A consortium of researchers dedicated to improving the understanding of the human causes and consequences of terrorism
New study examines terrorism in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand
New study examines terrorism in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand
Characteristics of attacks vary across the countries
Four perpetrator organizations are primarily responsible for terrorist attacks in the Philippines, with more than 60 percent of all attacks committed by MILF, NPA, ASG and MNLF. Terrorism in the Philippines has been a considerable threat since the late 1970s, with an average of more than 80 attacks annually since 2000. The highest numbers of fatalities were attributed to attacks against military targets, followed by private citizens and property, businesses, government and police. Private citizens and property and religious figures and institutions are the primary targets for terrorist attacks in Indonesia, according to the data.
However, terrorist activity in Indonesia has declined dramatically since the 2002 suicide bombings in a Bali night club. In Thailand, private citizens and property are more likely to fall victim to terrorist attacks than businesses, government or transportation. The data also shows that a large surge in terrorist activity occurred in Thailand between 2004 and 2008, after a relatively long period that saw only sporadic occurrences.
The article appears in the current issue of Security and Peace (S+F Sicherheit und Frieden), which can be found here.