Report Rise in Violence in Thailand's Deep South Triggers Urgent Peace Calls

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Pictures courtesy of The Nation

 

In response to a recent wave of violence in Thailand’s Deep South, the opposition People’s Party has issued an urgent plea for the government to restart peace talks with insurgent groups and for militants to cease targeting innocent civilians.

 

The party's open letter, shared on its official Facebook page, urges the Thai government to resume dialogue with insurgents to curb the escalating violence in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and four districts in Songkhla. The surge in deadly attacks, particularly against civilians, has alarmed many, with incidents including attacks on monks, women, children, the elderly, and the disabled.

 

Highlighted incidents include:

 

• April 18: A former Islamic teacher was fatally shot on his return from a mosque.
• April 22: A blind mother and her daughter were killed.
• May 2: An elderly person was killed and a child injured.
• May 4: A civilian man was shot dead in Pattani’s Yaring district.

 

The People’s Party warns that the violence is inciting fear and distrust among both Buddhist and Muslim communities, jeopardising the peace process and destabilising the region. The letter emphasises that targeting civilians will only perpetuate hatred, obstruct understanding, and provoke retaliation, further complicating reconciliation efforts.

 

Condemning the attacks as contrary to Islamic teachings, Thai law, and international human rights standards, the party calls for a resumption of peace talks, citing a lack of a coherent government policy for the South. These talks, crucial for allaying tensions, have been stalled for nearly a year.

 

The People’s Party advocates for local, joint platforms where Thai Buddhists and Malay Muslims can collaborate to address regional issues through peaceful political dialogue, rather than violence. It urges Thai society to encourage solutions through conversation, warning that revenge only serves those intent on sowing division.

 

The party stresses the need for constructive discourse as the path to sustainable peace, urging all parties to eschew violence and engage in meaningful dialogue to achieve lasting resolution and stability in Thailand's Deep South.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-06