Thai separatists threaten bloody revenge

Separatists in southern Thailand urged all Muslims to rise up and warned today that the killing of 108 militants by security forces this week would be paid for “with blood and tears.”

They also warned visitors to stay away from some of the most popular tourist sites in southern Thailand – sending shivers through an industry that forms a huge chunk of the country’s economy.

Already, some governments were issuing travel warnings. Australia and New Zealand advised their citizens to defer travel to Thailand’s south because of the violence.

The threats were posted on the Internet site of a once-strong Islamic separatist movement that disbanded years ago but maintains a presence on the Web.

It was impossible to confirm the origin or veracity of the statements, one in English and another in a southern Thai dialect.

On Wednesday, 113 people were killed in three southern provinces when heavily armed security forces responded with deadly force to co-ordinated attacks by young men armed mostly with machetes. The dead included five soldiers.

The UN’s human rights chief today demanded that Thai authorities carry out an urgent investigation into the clashes.

The investigation should be “swift and transparent”, said Bertrand Ramcharan, the acting High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Under UN treaties, security forces are “required to refrain from using force exceeding that strictly required by the exigencies of the situation,” Ramcharan said.

He said immediate action should be taken to ensure that everyone involved - including prisoners – are guaranteed their human rights.