Thailand seeks U.S. help battling insurgents

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By Richard S. Ehrlich

BANGKOK

Thailand's military wants the U.S. to provide satellite equipment and imagery so it can hunt thousands of Islamist separatists who are killing Thai troops and civilians in an attempt to establish a strict Muslim state in the south.

About 30,000 soldiers are fighting against 8,000 insurgents and their supporters, including about 2,000 armed rebels, said Lt. Gen. Pichet Wisaijorn, the Royal Thai Army chief in the southern region.

An estimated 3,700 people on all sides have perished during the past five years in Thailand's three Muslim-majority southern provinces.

Much of the southern war is fueled by Muslim Thais who say they are fighting for a separate homeland autonomous from the Buddhist-majority nation.

Asked in a recent interview what help Thailand's military would like America to provide, Gen. Pichet replied:

"What I would really like now is a satellite that would focus on [insurgent] activity 24 hours a day. I would love to be able to look at a screen to see who is laying the land mines."

Gen. Pichet is the 4th Army regional commander. He also commanded Thai troops in East Timor in 2000.

He said his superiors had asked the U.S. for satellite reconnaissance assistance but that nothing had been arranged thus far.

The State Department declined to comment.