Confirmation that seven of the 108 militants killed in last week’s bloody uprising in southern Thailand were foreigners has strengthened fears that the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network may have opened a new front in South-East Asia. Several captured militants are reported to have told interrogators that the attacks were planned with the involvement of JI – the group blamed for the Bali and Jakarta Marriott Hotel bombings – and a related Malaysian extremist group. Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Tuesday there was still no direct evidence of foreign support for the long-running separatist unrest in the predominantly Muslim provinces bordering Malaysia. But he conceded after a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok that al-Qaeda and regional affiliates such as JI could be inspiring the Thai militants. “There is a possibility that they are getting some sort of, not direct support, but encouragement from developments in other areas,” Mr Najib said. Full Story
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