Thai, Malaysian Leaders Agree To Joint Border Development

[george]

Thai, Malaysian leaders agree to joint border development

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Prime Minister and his Malaysian counterpart agreed on Monday to jointly develop Thailand's far south and northern Malaysia in an attempt to end the continuing violence in insurgency-torn region.

In a joint press conference after bilateral talks at Government House, Thai prime minister Surayud Chulanont said the two neighbours will work together to develop common border area as they deem it vital to bring about peace and prosperity to benefit both countries.

Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pledged to cooperate with Thailand in solving the dual nationality using biodata records to identify cross-border migrants.

Thailand has claimed that some insurgents holding dual nationality often fled across border for refuge after attacks in Thailand's three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

Regarding the flight of 130 Thais who illegally entered Malaysia nearly two years ago, Abdullah said further discussion on the issue is needed, and it is up to their own decision whether they return home or not.

Some 130 Thai Muslim villagers fled across the border in 2005--from Thailand's southern border province of Narathiwat to Malaysia--citing fears for their safety after the enforcement of the Emergency Decree in Thailand's far south.

The Thai premier dismissed concerns by Malaysia last week that the rising violence may turn Thailand's restive region into a breeding ground for international terrorists.

"We are confident that through joint intelligence sharing with Malaysia, the unrest in far south is Thailand's internal issue, and there is no connection to international terrorism," he said.

The two neighbours foreign ministers will discuss further how to work out in detail the arrangements before reporting to their prime ministers for their final decision, Prime Minister Surayud said.

The three-day visit of Malaysian leader comes as bilateral relations have steadily improved amid signs that Bangkok is more open to predominately Muslim Malaysia becoming more active in cooperatively seeking an end to the insurgent violence.

--TNA 2007-02-12

[Jai Dee]

Thailand and Malaysia agree to closer cooperation to boost the southern economy

Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to jointly establish peace in the three southern Thai border provinces and have assigned their respective ministers responsible for security issues to closely discuss ways to solve the violence in the area.

The cooperation was unveiled at the press conference after the discussion between Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and visiting Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, held in Bangkok.

Speaking at the press conference, General Surayud reiterated that the unrest in southern Thailand is not connected with transnational terrorist groups and that his discussion with Prime Minister Badawi focused on bilateral relations and closer contacts between officials at all levels.

General Surayud said both countries shared a view that comprehensive study will be conducted in the southern region as a way to support trade and investment expansion. A joint committee will be set up to ensure that cooperation between the two sides will progress to established goals.

The Malaysian Prime Minister declared at the press conference that the two governments will further find solutions to the problem of 130 Thais illegally entering Malaysia whose return will be on a voluntary basis. He said that the issue of dual citizenship has also advanced satisfactorily in terms of biodata and fingerprint records.

The Malaysian Prime Minister returned home this morning after a two-day official visit. He was granted an audience with His Majesty the King at Chitralada Villa yesterday afternoon.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 13 Febuary 2007

[Laulen]

It is good to hear of two ASEAN countries getting together and resolving issues in a bilateral way and putting the interests of people living in this troubled area at the top of each countries' political agenda.

It is a beautiful part of the world, and would no doubt attract a lot of tourists, if it weren't for the aspirations of a number of extremist 'hotheads'! I am always amazed at Islam, meaning 'Peace', and Islamists or so-called Islamists importing and using terrorism to achieve their political aims.