Thai government claims international funding for southern Muslim militants is increasing

Thailand's military-installed government said Friday that the violent Islamic insurgency in the country's south had intensified due to an influx of funding from local drug traffickers and many international supporters.

Government Spokesman Chaiya Yimvilai said the foreign funding could have come from terrorist groups, but he refused to name any such groups or say where they might be based.

Analysts have long been divided over whether Thai insurgents are plugging into a broader Islamic movement or would rather be on their own in their four-year rebellion.

Many Muslims _ who make up the majority in Thailand's far south _ feel unfairly treated by …