File photo courtesy: Thai PBS

 

Thaksin Shinawatra, a former Prime Minister of Thailand, is poised to make a significant visit to Narathiwat on Sunday, February 23. Serving as an informal adviser to the ASEAN chair, Thaksin’s trip focuses on security deliberations amid ongoing unrest in Thailand's southern provinces, a sensitive issue impacting the region's stability.

 

This marks Thaksin's first return to the area in an official capacity since leaving office nearly two decades prior. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the visit, emphasising its importance for regional security dialogue.

 

During his tenure, Thaksin's administration faced criticism over handling security issues in the South, notably involving the disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit in 2004 and the incidents in Tak Bai and Kru Se in the same year. These events have left lasting impressions on the region and its people.

 

In preparation for the visit, Thaksin has engaged with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who currently chairs ASEAN, to discuss and propose enhanced security strategies. This engagement highlights ongoing efforts at regional cooperation for peace and security.

Accompanying Thaksin during the visit will be Phumtham and Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. The delegation is scheduled to meet in Sungai Padi subdistrict within Sungai Padi district.

 

The reception of Thaksin’s visit is eagerly anticipated by locals. Thanathip Phromchuean, Sungai Padi’s headman, has invited residents via social media to join in welcoming Thaksin and the ministers at Wat Prachum Chonthara on Sunday morning. The agenda also includes a meeting with Phra Thamwatchara Chariyachan, the temple’s abbot, to engage with community leaders and citizens.

 

While Phumtham refrained from elaborating on Thaksin’s potential contributions to the National Security Council's (NSC) current strategic revisions, his visit could offer insights into the evolving approach to managing southern unrest. The government, through the NSC, is actively updating strategic plans, facilitated by recent discussions with senior Fourth Army officers and ongoing dialogues with military leadership.

 

In a recent meeting at the Internal Security Operations Command’s Region 4 Forward Command in Pattani, Phumtham declared that the government’s fresh approach to resolving conflict in the region will embody King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s principle of "understanding, engagement, and development" as core components of sustainable peace and progress, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-20

 

 

What a load of BS !! this guys started all this !

Anyone would think this guy is running the country - oops!, I forgot, there's a clone currently filling that position. 

1 hour ago, MikeandDow said:

What a load of BS !! this guys started all this !

Did he start it?  I thought the separatist movement and armed conflict started before he was PM.  Like all of these tough guy, ultra nationalist, populist leaders, his approach didn’t improve things. 

8 minutes ago, Paul52 said:

Did he start it?  I thought the separatist movement and armed conflict started before he was PM.  Like all of these tough guy, ultra nationalist, populist leaders, his approach didn’t improve things. 

 

 

The tak Bai incident occured during his regime. It s funny to think that, with that in mind, he s trying to broker peace. Especially considering no one was prosecuted for it and the statue of liitations have run down.

19 minutes ago, Paul52 said:

Did he start it?  I thought the separatist movement and armed conflict started before he was PM.  Like all of these tough guy, ultra nationalist, populist leaders, his approach didn’t improve things. 

if you do your research YES he did

2 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

What a load of BS !! this guys started all this !

You need a history lesson

Those islamic separatists and the problems they caused have been there for a long time.  And like their brethren everywhere in the world they are causing problems for their host country. 
At least Thaksin is trying to find a solution instead of doing nothing 

2 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

You need a history lesson

Those islamic separatists and the problems they caused have been there for a long time.  And like their brethren everywhere in the world they are causing problems for their host country. 
At least Thaksin is trying to find a solution instead of doing nothing 

You are the one that needs a history lesson!

this started in 1948 as an ethnic and religious separatist insurgency in the historical Malay Patani Region

Although low-level separatist violence had occurred in the region for decades, the campaign escalated  with a recrudescence in 2004,

https://peaceresourcecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Introduction-Conflict-in-the-Deep-South-of-Thailand-Neverending-Stal.pdf

the above article will tell you the history lesson you need

The tak Bai incident did not help !!

I'm sorry, but I was under the impressions that Thaksin wanted to come home to be with his grandchildren.  Is his grandchildren in Narathiwat?

9 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

You are the one that needs a history lesson!

this started in 1948 as an ethnic and religious separatist insurgency in the historical Malay Patani Region

Although low-level separatist violence had occurred in the region for decades, the campaign escalated  with a recrudescence in 2004,

https://peaceresourcecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Introduction-Conflict-in-the-Deep-South-of-Thailand-Neverending-Stal.pdf

the above article will tell you the history lesson you need

The tak Bai incident did not help !!

 

Then he should be very careful while travelling in their backyard.

Attention seeking old man, with unlimited hair dye money, trying to stay in front of any camera as long as he can.

You can find this type all around the world.

1 minute ago, fondue zoo said:

Attention seeking old man, with unlimited hair dye money, trying to stay in front of any camera as long as he can.

You can find this type all around the world.

 

I don't know, I have never seen so much hair dye used by men in my entire life until I came to Thailand, 70+ year old men with jet black hair is the norm here.

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaksin Shinawatra, a former Prime Minister of Thailand, is poised to make a significant visit to Narathiwat on Sunday, February 23. Serving as an informal adviser to the ASEAN chair, Thaksin’s trip focuses on security deliberations amid ongoing unrest in Thailand's southern provinces, a sensitive issue impacting the region's stability.

Is he visiting his grandchildren in Narathiwat?  🤔

11 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Then he should be very careful while travelling in their backyard.

one can only hope!!

11 hours ago, fondue zoo said:

Attention seeking old man, with unlimited hair dye money, trying to stay in front of any camera as long as he can.

You can find this type all around the world.

Syep, some have blond/ ginger hair 

12 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Then he should be very careful while travelling in their backyard.

Very careful, there's a major score to be settled and these are the guys to pull it off. 

 

Bring on the next coup

52 minutes ago, sidneybear said:

Bring on the next coup

Never happen thats all in the past !