"Everyone wants to be free," Said said.
He said Muslims don't get jobs in the government easily, and the curriculum in schools is imposed by the central government in Bangkok.
Emboldened by their past successes, the insurgents -- mostly poorly armed teenagers -- launched their most daring attack ever on April 28, raiding 10 security outposts. Shouting "God is Great" and waving machetes, they were met by well-prepared troops and policemen. After the shooting stopped, 107 militants and five security forces were dead.
But officials still have no idea -- or are refusing to say -- how many armed militants are active in the area. One military official privately said there are less than 100 but acknowledged that their supporters number in the thousands.
Saturday's beheading of Cheam -- apparently an innocent victim picked at random -- marked a new, more brutal phase in the violence.
"If you bastards continue to arrest innocent Malays, we will damn sure kill more innocent Thai Buddhists," said the note on his body, reflecting the hatred in the south for the police, who are accused of heavy-handed tactics including arbitrary arrests and kidnappings.
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