Prayut uses OIC visit to express hope Islamic world understands govt’s different approach to restoring peace in deep South

[webfact]

PM uses OIC visit to express hope Islamic world understands  govt’s different approach to restoring peace in deep South 

By The Nation

 

Turkey's permanent representative to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Salih Mutlu Sen, fourth left, speaks to Muslims in the deep South during a visit on Tuesday.

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday that he hoped the Islamic world would understand the military government’s different approach to restoring peace in the deep South, as a delegation from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) visited the restive region.

 

Salih Mutlu Sen, Turkey's permanent representative to the OIC, led the eight-member delegation to the predominantly Muslim area, where violence has caused the deaths of more than 6,500 people since 2004.

 

The authorities in the deep South took them to see the “Bring people back home” project at the Internal Security Operation Command office in Pattani, to which defectors from armed insurgency groups have reported themselves.

 

“I hope that the OIC delegation will understand we are using a different way to solve the problem,” Prayut told reporters. “We don’t use force, but enforce laws and develop the economy in the [troubled] areas, as well as [being] open to all stakeholders.”

 

While many separatist organisations have described the project to bring defectors home as a “cheap political play”, security officials claim that 96 defectors have reported themselves to the authorities so far this year, including those from separatist groups Barisan Revolusi Nasional and the Patani United Liberation Organisation. 

 

Thai nationality has already been verified for 37 of them.

 

Salih said he agreed with the project, which allows insurgents to defect and return home. 

 

The OIC would help closely monitor the well-being of the Muslim minority in predominantly Buddhist Thailand, but would never support violence, he added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30339822

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-28

[ksamuiguy]

It's not a religious thing and never has been! These people don't want problems any more than any other Thai does. 

 

[fxe1200]

There are the words of the junta, and their actions:  https://prachatai.com/english/node/7650

[Bluespunk]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut told reporters. “We don’t use force

Not true. 

[spidermike007]

The five provinces in the south, that are part of the long standing conflict were areas that were seized by Thailand some 130 years ago, and never returned to the Sultanate of Malay. The problems that have arisen since, have never been addressed by a succession of terribly incompetent and indifferent Thai governments. So, Little P., if you are truly sincere about solving these problems, at least make an attempt. OK? Do not try to push this off onto the Muslim world as a whole. What ever happened to Thailand in this equation? Talk about deflection and being unwilling to look within for the source of a problem. 

 

Those areas have always been treated poorly by Thailand, and treated as bastard step children. 

Edited February 28, 2018 by spidermike007

[Darcula]

Did Turkey just send Groucho for such an important mission?

[DeepState]

Yes bring in the Turks . They can launch operation "olive branche" here too.

[OmarZaid]

14 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The five provinces in the south, that are part of the long standing conflict were areas that were seized by Thailand some 130 years ago, and never returned to the Sultanate of Malay. The problems that have arisen since, have never been addressed by a succession of terribly incompetent and indifferent Thai governments. So, Little P., if you are truly sincere about solving these problems, at least make an attempt. OK? Do not try to push this off onto the Muslim world as a whole. What ever happened to Thailand in this equation? Talk about deflection and being unwilling to look within for the source of a problem. 

 

Those areas have always been treated poorly by Thailand, and treated as bastard step children. 

Precisely ... Brits damn well knew what they were doing.  Best start new negotiations with MI6 and  CIA heads who supply the frustrated ignoramuses that keep looking for dignity.  Barring that, remove all Thais and let them fend for themselves and see how long they last on their own . . .

Edited February 28, 2018 by OmarZaid

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, OmarZaid said:

see how long they last on their own . . .

The Sultanate of Patani gained full independence in 1767 but conquered by the Kingdom of Siam in 1785. Siamese rule was officially acknowledged by the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 negotiated with the British Empire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattani_Province

I'm sure the Muslims of the former Sultanate of Patani state would appreciate the opportunity to see how long their independence will last without Thai interference. Suggest their first act is to deport Suthep.

[sawadee1947]

"We don't use force "......

As I know the opposite is right. From my point of view it's easy to make peace by giving the southern province more independence. In education, finance, taxes, 

[Lungstib]

I'm sure most of Islamic Middle East understands repressive military rule.

[thaiguzzi]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

The Sultanate of Patani gained full independence in 1767 but conquered by the Kingdom of Siam in 1785. Siamese rule was officially acknowledged by the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 negotiated with the British Empire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattani_Province

I'm sure the Muslims of the former Sultanate of Patani state would appreciate the opportunity to see how long their independence will last without Thai interference. Suggest their first act is to deport Suthep.

Wasn't this around the same time that the French did a deal where Thailand took various parts of Laos along the Mekong river in the NE?

[Eric Loh]

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The five provinces in the south, that are part of the long standing conflict were areas that were seized by Thailand some 130 years ago, and never returned to the Sultanate of Malay. The problems that have arisen since, have never been addressed by a succession of terribly incompetent and indifferent Thai governments. 

Some haters here said that the conflict started from Thaksin's government; not 130 years ago. 

[Srikcir]

12 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

have never been addressed by a succession of terribly incompetent and indifferent Thai governments.

"never been addressed" isn't quite accurate. One of seven successive governments did attempt a direct peace negotiation with the largest insurgency group the BNR. Certainly not an overwhelming effort historically.

 

In February 2013 during the Yingluck regime the chairman of the Thai National Security Council and a representative of the separatist Barisan Revolusi Nasional signed an agreement to begin formal peace talks. [While Thaksin was credited with "back-channel talks" leading to this agreement, I think mistakenly credited and probably better attributed to his sister PM Yingluck]

https://ctc.usma.edu/the-upcoming-peace-talks-in-southern-thailands-insurgency/

Peace talks continued into November 2013 with suggestions of a new form of sovereignty in the Muslim provinces such as semi-autonomy by the Yingluck regime but talks collapsed.

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Thailand/sub5_8f/entry-3293.html

Speculation about the collapse are numerous ranging from military back-stabbing the government's efforts, to lack of a unified insurgency peace talks representative, resurgence of insurgency and Thai military violence, lack of follow-through by Yingluck for a definitive agenda, to the distraction of the government by anti-government protests, an invalidated election and a military coup.

And here we are today - a status quo.

Edited February 28, 2018 by Srikcir
spelling

[spidermike007]

14 hours ago, Srikcir said:

"never been addressed" isn't quite accurate. One of seven successive governments did attempt a direct peace negotiation with the largest insurgency group the BNR. Certainly not an overwhelming effort historically.

 

In February 2013 during the Yingluck regime the chairman of the Thai National Security Council and a representative of the separatist Barisan Revolusi Nasional signed an agreement to begin formal peace talks. [While Thaksin was credited with "back-channel talks" leading to this agreement, I think mistakenly credited and probably better attributed to his sister PM Yingluck]

https://ctc.usma.edu/the-upcoming-peace-talks-in-southern-thailands-insurgency/

Peace talks continued into November 2013 with suggestions of a new form of sovereignty in the Muslim provinces such as semi-autonomy by the Yingluck regime but talks collapsed.

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Thailand/sub5_8f/entry-3293.html

Speculation about the collapse are numerous ranging from military back-stabbing the government's efforts, to lack of a unified insurgency peace talks representative, resurgence of insurgency and Thai military violence, lack of follow-through by Yingluck for a definitive agenda, to the distraction of the government by anti-government protests, an invalidated election and a military coup.

And here we are today - a status quo.

Well, as I said very little effort. One of seven administrations, and perhaps a rather feeble effort at that. But, some credit must be given. My guess is that the army sabotaged it. They are up to no good. They have never, ever been there for the Thai people.