It's In Your DNA: Using Swabbing to Combat Thailand's Deep South Insurgency

A series of bombings in Yala municipality, Southern Thailand, in May 2015 have raised concerns of a renewed insurgency in the region. According to authorities, the blasts were caused by pipe bombs and were intended to spread fear rather than produce mass fatalities. Nevertheless, 22 people were injured in at least 36 attacks over a period of just two days. Though such incidents, and other acts of terror, are common in Southern Thailand, these latest attacks occurred almost a year to the day since the military-led government significantly increased the use of DNA swabbing to combat separatist-inspired attacks in the region. While the military credits the collection of DNA with the decrease in violence in Southern Thailand, many assert that forced DNA sweeps are further alienating locals, and, as such, could motivate militant separatists to stage more attacks.

Separatist violence dates back almost half a century in Thailand, and has predominantly occurred in the Malay-Muslim provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani – collectively known as the Deep South. For decades, the government forcefully sought to align MalayMuslims living in the area with the Thai national identity by actively supressing any form of regional linguistic, cultural, or religious autonomy in the south. These actions gave rise to an ethno-religious insurgency, as Malay-Muslims remained determined to protect their identity and way of life. Despite the increase in tensions, the government continued to portray unrest in the Deep South as an issue of law and order that - although intermittently serious in its manifestation- did not require a major state response.

The government’s response to the insurgency changed in 2004 when Muslim rebels raided a Thai army camp in Narathiwat and stole more than 300 weapons; this incident was followed by a succession of attacks aimed at security personnel. The state subsequently intensified its position in the Deep South by deploying the army, specialist paramilitary police units, and civildefence militias to the region. Between 2004 and 2007, confrontations between rebels and the military produced significant civilian and security personnel fatalities; more than 2000 deaths were recorded, and in 2014, the number surpassed 6,000.

This response relied almost exclusively on the military as there was little attempt to address the poverty, underdevelopment, and alienation that fuelled MalayMuslim discontent. Instead, the government continued to rely on repression to address unrest in the Deep South. Approximately 15,000 soldiers currently patrol Southern Thailand to deter around 9,000 Muslim rebels.

In addition to an extensive security presence in the region, Thailand’s year-old military junta has stepped up DNA collecting to curb the insurgency. Since seizing power in May 2014, the military leadership claims that DNA swabbing has assisted with significantly decreasing attacks by Malay-Muslim rebels. According to officials, DNA samples make arrests and prosecutions easier. The DNA testing includes collecting saliva swabs and fingerprints of suspected rebels, which are then crosschecked in the analysis of post-blast explosive residues, or against other weaponry and evidence found at a crime scene. With already 22 arrests in the first four months of this year, security-related charges for 2015 are set to surpass that of 2014, partly because of the use of DNA evidence. While the military claims that its DNA swabbing strategy has proven to be effective, lawyers and activists argue that forced sweeps are further alienating Muslims in the Deep South, exacerbating the already low levels of trust between the Muslim population and security personnel. Indeed, the police’s heavy-handed approach to obtaining DNA samples is angering locals. Some claim they have been threatened at gunpoint to comply with security forces, whilst others have been sampled more than once. Many more are puzzled as to why their DNA is being obtained if they did not commit a crime.

Though Major General Anurut Kritsanakaraket, commander of the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre, denies that his personnel are overbearing, the widespread accumulation of DNA samples will, nevertheless, deepen resentment towards the military and threatens to further radicalise southern Muslims. In refuting the DNA sampling, some Muslim locals are likely to become more supportive of insurgent rebels, possibly even encouraging various separatist organisations to stage attacks. However, while a repeat of the violence experienced between 2004 and 2007 is unlikely, rebels are nevertheless expected to up the tempo of their attacks, as evidenced by the recent bomb blasts in Yala municipality. Moreover, while the military-led government touts possible peace negotiations with separatist leaders, most southerners remain sceptical of a negotiated solution; especially given the Thai authorities’ continued heavy-handed approach to the Deep South. The continued DNA sampling is therefore likely to further aggravate tensions in the region, rendering a consolidated solution unlikely in the short term.