Whether or not the heinous blast at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine is linked to the violent conflict in Thailand’s predominantly Malay Muslim South, it is vitally important to acknowledge that there is strong evidence to suggest that southern militants are likely to have extended their actions outside their traditional theatre of operation.

 

           While there is no conclusive answer as of yet about the perpetrators of the Erawan shrine bombing in Bangkok and their motives, one thing that needs to be stressed is that it will do more harm than good if the government's investigation fails to examine the hard evidence, and instead aims to minimise the economic repercussions.