The Malaysian government was not involved in the raising of the Malaysian flag in southern Thailand last Friday.

National Security Council secretary-general Police General Wichien Potposri said today that the Malaysian government was not behind the flag-raising activity.

“Thailand and Malaysia have very good relationship and cooperation in resolving the southern Thailand conflict,” he told reporters after attending the National Security Council meeting in Bangkok.

Several Malaysian flags were raised in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat last Friday, the day Malaysians celebrated its National Day.

Some flags were seen raised on trees and electric poles as well as being carried around by some men.

It is not clear why the insurgents had put up Malaysian flags in the three southern provinces.

Gen Wichien said it was not an offence for people to bring in Malaysian flags through the Malaysia-Thailand border.

Fourth Army commander Major-General Udomchai Thammasaorath believed the insurgents’ motive was to create misunderstanding between Thailand and Malaysia.

“We have a very cordial relationship. Whatever happened would not create misunderstanding between the two countries,” he said.

There were more than 100 attacks launched in the three provinces last Friday with the worst case involving a departmental store in Narathiwat, which was bombed with losses estimated to be more than 60 million Baht (about RM6 million).

This was the 17th time the departmental store had been bombed within seven years and the latest attack was the worst.

The coordinated attacks were carried out in the three provinces believed to be in conjunction with the anniversary of the United Front for the Independence of Pattani (Bersatu).

Bersatu was formed on Aug 31, 1989 by the splinter insurgent groups of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), Barisan Revolusi National Melayu Pattani (BRN), Barisan National Pember-Basan Pattani (BNPP) and Mujahadeen Pattani.

- Bernama