It seems rather sad that the beheaders of Budhhist monks and beheaders of the elderly poor in the South would be treated so casually. Do others think that this idea floated by General Sondhi and General Surayud will make the insurgents happy? Forgive and forget is a noble concept. But immediate amnesty seems odd for the brutal killers of the women who was burned alive just last week.

It seems rather sad that the beheaders of Budhhist monks and beheaders of the elderly poor in the South would be treated so casually. Do others think that this idea floated by General Sondhi and General Surayud will make the insurgents happy? Forgive and forget is a noble concept. But immediate amnesty seems odd for the brutal killers of the women who was burned alive just last week.

maybe it is his idea of "if you ignore it, it will go away" seems like a fairly solid thai concept.

It seems rather sad that the beheaders of Budhhist monks and beheaders of the elderly poor in the South would be treated so casually. Do others think that this idea floated by General Sondhi and General Surayud will make the insurgents happy? Forgive and forget is a noble concept. But immediate amnesty seems odd for the brutal killers of the women who was burned alive just last week.

Forgive someone who set a woman on fire, or cut a poor old man's head off??? Don't think so...

There has been a lot of atrocities committed on both sides down there, but forgiving the sadistic b@stards is not the solution.

It seems rather sad that the beheaders of Budhhist monks and beheaders of the elderly poor in the South would be treated so casually. Do others think that this idea floated by General Sondhi and General Surayud will make the insurgents happy? Forgive and forget is a noble concept. But immediate amnesty seems odd for the brutal killers of the women who was burned alive just last week.

Well, I say no, it's not a good idea.

What do you think the Monk would have thought though?

I'm sure the Buddhist monk would not have condoned violence against others nor wanted to encourage such harm against others by granting amnesty. Well, I'm not sure, but I would suppose.... Buddhist monks tend to be strict disciplinarians.

An amnesty is generally granted to people who have attacked military (and military related) targets. The killing of innocent civilians and those not directly related to any military activity is generally not an amnesty issue. At a minimum no amnesty should be granted to them.

Since they don't actually know who has done these henious acts, they wouldn't even know what they exactly they are granting an amnesty for! Some of the criminal behavior in the south is due to a number of other issues, including smuggling, trafficking and other plain criminal behavior.

First there needs to be a peaceful resolution to the conflict, then the talk about an amnesty can ensue--and what the amnesty will cover. Otherwise, just grant everyone who has committed murder and mayhem anywhere in Thailand an amnesty.

Will it include the BKK bombers? If they are related to the Southern situation, then it should--right?

It seems rather sad that the beheaders of Budhhist monks and beheaders of the elderly poor in the South would be treated so casually. Do others think that this idea floated by General Sondhi and General Surayud will make the insurgents happy? Forgive and forget is a noble concept. But immediate amnesty seems odd for the brutal killers of the women who was burned alive just last week.

Forgive someone who set a woman on fire, or cut a poor old man's head off??? Don't think so...

There has been a lot of atrocities committed on both sides down there, but forgiving the sadistic b@stards is not the solution.

I agree, that would be just wrong. I dont see how the death penatly or life in prison can be given for drug penalties but racial extremest & murderers who light people on fire and behead people get let of casually, but it makes sense here "This is Thailand"

It seems General Sondhi & Surayud have their owu plans for LOS

It seems rather sad that the beheaders of Budhhist monks and beheaders of the elderly poor in the South would be treated so casually. Do others think that this idea floated by General Sondhi and General Surayud will make the insurgents happy? Forgive and forget is a noble concept. But immediate amnesty seems odd for the brutal killers of the women who was burned alive just last week.

Forgive someone who set a woman on fire, or cut a poor old man's head off??? Don't think so...

There has been a lot of atrocities committed on both sides down there, but forgiving the sadistic b@stards is not the solution.

I agree, that would be just wrong. I dont see how the death penatly or life in prison can be given for drug penalties but racial extremest & murderers who light people on fire and behead people get let of casually, but it makes sense here "This is Thailand"

It seems General Sondhi & Surayud have their owu plans for LOS

but if you do drugs in thailand you need the death penalty, so they can prevent you from hurting yourself.

capital punishment is the only proven method to have a 0% recidivism rate.

It seems extremely odd to pardon extremist creeps like that, but then again the top General(cant remember his name ) he is not a buddist is he!!!!!

