that youy declare 'news'.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:25 am on April 5, 2004
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Ronnie Raygun
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Partly cloudy, high of 94F, feels like 104F, low of 77F
UV Index: 10+ Extreme
Dew Point: 70F
Humidity: 41%
Visibility: 6.2 miles
Pressure: 29.83 inches and steady
Wind: From the West at 6 mph
You're welcome.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 12:15 am on April 6, 2004
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Whisper
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Thanks for that, Ronnie.
That's much more relevent AND interesting.
How's the missus?
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 4:52 am on April 6, 2004
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JHolmesJr
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Quote: from hzink on 9:25 pm on April 5, 2004
I think what Whisper is trying to say is that any 'news' coming from you, Hermanolobo, are highly suspect, for the simple reason that you (IMO) have very little credibility as EVERYTHING in your world is a conspiracy tinted by catastrophes...
You're the guy who's always warning of catastrophes, offering highly subjective opinions on everything from thai music to thai militants.
At least Hermanolobo quotes from published sources for most part.
Don't make me go medieval on your ass, boy.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:02 am on April 6, 2004
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