Muslim Diplomats Invited To Offer Ideas: Thai South Insurgency

[webfact]

SOUTH INSURGENCY

Muslim diplomats invited to offer ideas

The Nation

Suggestions will be presented at govt, OIC meeting tomorrow

BANGKOK: -- In the wake of a spike in violence in the South, ambassadors from Muslim countries have been invited to a meeting today to offer ideas to handle the situation, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday.

He added that the conclusion of this meeting will be presented at a forum between the government and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) tomorrow.

This is the first time that Muslim diplomats have been invited to a meeting by this government, which has been in power for a year now, the ministry's permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkaew said. Tomorrow's meeting between OIC executives, ambassadors from Muslim countries as well as ministry officials will be presided over by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

As for the new government centre - dubbed Pentagon II - set up to curb the violence in the South, Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha said he would meet Yingluck today to discuss the centre's organisation, personnel as well as its prospective base.

The authorities are wondering whether to base it at Government House or at the nearby Internal Security Operations Command.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, meanwhile, has repeated his invitation for the opposition to help the government deal with the rising violence in the South and perhaps come up with a long-term solution, adding that an official invite would soon be extended to Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

As for the so-called Pentagon II, Chalerm said there would be no organisational changes in the existing mechanism, but the leadership would be changed. He went on to say that Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha would be in charge of running all military tactics, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit be oversee Interior Ministry operations, while he personally would control the police department with Yingluck running the show at the top.

Chalerm then went on to say that the previous Democrat-led government under Abhisit's leadership had taken very few counterinsurgency measures, adding that it had mishandled the situation. He also dismissed Abhisit's criticism of the Pentagon II plan, saying: "You didn't solve the problem when you were in power, now it's purely my business that I want to set it up."

As for the offer made to him via a reporter from the Nation Multimedia Group, he said he needed to study it further before making any comments. Reportedly, 40 suspected insurgents offered to surrender to the authorities provided they adhered to three conditions. However, Chalerm provided no details on this reporter, the 40 so-called insurgents or the three conditions.

Chalerm also said the violence in the deep South would only brought to an end via talks with expat Thais, especially "the hundreds of thousands of Thais who own tom yum kung shops overseas".

Yuthasak Sasiprapha later added that security measures in the South "would never be the same", adding that he would provide the details tomorrow.

Police, meanwhile, have tracked down a group of insurgents based in Songkhla to minimise the chance of them planning or carrying out new terror attacks after they identified Madari Tueramae as a mastermind behind the car bomb attack at Lee Gardens Hotel in Hat Yai district a few months ago. The four insurgent leaders wanted in the manhunt are Jehmah Wani, Seri Waemamu, Ruslan Baimah and Sakariya Samoh, all of whom are believed to be foreign-trained Runda Kumpalan Kecil commandos.

-- The Nation 2012-08-07

[Woodcaulk]

Chalerm also said the violence in the deep South would only brought to an end via talks with expat Thais, especially "the hundreds of thousands of Thais who own tom yum kung shops overseas".

John has a long mustache. The chair is against the door.......Is this guy an escapee from a mental institute, speaking in code or just slack-eyed silly drunk at 10am???

[OzMick]

"Chalerm then went on to say that the previous Democrat-led government under Abhisit's leadership had taken very few counterinsurgency measures........."

Not in the South, anyway.

[webfact]

PULO calls on government to negotiate

Don Pathan

The Nation

Yala

YALA: -- Factions within the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) on Monday said the spike in violence in the deep South was meant to remind the Thai state the death of the more 80 unarmed Malay Muslims in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district eight years ago.

The victims were young men who were demonstrating in front of the district police station. They suffocated to death after officials stacked them one on top another.

In a statement issued on Monday, Kasturi Mahkota, the president of one of the Pulo faction, slammed the Thai government for downplaying the capacity of the militants on the ground and for discrediting them.

"They (insurgents) are seeking the recognition from the Thai side that they are insurgents, combatants and liberators rather than bandits or "sparrow bandits" and not a drug trafficking group," Kasturi said.

