>
>I don't want to beat the topic to death, but here in Thailand, where the
>Malaysian and Thai governments are pushing forward with a gas pipeline
>that will cut through rural villages and pristine environments,
>effectively destroying both, they suddenly use the "Muslim" tag to
>implicitly defend their use of violence against protesters (Thailand is
>predominantly Buddhist). That many thousands or millions oppose the
>pipeline seems irrelevant; that the anti-Muslim movement in many countries
>is underway seems like an opportunity for repression of another kind.
>
>Mike, your self-introduction in the xmca course contains, for me, an
>appropriate warning - "...lest our respective citizenries and leaders
>decide that God, or whatever deity they embrace, is uniquely on our side".
>Phil
>
>
>Riot police baton-charged Muslim villagers opposing the Thai-Malaysian gas
>pipeline project last night, injuring several of them.
>
>The villagers, about 2,000 strong, were gathering near the Dusit JB hotel,
>in Hat Yai, when about 1,000 police in riot gear baton-charged them to
>prevent them from getting closer to the hotel, where a mobile cabinet
>meeting is to take place this weekend.
>
>The police attack came around 8.45pm as the largely-Muslim villagers were
>about to have their evening prayer.
>
>During the 30-minute operation, the police also destroyed a number of
>vehicles and sound equipment belonging to the demonstators, witnesses said.
>
>Twelve of their leaders _ including Banchong Nasae, Uthen Chiansaen and
>Kittiphop Sithisawang _ were arrested and dragged away into the hotel.
>
>Osoh Sama, 38, said she saw a student got hit in the head during the melee.
>
>The villagers were gathering peacefully when they were attacked, she said.
>[Bangkok Post December 21]
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Jan 01 2003 - 01:00:07 PST