Hat Yai

[Kismet 9]

Oh yes. You are absolutely right.

They are now well taken care off in Malaysia.

They belong to the same Malay race

and more so, the same religion.

I won't be surprise, if they are given Permanent

Residence in Malaysia.

[Amir 56]

This is Thailand and Malaysia related.

It has to do with Thailand & Malaysia.

It involves the insurgency in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

Hatyai is only about 2 to 3 hours drive to the Sothern States.

Surayud's military-backed administration has announced plans for talks with two insurgent groups this month, and rebel leaders have reportedly said they would like to hold the talks in Malaysia. - AFP

I agree with you but what i mean is that we are talking about "is it safe to live in Hat Yai" (that's what the PO ment). And these MAlaysian problems are not making Hat Yai unsafe to live. Even if there are some activists in Hat Yai.

[mikeskor 0]

Is there anyone here who actually lives in Hat Yai and would like to comment on the security situation.I have a job possibility in Hat Yai and want to know your feelings about the place.

[micky 0]

Let me put in this way.

Hatyai is just about a two hours drive to the Southern Province,

which is facing a serious insurgency. Bomb attacks and killings

are the order of the day for the separatists to achieve their aims

for an independent state. The situation is not getting better, it

is getting from bad to worst. Bomb blast has happened in Hatyai

tourist and shopping areas, Hatyai railway station, Airport,

and so on. Do you think they will stop here ? Please remember,

the separatists, unofficially, have the support from the muslim

world. Of course they will deny it and because of that I use the

term ' unofficially '. Please remember, we are the 'unbelievers'.

To protect the tourism industry the Thai authorities would say,

"Please come, nothing serious, we are in control".

Whom do you believe ? I rest my case. Enter at your own risks.

[mikeskor 0]

Thanks, Micky. "Enter at your own risk." is the conclusion I came to as well after reading newspaper accounts of the attacks in Hat Yai. So I decided not to continue my application for an interesting writing/teaching job at the Medical School there. I have already lived through a terrorist attack in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. And afterwards, you think about when will the next one be and how can I change my routine so I won't be involved. So you start to always think about it. You're right on with the mindset of these Muslim radicals: The West is attacking Islam so we must attack these unbelievers. With that kind of mindset and justification, there's no restraint. Anything is possible. It must be pretty hard for them to get the explosive up to Bangkok or they don't have their supporters in place there yet making the explosive, otherwise we would have seen explosions by now. I've noticed too that terrorists usual need a good sized Muslim population in a place to hide among and find support. Then it's easier for them to do their worst.

Edited November 30, 2006 by mikeskor

[Kismet 9]

The muslim separatists have been fighting for independence for many many

years. It is an open secret that the muslim countries are very sympathetic

towards their cause. The southerners are muslims and of the Malay race,

just like the muslim Malays in Malaysia. The Malays (the dominant race)

in Malaysia has close historical, cultural, religious, and family ties with

the Southerners, who are also Malays and most importantly, muslims

and they speak the same language.

Bangkok has from time to time accuses Malaysia for giving shelter to

the separatists, which Malaysia vehemently denied.

The southerners being muslims are alien to the culture, customs, practices, and

beliefs of the Thais who are Buddhists. About 96% of Thailand are Buddhists.

The southerners would very much like to implement Islamic laws and use

Malay as their official language. Deep in their hearts, they are fighting for

a cause. There is no easy solution to these problems.

[my friend I 182]

Last weekend in Had Yai was very quiet maybe coz end of the month. Only saw a few Malaysian/ Singaporeans, 5 backpackers & 2 westerners at the train station heading north.

I was the only guest in my hotel.

[Kismet 9]

Latest news from Bangkok Post:

BREAKING NEWS

Malaysia grants access to Thai Muslims

Kuala Lumpur (Agencies)

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Razak says Thai authorities will be given access to 131 Muslims who fled southern Thailand fearing official persecution from the former government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

Najib said the access would be allowed "to convince them to return," and came after he met Thai army commander Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin earlier this week to discuss the violence caused by Muslim insurgents.

A group of 131 Thai Muslims fled across the southern border to Malaysia last year, fearing a military crackdown. They are now at a community center in the northeastern state of Terengganu, Najib said.

Sonthi had said earlier Malaysia used to cooperate in handing back suspected insurgents until Thaksin's government executed some of them. He did not provide further details or offer evidence.

"He would like them to return, and I said this is our wish (too)," Najib said, referring to Sonthi.

"Meanwhile, we will continue to keep them at the center in Terengganu and we will allow free access to them by the Thai authorities."

