Thai cop killed in southern insurgent bombing; Filipino communist terrorist leader slain by army
And more headlines in this latest weekly Southeast Asia conflict summary.
Southeast Asia faced persistent security challenges in mid-May 2025, marked by insurgency, election-related violence, junta atrocities, and ongoing counterterrorism efforts across the region.
In Thailand, violence linked to the southern insurgency continued to claim lives. A police officer was killed and another injured in a roadside bombing in Pattani. The deteriorating security situation prompted renewed concern among educators, with teachers calling for urgent protection in the restive provinces bordering Malaysia. Meanwhile, a prominent Thai Shia religious leader warned of the increasing influence of foreign-funded NGOs in the southern conflict. On the national front, political instability remained a concern, as a respected Thammasat University legal scholar cautioned that another military coup could not be ruled out.
In the Philippines, communist insurgency and electoral violence dominated the security landscape. A senior New People’s Army (NPA) commander was killed in a clash with the military in Surigao del Sur, while the NPA claimed responsibility for the killing of an auxiliary force member in Negros Occidental. Tensions were high during the local elections, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BARMM), where reports of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities surfaced. Authorities arrested 12 heavily armed suspects, including a lawyer, in Abra province in a suspected election-related incident. Elsewhere, clashes in Maguindanao del Sur resulted in two deaths and eight arrests just before the polls. Despite these incidents, the Philippine Army and police praised the peaceful conduct of elections in parts of Mindanao, including Basilan and West Mindanao.
Following the elections, military operations against communist rebels resumed. In parallel, efforts to stabilise rebel-affected communities continued, with two lawmakers pledging development projects. A Filipina was sentenced to 20 years in prison for financing terrorism, reflecting ongoing counterterrorism efforts. The government also…