Thai generals reject UN referendum

Thai military officials rejected a possible U.N. plan to hold a referendum as a means of ending violence in southern parts of the country. If the U.N. referendum is held, "then we're finished," deputy army chief Daopong Rattanasuban said Friday, the Bangkok Post reported. "We have not lost our land yet, but if we're complacent and let the U.N. intervene and hold a referendum, then we're finished," Rattanasuban said. "We won't let this happen and we'll fight it to the death, but our Muslim brothers and sisters have to understand us because we're fighting against a small percentage of people who are using guerrilla warfare tactics." Insurgents initially tried to provoke Muslim villagers by telling them the government and Thai Buddhists were evil, Rattanasuban said. When their arguments failed, the general said the insurgents began setting off bombs and randomly killing security officers. About 7,000 to 9,000 militants are in the southernmost provinces, said army commander in chief Prayuth Chan-ocha. More than 5,000 people have been killed and more than 9,000 injured in that region since January 2004, said Deep South Watch, an independent organization monitoring the conflict.