Failure by police and the military to adapt to unconventional warfare explains worsening southern situation. It is obvious that the security forces dispatched to keep peace and suppress insurgents in the strife-torn deep South have not been adequately trained for the unconventional warfare being waged by Islamic militants/Malay separatists. Neither have the armed forces, police and paramilitary units in the restive provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat been properly organised for joint combat operations.

GUEST COLUMNIST: Standing up to Burma’s drug-lord generals

The news blackout imposed by Burma’s military junta on its decision to forego its turn as chair of Asean next year shows that it has received a severe blow to its prestige. Indeed, the decision was far from voluntary. Junta leader Senior General Than Shwe lost face and promptly disappeared from public view so completely that some Burmese thought he had died.