Thailand backed away from comments that extremists from Cambodia and Indonesia were training separatist rebels in the Thai south

Thailand backs away from claims of foreign fighters in south Mon May
21, 2:11 AM ET



BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand on Monday backed away from comments that
extremists from Cambodia and Indonesia were training separatist rebels
in the Thai south, after the accusations provoked outrage from
Cambodia.

General Watanachai Chaimuanwong, a senior security adviser to the Thai
prime minister, said last week that foreign experts were providing
weapons and bomb making training in the Muslim-majority south.

But on Monday he said the government had no evidence to back up those
claims, and said it was a "sensitive issue."

"Intelligence reports pointed to specialists from Indonesia and
Cambodia training rebels in southern Thailand, but the government
cannot prove or confirm their nationalities because we don't have
clear evidence yet," Watanachai told reporters.

Watanachai said on Thursday that Thai authorities were investigating
reports that hundreds of Cambodian Muslims with links to the Jemaah
Islamiyah extremist network may have slipped into Thailand.

His comments were not well received by Cambodia. Khieu Kanharith,
Cambodian government spokesman, said it was a "gross accusation" and
accused Thailand of trying to find a scapegoat for the southern
violence.

More than 2,200 people have been killed in the three southern
provinces bordering Malaysia since the latest insurgency erupted in
January 2004, and rebels have recently stepped up their bloody
campaign for a separate state.

The Thai government had previously denied that the insurgents were
receiving any assistance from overseas groups, and insisted it was an
internal problem.

Watanachai said Monday that the government, installed after a coup
last September, was again trying to launch a round of negotiations
with rebels, in their latest bit to end the violence.

He cautioned, however, that the unrest may not be solved within this
government's term.

The ruling junta has promised elections and a democratically elected
government by the end of the year.

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