I think that that comment is being misinterpreted.

It doesn't seem to me to be an attempt at inciting a "regional flamewar".

The sentiment it describes is quite strongly held by people from and in that region, especially by those who've unfortunately experienced it first-hand for themselves.

That's a reasonable point, but most people (or at least many people) in $region are going to interpret such a comment as a regional attack even if it wasn't intended that way. Most people's identity has something to do with where they live.