Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has asked Malaysia to turn over alleged militant leader Doramae Kuteh — better known as Chae Kumae Kuteh — claiming that Chae masterminded the January 2004 assault against a Thai army barracks that ignited ethnic violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the southern Thai provinces. Malaysian authorities announced the arrest Jan. 26, but so far have ignored Thaksin's request. The case is just one more example of the tensions between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur caused by the ongoing violence in Thailand's south. Although Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, Muslims make up the majority in the country's southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani. The always-restive region has witnessed resurgent violence since 78 Muslim men died in the Thai army's custody following their October 2004 arrests during a riot. In recent months, Thaksin has claimed that militants in Thailand have received training abroad from foreign Islamists with ties to Indonesia and Malaysia — Thailand's two predominantly Muslim neighbors — and that elements in Malaysia are providing support to the militants. In December 2004, in fact, the Thai government said it had photographic proof that militants in southern Thailand were being trained in Malaysia's Kelantan province on Thailand's southern border. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied the charge. Also in December, Malaysia's dominant political party, United Malays National Organization (UMNO), accused the Muslim charity Malaysian Muslim Welfare Organization of sending money to a Thai separatist movement, the funds allegedly coming from Kelantan province. The charity's Kelantan branch is headed by Kik Aziz Nik Mat, the province's highest elected official and the spiritual leader of the opposition Islamic Party of Malaysia. UNMO's accusation might have been an attempt to discredit a rival party, but a degree of sympathy does exist within Malaysia for Thailand's Muslims. Reports like this only reinforce the Thai belief that the southern militants are trying to break away from the country — and are receiving help from nongovernmental organizations in Malaysia. After Malaysia announced Chae's arrest, Thaksin told reporters the suspect should be turned over to Thailand, a statement that rankled Kuala Lumpur, which felt the request should have been made more quietly and through official channels. Due most likely to the strained relations between the two countries over the militant issue, Abdullah has shown no sign that he plans to turn Chae over — and no extradition treaty exists to ease the process. Eventually, Abdullah likely will give up Chae, but not before making Bangkok jump through some hoops — and not before first considering the potential domestic reaction to such a move. Malaysians in general believe Thaksin is too heavy-handed in southern Thailand and that Buddhist Thais are persecuting their fellow Malay Muslims. So far, the attacks against Buddhists and government targets in Thailand's south do not appear to be part of a well-organized and cohesive insurgency. The violence in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani has been occurring at a fairly steady rate since October 2004 — after a nearly six-month lull — but the scope has remained small. In the latest case, for example, a Feb. 8 bombing outside a small hotel frequented by prostitutes in southern Narathiwat province injured two people and caused minor damage. Another such establishment came under attack in November 2004. Thailand's main insurgent group, the Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO), has not claimed responsibility for attacks in this latest wave of violence, but has threatened attacks in Bangkok and other major areas. Both Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur would like to see the problem in southern Thailand go away, although it does not pose enough of a threat to either government to inspire drastic action anytime soon. Should PULO or another militant group stage an attack in Bangkok or a Thai tourist resort, however, Thaksin would crack down hard — not caring what Malaysia or Indonesia thinks. Unless that happens, the issue will continue to simmer and remain a sore point in Thailand's relations with its Muslim neighbors.