Abhisit Accepts Chalerm's Invitation To Help Resolve South Crisis

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POLITICS

Abhisit accepts Chalerm's invitation to help resolve South crisis

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday asked for the Opposition's participation in tackling the insurgency problem in the deep South, an invitation that was accepted by Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Chalerm, responding to an Opposition MP's query during yesterday's meeting of the House of Representatives, said he wanted to ask for cooperation from the Democrat Party, whose MPs represent most of the South, to help with mapping out plans to solve the problem.

The veteran politician said he believed Democrat MPs possessed comprehensive information about the deep South that was comparable to that obtained by state officials. Chalerm said he would tell Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about his idea of setting up a "backroom headquarters" that includes Opposition politicians.

Abhisit, who is also the Democrat leader, said that he was pleased to help with the problem in the restive southern border region on condition that no MPs from the ruling Pheu Thai Party petition the Constitutional Court against him for interfering in government affairs.

Democrat MP Prasert Pongsuwansiri from Yala, which along with Songkhla was hit by multiple car bombs last Saturday, raised a query intended for the prime minister during yesterday's House meeting. He called on the government to compensate the victims, provide low-interest loans and tax exemptions, and increase safety measures, among other steps.

Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, responding to the query on the prime minister's behalf, blamed cancellation of a "safety zone" in Yala's business district, at the request of local residents and businesses, for the bomb attack.

He noted that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the attacks.

Prasert said locals did not ask for any cancellation, but had called for a review of the tough safety measures.

The MP also urged the government to explain news reports that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra recently visited Malaysia to meet leading insurgents living in that country. He said a failure of the talks led to the attacks on March 31.

Chalerm denied that Thaksin had been involved in any negotiations with insurgency leaders. However, Prasert said that a website run by the insurgent group Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) posted a photo of Thaksin embracing a Pulo leader. Chalerm questioned the news report on the Pulo website.

Abhisit said yesterday that, in fact, news of Thaksin being involved in talks with insurgency leaders came from many sources, and not just from Pulo's website.

He called on the prime minister to get involved in efforts to solve the insurgency problem, starting with attending House meetings more often.

-- The Nation 2012-04-06

[Mosha]

"He called on the prime minister to get involved in efforts to solve the insurgency problem, starting with attending House meetings more often."

Was she there to hear that advice?

[Thai at Heart]

The veteran politician said he believed Democrat MPs possessed comprehensive information about the deep South that was comparable to that obtained by state officials. Chalerm said he would tell Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about his idea of setting up a "backroom headquarters" that includes Opposition politicians.

Doesn't say much for their security people down there does it.

That said, a remarkably "conciliatory" move.

[Sayonarax]

More dribble. Chalerm solve a security issue, did i log on to 9gag?

[Thai at Heart]

As an aside, have you ever seen a happier bunch of people than those sitting around Abhisit? What a miserable bunch of g**ts

[Kananga]

As an aside, have you ever seen a happier bunch of people than those sitting around Abhisit? What a miserable bunch of g**ts

Wouldnt you be miserable if you saw what your opposite numbers were doing to the country?

[WackySomchai]

The fugitive's government should also take the opportunity to seek the Dems support in finance and foreign affairs, two more areas where this bunch of PTP clowns are impotent. Ohh, they need to ask Khun Abhisit to help out the parrott PM too ...

[waza]

sounds like a plan

[geriatrickid]

I don't know.

Is it a cunning cover your ass plan so that the government can say, well, the dems were onside withus when the sh*t hits the fan?

Or is it an acknowledgement that the muslims in the south vote Democrat and that the democrats represent the interests of the muslims?

Personally, I think they need neutral 3rd party mediators.

[waza]

Thats nice of Chalerm Yoobamrung to invite Mark to join in with discussions with the peace dialogue

http://puloinfo.net/ReadNews.asp?Show=English&ID=19

Speaking over the phone, Mr Kasturi Mahkota, who is based in Sweden, said: 'I can confirm the process of dialogue will start again officially at the end of March or early April..........

For decades, an ethnic separatist insurgency has racked the Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, and part of Songkhla. Since the conflict escalated in 2004, about 5,000 people - mostly civilians - have died from the violence.....

Bangkok has flooded the south with troops. But it has also tried addressing sources of unhappiness: introducing local language as the medium of instruction in some schools, and increasing compensation and legal aid for victims of violence.

However, dialogue is seen as imperative if the long-running conflict is to be resolved.

Pulo had for many months been in talks with a Thai delegation from the previous Abhisit Vejjajiva government, meeting quietly in South-east Asian capitals outside Thailand.

That talks took place at all was seen as positive by analysts. But they largely remained in a confidence-building stage, with each side unsure the other would be able to deliver on any promise made.