Thailand's premier said Friday he expected violence to intensify in the country's stricken south as an independent inquiry began into the deaths of 78 detained Muslim protesters. As the death toll in the region continued to mount, Thaksin Shinawatra said separatists would increase killings to try to provoke the authorities into a harsh crackdown for "propaganda" purposes.
"I am convinced that the violence will be intensified... since the militants want to tempt the government to get angry and adopt a more harsh crackdown then they can use it as propaganda in foreign countries," Thaksin, facing criticism in Thailand and overseas for his handling of the crisis, told reporters.
The government also revised upwards estimated deaths from the separatist insurgency since January, saying at least 340 people had been killed by militants in 1,000 attacks.
Including 108 militants killed during a day-long uprising in April and the deaths of 87 protesters last week in the southern province of Narathiwat, the toll is now at least 535, more than 50 above tallies based on previous official figures.