Malaysia said earlier the 131 would not be forced back, but would be allowed to remain on humanitarian grounds. Najib said that "since they are Thai citizens, they should return to Thailand" and that Sonthi had briefed him at their meeting earlier this week on efforts to mediate a "return to normalcy."

Thailand has asserted that insurgent leaders take refuge in Malaysia, an allegation publicly rejected by its southern neighbour. Bangkok has also said sympathisers in Malaysia were fuelling the insurgency by providing funds to suspected militants, another allegation denied by Malaysia.

Najib said Sonthi told him he was pleased with the state of relations between the two Southeast Asian neighbours.

The two countries will also compare databases to check on people holding dual citizenship, Najib said, without elaborating. Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship.

[hUsh 1]

Has anyone recently been to Hat Yai or is currently? I am a bit worried about the current situation and I plan to stop at Hat yai for one night on the 1st of Jan. before heading to Koh Lipe.

Any advice or comments will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Kismet 9]

If you must go in for reasons best known to you,

the best advice I can give you is this.

Keep away from tourists spots, shopping complexs,

bars, crowded areas, and other sex related industry

areas. The attacks on these areas would destroy the

tourism industry and the Hatyai's economy, which is

the objective of the separatists. The attack would come

when you are least expected. In other words, " any time ".

The latest news is that the younger separatists are not

willing to negotiate. They have the support of the muslim

world, and they are willing to die for their beliefs and are

fighting for a cause. We are the 'unbelievers'.

[hUsh 1]

If you must go in for reasons best known to you,

the best advice I can give you is this.

Keep away from tourists spots, shopping complexs,

bars, crowded areas, and other sex related industry

areas. The attacks on these areas would destroy the

tourism industry and the Hatyai's economy, which is

the objective of the separatists. The attack would come

when you are least expected. In other words, " any time ".

The latest news is that the younger separatists are not

willing to negotiate. They have the support of the muslim

world, and they are willing to die for their beliefs and are

fighting for a cause. We are the 'unbelievers'.

That sounds scary

[dr_Pat_Pong 7]

If you must go in for reasons best known to you,

the best advice I can give you is this.

Keep away from tourists spots, shopping complexs,

bars, crowded areas, and other sex related industry

areas. The attacks on these areas would destroy the

tourism industry and the Hatyai's economy, which is

the objective of the separatists. The attack would come

when you are least expected. In other words, " any time ".

The latest news is that the younger separatists are not

willing to negotiate. They have the support of the muslim

world, and they are willing to die for their beliefs and are

fighting for a cause. We are the 'unbelievers'.

That sounds scary

Oh yes indeedy.

[korb 3]

hi ,anyone knows how to go to betong from hatyai by minibus.and where should i take the transport in hatyai town after arriving in hatyai airport.thankyou

[Kismet 9]

Just a reminder :

Seven Malaysians injured in Hatyai blasts

Sunday September 17, 2006

PETALING JAYA: At least seven Malaysians were among the 65 injured from a serious of bomb blasts in the southern Thai city of Hatyai Saturday night.

The explosions, which occurred after 10pm local time, killed four people including a Canadian tourist and a Chinese national, foreign reports said.

Up to six bombs went off almost simultaneously at various locations including the Odeon Shopping Mall, Big C and Lee Garden Plaza, which has a hotel on the top of the shopping mall.

The Malaysians have been admitted into hospital in the city but no details on their condition were available.

From The Star newspaper.

[micky 0]

Another reminder:

This happened in April 2005.

April 3, 2005.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Two bombs exploded almost simultaneously at an airport and a supermarket in Thailand's restive Muslim south Sunday, killing one person and wounding more than 30 others, police and witnesses said.

The two bombs in the southern commercial town of Hat Yai were the latest attacks in a region where more than 600 people have died in 15 months of violence which the government has blamed on Muslim separatists.

"One person was killed at the airport," Police Major General Surapol Tongprasert told Reuters. A Hat Yai hospital official said they were treating more than 30 wounded from the two bomb attacks.

An airport limousine driver told Reuters he saw 20 people wounded, including a fellow driver whose legs had been blown off.

"I saw it with my own eyes. The bomb cut off the legs of one of my friends," driver Purich Raebenmud told Reuters.

Another eight people were wounded when a second bomb exploded at the Carrefour superstore, about 20 km (12 miles) from the airport, Bangkok's FM 100 radio reported.

Police said a third bomb hidden in a motorcycle exploded outside a hotel in the town of Songkhla, 40 km north of Hat Yai, but there were no reports of casualties.