Thai Fm Denies Seeking Malaysia's Cooperation To Mediate With Insurgents

[george]

Thai FM denies seeking Malaysia's cooperation to mediate with insurgents

BANGKOK: -- Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram denied on Thursday that Thailand requested Malaysia's cooperation to mediate with militants in an attempt to restore peace in the insurgency-ravaged southern border region of Thailand.

The Bernama news agency quoted Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as saying that Malaysia had the capacity and ability to mediate in the issue as it understood the situation in Muslim-majority south Thailand and the Thai government's stand to end the continuing violence.

Asked whether Thailand asked Malaysia to mediate with the separatist groups, Mr. Abdullah was quoted as saying that the Thai government will make a formal request.

The Malaysian leader made the remarks at a news conference with Malaysian journalists at the end of his three-day official visit to Thailand on Tuesday.

However, Mr. Nitya dismissed the report, saying the Malaysian prime minister was misquoted.

"We are checking with Kuala Lumpur. We believe His Excellency the Prime Minister of Malaysia has been misquoted. There is no plan for such mediation that would necessitate any request," he said in a statement issued by the foreign ministry.

"But, otherwise, we can say with no reservation whatsoever that Thailand values all the cooperation that Malaysia can extend to us in our effort to bring peace and normalcy to the three southern provinces,

particularly in joint development projects along the common border," Mr. Nitya said.

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has made restoring peace in the insurgency-torn region a top priority of his interim government but the violence has intensified since the September 19 coup d'etat.

The government admitted that its efforts to talk with the insurgent groups have gone nowhere amid doubts among officials as to which parties are the real players behind the insurgency which has claimed nearly 2,000 lives in the past three years.

Meanwhile, Thai Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya said he will visit five southern border provinces next week to conduct public relations campaign to boost understanding among local people.

"The government can't stop violence in the region as long as proper understanding between local authorities and local people has yet been achieved," Mr. Aree said when asked about a fatal shooting of a policeman by a suspected insurgent in Pattani on Wednesday night.

The minister said he will travel to the region to create understanding with religious leaders, local community leaders, and government officials, to boost cooperation among them.

--TNA 2007-02-15