Thai junta-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has reportedly said:
It is confirmed that the separatists were able continue their attacks and raids because they were funded by the Thai Tom Yam Kung network of restaurants. The restaurants, big and small, collected the money through blackmail and demands for protection fees from local businessmen and channelled the sum to the separatists
Thanks to Patiwat for the tip-off about this fishy development.
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The Malaysian’s are calling Surayud out for this. Malaysian Deputy Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow called Surayud “very imaginative” but “absolutely baseless.”
Junior Security Minister Johari Baharom demanded Surayud show proof of the claims.
I don’t know…. it sorta makes sense. Surayud claims he wanted to negotiate with the insurgents. And now he’s found his negotiation partners!
I’m giving Surayud the benefit of the doubt and am now urging all my Malaysian friends to boycot Tom Yum Kung.
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this maybe an interesting tip of the iceberg. The money to fund the insurgencies has to come from somewhere. I wonder what’s the informed opinion on the role of the Malaysian establishment in the current round of violence. With the well-known discriminatory (some would say racist) policy of UMNO, to me it is not such a stretch that some rogue elements might be inclined to actively champion the cause of their kinsfolk in a certain neighboring country.
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You will be surprised by how the army information is so different than what’s on the newspaper. Used to talk to one of them often, and their view and perspective of state security problem is so different from civillian. One thing for sure, army always has in thier mind the idea of conflict between nation and outsider.
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