"Vulnerability of Muslims"

The Thai government has been pursuing a policy of repression against its Muslim minority for quite some time now. The manner of the deaths in question is very reprehensible. Unfortunately, the Thai government has not been taken to task for this act by the international community in a manner that would have done justice for the crime committed. The initial reaction of Prime Minister Thaksin was very deplorable as he referred to those killed in a very derogatory manner. He of course later corrected his first reaction to this heinous crime; yet he has been allowed to go without much censure.

The Muslim countries have allowed this massacre to go without taking any action. There should have been condemnation of this gruesome act by all Muslim countries individually and at the OIC collectively. Unfortunately, the rest of the world that are non-Muslim also let this act go without condemnation. This is most unfortunate. The only plausible answer to this silence could be attributed to the fact that the Muslim world is too divided to stand up for its rights and the non-Muslim world could not care less when those being massacred are Muslims.

However, Mr. Thaksin will have to pay a price for this act of cruelty by his military under his watch. He was emerging as the natural leader of the ASEAN. His remarks after the incident and more importantly the poor record in protection of the Muslims by his government are certain to dampen the prospects of his leadership of the ASEAN keeping in mind that two major nations of this group, namely Indonesia and Malaysia , are Muslim nations.