Thailand has been ranked No 8 among countries most prone to
terrorist attacks mainly due to insurgency in the deep South.
According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) covering 158
countries, Thailand is the worst in Southeast Asia and the fifth
worst in all Asia. The top four countries in the list are all from
Asia - Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India - where terrorist
incidents were "heavily concentrated".
Thailand ranks top among the Southeast Asian countries, followed by
the Philippines (No 10), Indonesia (29), Myanmar (33), Malaysia
(90) and Cambodia (101). Laos has not experienced terrorism over
the past decade, the report said.
While the government played down Thailand's high ranking in terms
of terrorism yesterday, opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva
expressed concerns that the news would have a negative impact on
the country's image.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said he did not think
incidents in the Muslim-majority South could be considered
"terrorism" and that it was the media's fault for creating fear
among the public. National Security Council secretary-general
Lt-General Paradorn Pattanathabutr agreed, saying the degree of
violence in the South could not be regarded as "terrorism".
Abhisit, however, reiterated that the ranking on the terrorism
index was not good for Thailand's image.
The GTI systematically ranks and compares 158 countries according
to the impact of terrorism, which is measured against four
indicators - the number of incidents, deaths, injured and the level
of property damage. According to the institute, the 173 violent
incidents that took place in the South last year - and left 142
people dead and 427 others injured - could be documented as
terrorism.