He called on the Thai state to "genuinely seek ways to end the conflict once and for all" through diplomatic means.

Kasturi has been dealing secretly with the Thai government through the National Security Council since 2006.

Separately, the deputy president of a rival Pulo faction, Lukman Bin Lima, echoed Kasturi’s statement about the need to negotiate and urged the international community to closely monitor of the Thai government’s peace initiatives with the separatist movements.

"We thought that the intervention of the (Thai) military and arm forced in Patani would not help calm the situation. The only way is political and diplomatic solution through peaceful means," Lukman said.

"We call on the Thai-leaders and the entire Thai nation to deeply understand the historical root of the Patani people struggle, the discrimination and injustices we have been experiencing under the Thai colonial government have long been overdue. Please give us a rightful share of political destiny of our nation.

Lukman also called on the Thai to reconsider its plan to place the Muslim-majority region under curfew, saying it would disturb the local’s way of life during the holy month of Ramadan. Many of the local Muslim attend evening mass prayer at the mosque and during the last ten day of Ramadan many spend the night at the local mosque.

Lukman is the deputy to Noor Abdulrahman, the other self-proclaimed Pulo president who is at odd with the faction led by Kasturi.

Pulo surfaced in the late 1960s but its armed wing went under in the late 1980s. Since 2004, members of this long standing group and others have resurfaced and carried out secret discussions with representatives of Thailand although their dialogue does not constitute formal negotiation.

-- The Nation 2012-08-07

[noitom]

After more than a dozen years, the Thais are inviting Muslim leaders in to get their ideas. How many dead 7-8 thousand? The Thais must be shaken now that the Muslim faction has raised the bar and taken out the truck with the police.

[sunshine51]

"Police, meanwhile, have tracked down a group of insurgents based in Songkhla to minimise the chance of them planning or carrying out new terror attacks after they identified Madari Tueramae as a mastermind behind the car bomb attack at Lee Gardens Hotel in Hat Yai district a few months ago. The four insurgent leaders wanted in the manhunt are Jehmah Wani, Seri Waemamu, Ruslan Baimah and Sakariya Samoh, all of whom are believed to be foreign-trained Runda Kumpalan Kecil commandos."

Maybe the BIB should get their Malaysian counterparts to have a poke around the northern Malaysian states...if they're (Malaysian coppers) not too lazy from not being able to stuff

food in their gobs all day long that is...The BIB & RTA can't expect to find these guys in

Thailand can they?

Edited August 7, 2012 by sunshine51

[OzMick]

The Palestinian representative suggested that the rebels start a campaign to raise aid money from around the world, then use it to start an industry manufacturing cheap garbage unguided rockets to be fired in the general direction of Had Yai. "This method has lead to the great advances in Palestinian society that you see today!" the envoy said.

[hellodolly]

The answer was right in front of their face and they missed it.

They think talking to a bunch of Muslim is the answer.

Kind of like trying to ask the chicken what is the best way to fry it.

All they have to do is drive around the country and get about 5 more like the people in the picture that came with the article give them five minutes and they will give you a solution.

[gohmer]

There's one very good and very simple solution to this problem, its called separation of church and state!

[geriatrickid]

There's one very good and very simple solution to this problem, its called separation of church and state!

Won't happen in Thailand as the state and religion are intertwined. Yours is a western position and while I agree, is not possible in Thailand unless there is a full change in the national structure as there was in Vietnam.

[Thai at Heart]

There's one very good and very simple solution to this problem, its called separation of church and state!

Won't happen in Thailand as the state and religion are intertwined. Yours is a western position and while I agree, is not possible in Thailand unless there is a full change in the national structure as there was in Vietnam.

Well the problem about thainess, is that it exists to exclude not include people. I am Welsh, but definitely British. By defining thainess in such tight conformity, it is largely possible to exclude everyone except a very specific part of society.

