Thailand risks a Muslim uprising in the south after the deaths of almost 80 Muslims in military custody, the main Islamic political party in neighbouring Malaysia has said.
Most of the victims suffocated and several broke their necks when 1300 people in the southern Narathiwat province were stuffed into vehicles for at least six hours on Monday after Thai officials used water cannon, gunfire and tear gas to break up a demonstration.
"This is tragic and a real massacre of a group of people who are just peacefully demonstrating and this will have a great effect on the feelings of southern Thai people," Muhammad Hatta, chairman of the external affairs committee of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), said.
"This latest issue will create more instability and dissatisfaction and we are very worried that people will rise against the government."
al jazeera