No what the Thais need to do is ignore the fact that Amnesty has throughout history been a very effective means of ending conflict.

The Thais need to continue fighting the 'extremists', these troubles are still only mere 100 years old, Thailand could continue with the southern troubles for a at least another three hundred years.

Look at the mess Northern Ireland is since the Amnesty, peace has broken out, the economy is booming and people are living happy peaceful lives. Britain wasted a chance for another century of conflict; Thailand should not make the same mistake.

Why would they stop beheading monks and burning women if they are given amnesty. I don't see any motivation there. They had amnesty from prosecution before the beheadings and they still committed the beheadings. Evidently, they don't fear prosecution. Why would it stop them this time?

The soldiers who tied up and stuffed more than 100 young men like cordwood into the back of trucks and then let more than 80 of them die in the sun not only never received an amnesty, they were never charged. The man in charge of the troops received a promotion. My point: There have been atrocities on both sides in this conflict going way, way back. An amnesty sticks in my craw too, but it is not just one side that would benefit. Pursuing an entirely military solution will just keep this fire burning for years to come.

Look at the mess Northern Ireland is since the Amnesty, peace has broken out, the economy is booming and people are living happy peaceful lives. Britain wasted a chance for another century of conflict; Thailand should not make the same mistake.

that may be true .

the bombers , criminals , kneecappers and hitmen may be happy.

gerry adams and his motley crew might be rich and happy .

but the relatives , the wives , and the children of those murdered and maimed might not be so happy to see the bad ones prosper from their misdeeds , and the victims being left to suffer.

No one gets a free pass for murder and terrorizing innocents!!!!

maybe it is his idea of "if you ignore it, it will go away" seems like a fairly solid thai concept.

I will try that with the dirty laundry and dirty dishes next time. Thanks!

It seems rather sad that the beheaders of Budhhist monks and beheaders of the elderly poor in the South would be treated so casually. Do others think that this idea floated by General Sondhi and General Surayud will make the insurgents happy? Forgive and forget is a noble concept. But immediate amnesty seems odd for the brutal killers of the women who was burned alive just last week.

Can anyone post a link where that would have been 'floated' by the above mentioned Generals ?

LaoPo

Didn't I read that sympathizers were to be given amnesty, not people guilty of criminal acts?

I may be wrong....does someone have the actual quote?

I can't find the original quote......but in my search found this article from 2004.......

Thailand to lift martial law, issue amnesty

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will lift martial law in parts of the restive Muslim south and issue an amnesty for separatists in an effort to end three months of violence there, officials said Monday.

"This amnesty will be for people who are now hiding in the jungle, there are thousands of them," Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said after a meeting of top security officials to devise a new policy on the south.

Justice ministry officials said the amnesty was only open to those accused of separatist activity before January 5, the day after a raid on an army weapons depot which left four soldiers dead.

The attack kicked off an alarming spate of violence in the south, with brutal strikes against security forces and government officials that have left nearly 60 people dead.

Chavalit said the interior ministry will also decide which areas in the three worst-hit southern provinces currently under martial law will have the restrictions lifted. No date was set for the move. Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang said the government expected that the new policy would restore peace in the troubled region, where a separatist rebellion raged until the 1980s.

"These measures we talked about today will solve the problems in the south, we are not talking about how to win the battle but how everyone can win without doing any battle," he said.

--AFP 2004-04-06

Amnesty rejected by Thaksin in 2004

Here is an excellent article on the southern problem, and the steps taken thus far to alleviate it.

After reading it, I find myself thinking amnesty will be a waste of time.

Have a look and post your thoughts....

Terrorism Report

This is the quote from the article that makes me feel as though it is a losing battle.

The tempo of attacks seems to have increased for several reasons. First, the insurgents want to discredit the conciliatory policies of the Surayud government. Second, increased violence is designed to intimidate the population into non-cooperation with the Thai authorities. Third, the insurgents are sending a message that they do not care who is in power in Bangkok, and that they regard any new policies as part of the ongoing process of "Siamization." Fourth, the escalation of attacks also reflects the insurgents' growing confidence and sophistication.

Overall, the aim of the insurgents is to shatter the fabric of society in the south, drive the Buddhists out of the area (a trend already underway) and destroy the Thai governmental structure in the south and replace it with a Pattani-Malay system. An independent, Islamic state is the ultimate goal of the hard-core separatists, although other groups may settle for increased autonomy and the righting of past injustices.