Here's a Term You Don't Hear Very Often

Buddhist Vigilantes. Sort of an oxymoron, isn't it? But it looks like some of the Buddhists in Thailand have finally had their fill of being victimized by Muslim violence.

Until recently, most of the violence that has killed more than 2,300 people since 2004 was the work of radical Muslim groups which have penetrated many of the remote, jungle-fringed villages of the south and struck into the heart of its few urban areas.

They have used Iraq-style roadside bombings, drive-by shootings and beheadings against Buddhists as well as fellow Muslims deemed traitors to their cause.

But in several recent cases of violence against Muslims, suspicion has fallen on shadowy Buddhist vigilante groups.

Despite the very cool name ("shadowy Buddhist vigilantes"), the fact that some Buddhists are finally responding with homegrown militias and vigilantism is not particularly good news - it is an incipient religious civil war that will parallel the sectarian strife in Iraq. Al Qaeda is suspected to be involved in encouraging and supporting the Muslim insurgents' violent campaign; if that's true I wouldn't be surprised if they were pleased that these Buddhists finally reached their snapping point.

From the US perspective, the problem with Thailand is that they had a military coup last year, replacing the Prime Minister we liked (Thaksin Shinawatra) with a military regime which has stifled the people and media of the country. The US withdrew military aid ($24 million/yr) after the coup, and hasn't yet restored decent relations, especially since China leapt in to fill the vacuum left by the US (they provided $49 million in military aid).

So we are unlikely to be Thailand's cavalry. The irony is that Thaksin's lack of success against the insurgents was cited as a reason for the coup. Now the violence is increasing and efforts to negotiate with the insurgents have failed miserably. The Thai government plans to continue negotiations, but they don't seem to have a Plan B if talking keeps failing.

If I were the Prime Minister of Thailand, I'd be very concerned about making it to my first anniversary in office. On the other hand, if I were a shadowy Buddhist vigilante, I'd be reveling in my ninja-like powers.