[hellodolly]

There's one very good and very simple solution to this problem, its called separation of church and state!

I can just see that now. Thailand declares it is no longer a Buddhist country.

Southern Muslims do not want Shari law to have any thing to do with government.

Saying separation of church and state is about as effective as saying every one be nice to each other.

[hellodolly]

There's one very good and very simple solution to this problem, its called separation of church and state!

Won't happen in Thailand as the state and religion are intertwined. Yours is a western position and while I agree, is not possible in Thailand unless there is a full change in the national structure as there was in Vietnam.

LOL that is what it says on paper but watch the U S elections as they go for the religious voters. The separation is there in theory and on paper but not always in practice.

[Credo]

I am very skeptical of this. My experience with Thais over the years, especially those in upper positions, is that they will ask for input from foreigners and feign a type of agreement and acceptance and then promptly do whatever it was they wanted to in the first place. In return, they expect that the foreigners, to accept the way they do things.

The government has always been very careful not to, as they like to say, 'internationalize' the conflict, unless of course it looks good.

I sincerely hope that I am wrong and that their motives are genuine and they will take the advice given.

In defense of the government, I doubt that there is much they can realistically do, including completely capitulate, that would stop the violence.

Edited August 7, 2012 by Credo

[jerrysteve]

Let them form their own little islam country...givem all 20 Rai and a Jackass; defined as a male donkey!!

[harryfrompattaya]

Let me guess what the advice will be.

Make southern Thailand an independent islamic state, add sharia laws, and oppress anyone who is not considered a "real muslim"?

This is something that has happend / is happening in many other muslim infested territories, so why not in Thailand too?

Sigh.. We are living in the twentyfirst century, and people are still hell bent on wasting their lives (and other's) on a mental disorder called religion. I guess it is still the most powerful mindf*ck you can get.

This a great idea next Europe and than The Americas will create Muslims countries in their countries the world need 70 more Muslims counties

Edited August 7, 2012 by harryfrompattaya

[hellodolly]

I still say the answer is simple. Give them there own continent (Antarctica) and let them do any thing they want there.

[yoshiwara]

Don't expect anything except emptiness if Chalerm is leading the discussions.

The whole initiative is further kicking the can down the road.

Edited August 7, 2012 by yoshiwara

[cdnvic]

Posts advocating violence and using unessesary profanities removed.

[Credo]

Which diplomats were invited? Was the British ambassador invited as well?

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been deleted. This thread is about Thailand, not Israel.

[h90]

The Palestinian representative suggested that the rebels start a campaign to raise aid money from around the world, then use it to start an industry manufacturing cheap garbage unguided rockets to be fired in the general direction of Had Yai. "This method has lead to the great advances in Palestinian society that you see today!" the envoy said.

"start an industry manufacturing": that part is usually impossible in Muslim communities.

[SuneeTH]

Just give the Pattani Kingdom back to the Muslim terrorist.

Problem solved.

[Credo]

It might work to give it back to the Muslims, but I don't think it should be given to the terrorists.

I wonder if returning it would satisfy them.

[simple1]

The Palestinian representative suggested that the rebels start a campaign to raise aid money from around the world, then use it to start an industry manufacturing cheap garbage unguided rockets to be fired in the general direction of Had Yai. "This method has lead to the great advances in Palestinian society that you see today!" the envoy said.

"start an industry manufacturing": that part is usually impossible in Muslim communities.

Putting aside my OzMick's facetious comment, Pakistan & Iran are doing fairly well in developing nuclear facilities! Very challenging to establish competitive manufacturing industries, many western countries are now having to go down the path of off shoring. Malaysia has a good manufacturing infrastructure, with good incentives in-place for the likes of Dell and Intel. Other examples are Turkey & Indonesia. Some western countries have failed in the manufacturing sector, value add, one being Australia.

EDIT: In reality it's nothing to do with the Muslim population, it's good leadership from government, that is of course non-existent in some Islamic nations.

Edited August 8, 2012 by simple1