Thai Islamists Busy Adding To Butcher's Bill

Four more people were murdered by Thai Islamists in the Southern part of Thailand. Five others were wounded by the Islamists fired on a train carrying passengers through Yala Province from Malaysia.

10 people were killed when a military helicopter crashed ferrying forces into the region.

France24 seems to have a problem trying to figure out who exactly is behind all the Islamist violence. It's actually a good question since it throws into sharp contrast the goals and aims of the Islamists worldwide from what most people think as being centered on hatred and venom directed towards Israel. The Islamists want dominion over the Southern Thai provinces, instituting their own law and rules.

This adds to the concerns about the stability of the Thai government, which has been unsuccessful in either attempting to fight the insurgency or appeasing them.

When the People's Power Party took control in February -- after the first elections since a military coup in September 2006 -- many Thais hoped for an end to two years of political turmoil over Thaksin Shinawatra, the controversial former prime minister.

The new government's leaders sought to sustain that optimism, pledging to avoid sensitive political issues in their first six months in power and to dedicate their attention instead to the task of reviving a sluggish economy.

While the rumors of an imminent military coup that swept Bangkok several weeks ago have subsided, many Thais think the government will be short-lived.

On Friday, thousands of protesters laid siege to Government House, where the prime minister's office is located, to press for the government's resignation, pledging to stay until they achieved their goal.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in the insurgency over the past five years, and there's no sign that the fighting will slacken anytime soon.