Leveraging Emerging Technologies in Southern Thailand
Abstract
Since 2001, the Kingdom of Thailand has seen a resurgence of ethnic-religious (Malay-Muslim) violence that has killed approximately 800 people, causing obvious disruption within the nation and instability in the region. Thailand is one of the United States' staunchest allies in Southeast Asia. Because of the potential for this violence to intensify further, it behooves the U.S. Government to offer solutions to help mitigate or reduce the violence in southern Thailand. This thesis examines the history of southern Thailand, including the political factors behind the Malay-Muslim rebellions of the past, the roots of this rebellion back to the era of Patani Raya, and the "Siamization" of the south. The thesis also explores the various trends and actors and other antecedent conditions (external influences) that have affected recent episodes of violence, and provides information on the various separatist groups operating in the south along with an analysis of the porous Thai-Malay border and the role of the PAS. Lastly, the thesis examines an Naval Postgraduate School field experimentation program entitled "Coalition Operation Area Surveillance and Targeting System" (COASTS). COASTS provides tactical, actionable, information to remote and local decision-makers by integrating commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), lighter than air vehicles (LTA), unattended air and ground sensors, and wireless meshed networks. If deployed to problematic areas, systems like COASTS can assist the Royal Thai Government in reducing the violence in the south.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA462701
Entities
People
- Albert R. Valentine
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School