Citation

Petersen C. Australas. J. Hum. Secur. 2006; 2(1): 51.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Egan-Reid)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The concept of human security gained recognition in policy and institutional circles following the Cold War. State leaders are beginning to acknowledge that human needs affect state security in ways that armed force has never been able to. Thailand's Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is one such leader. While most of the country's citizens enjoy peace, economic opportunity, and democratic representation, the Muslim minority in the southern provinces are victims of violence, poverty, and discrimination. In this region, illicit businesses, police and army corruption, criminal gangs, separatist organisations, radical Islamic fundamentalists, and regional terror groups' operate with impunity along the porous border with Malaysia. These groups terrorize local citizens and engage in internecine warfare. As a result, Muslim and Buddhist citizens live in a state of fear. If the security climate worsens, the region could become a foothold for international terrorist groups like Jemaah Islamiya and Al-Qaeda.

Language: en