Chalerm To Invite Abhisit To Discuss Solutions To Southern Unrest

[webfact]

DPM Chalerm to invite Abhisit to discuss solutions to southern unrest

BANGKOK, 27 February 2013 (NNT)-Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yubamrung said the Opposition leader would be invited to join him in a meeting to solve the southern unrest as Southern MPs belong to the Democrat Party.

The Deputy Prime Minister, in the meantime, refused to give his opinion to the press regarding the Prime Minister’s trip to Malaysia tomorrow to attend a meeting whether it will improve the situation in the South, saying that he couldn’t say anything as he was not accompanying her on the trip.

Police Captain Chalerm said he will travel to Thon Buri district tomorrow to help Bangkok Governor candidate Police General Pongsapat Pongjaroen campaign for the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Meanwhile, he said the reason for appointing the Wada group, whose members are Muslim politicians, as his advisor that it was a personal decision. He cited that the decision had been made based on the fact that they were knowledgeable of the restive south.

The Deputy Prime Minister added later than he would invite Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva and Songkhla MP, Mr. Thaworn Seniam, as well as provincial governors and officials in the southern provinces to the meeting, which will be held via a video conference, to discuss ways to deal with the southern insurgency.

Police Captain Chalerm cited his reason for inviting the Opposition Party leader was because most southern MPs are from the Democrat Party, who should be able to share the responsibility too.


-- NNT 2013-02-27

[webfact]

Thailand eyes peace talks with insurgents 'soon'

BANGKOK, Feb 27, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand wants to hold peace talks with militant groups behind a festering insurgency in the south "soon", the head of the kingdom's highest security body said Wednesday.

The comments come amid a recent spike in attacks in the Muslim-majority south bordering Malaysia and ahead of a meeting between Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak on Thursday.

The pair will discuss the nine-year insurgency, which has claimed more than 5,500 lives, and the possibility of Malaysia hosting talks with the militants.

"I hope that talks will happen soon," said Lieutenant-General Paradorn Pattanathabutr, secretary-general of Thailand's National Security Council, who will join Yingluck in this week's talks in Kuala Lumpur.

"Malaysia will facilitate (the talks) by arranging the venue but will have no role in talks," he said, stressing the need for "core militant leaders... active in mounting the violence" to be identified and engaged in any talks.

"Otherwise it will not solve the problem," he said, explaining the NSC was still establishing the authority of militant leaders to negotiate.

Thailand's southernmost provinces suffer almost daily gun and bomb attacks by shadowy insurgents fighting for greater autonomy, a demand Thai authorities have totally rejected.

Thousands of Buddhists and Muslims have been killed in the conflict since early 2004.

Members of Thailand's security forces and civilians accused of collaboration with the authorities are frequently targeted with ambushes and roadside bombs.

The possibility of peace has been dogged by the complex make-up of the insurgency and doubts persist over the level of control that older, exiled leaders known to Thai authorities, exert over the younger -- and more violent -- fighters on the ground.

Analysts also question the effectiveness of Thailand's military response to the insurgency, although Yingluck's administration has recently amended its language to recognise a political dimension to the conflict.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-02-27

[A Member]

Did I read this correctly, did Chalerm actually say he couldn't comment ? Sorry got to go, have to get a camera shot of the pigs hovering above the soi

[bigbamboo]

Abisit should suggest that they all meet in Pattani so his MPs don't have to travel too far and they can get a real feel of the problem.

Cue some serious doses of ear med.

[Pimay1]

Abisit should suggest that they all meet in Pattani so his MPs don't have to travel too far and they can get a real feel of the problem.

Cue some serious doses of ear med.

If they met in Pattani Chalerm would have to take his sharp shooter son along. After all he is experienced in this sort of thing.

[Thai at Heart]

Did I read this correctly, did Chalerm actually say he couldn't comment ? Sorry got to go, have to get a camera shot of the pigs hovering above the soi

Well he learnt something very fast after getting shot down publically every time he opens his trap.

[siampolee]

One is led to wonder whether the relationship that Chalerm has with the puppet master is wearing thin and the money is perhaps drying up too, or possibly those of a somewaht more vivid political hue are bothering Chalerm.

.

Chalerm is a political turncoat who serves only his own ends, remember he deserted the Democrat Party when Thaksin took power and the golden handshake was offered.

Now perhaps Chalerm is party to some upcoming political development, thus the taking out of a political insurance policy that might well mitigate any political damage is a prudent move on Chalerms part.

Politicians make strange bedfellows and they don't come much stranger than Chalerm

[chainarong]

I would say solutions to the Southern unrest, will need more than talk, the solution lies outside of Thailand , take heed Mark, you have had thirty years to do something, as predicted , now its out of control. W

[chainarong]

One is led to wonder whether the relationship that Chalerm has with the puppet master is wearing thin and the money is perhaps drying up too, or possibly those of a somewaht more vivid political hue are bothering Chalerm.

.

Chalerm is a political turncoat who serves only his own ends, remember he deserted the Democrat Party when Thaksin took power and the golden handshake was offered.

Now perhaps Chalerm is party to some upcoming political development, thus the taking out of a political insurance policy that might well mitigate any political damage is a prudent move on Chalerms part.

Politicians make strange bedfellows and they don't come much stranger than Chalerm

I wouldn't put to much trust in Malaysia, they are also strange bedfellows.

[Locationthailand]

Chalerm to invite Abhisit... Now there is a clear admission the former has no clues as to how to resolve anything. Makes one wonder why he has the post of DPM. But then imagine the tragedy if Yingluck stepped aside and he was to become acting PM? Now there would go the neighbourhood.

[Robby nz]

Police Captain Chalerm cited his reason for inviting the Opposition Party leader was because most southern MPs are from the Democrat Party, who should be able to share the responsibility too.

Is this a way of trying to lay blame on the Dems?

[culicine]

This government can't compromise of a patch of scrubland with Cambodia. They have no hope to resolve the Southern issue, which has simmered for decades.

[OzMick]

Anybody that thinks Chalerm is sincere in his request for advice should look at those Democrat policies that actually had benefit for the Thai people and which have since been scrubbed after PTP came to office. All scrapped because Thaksin couldn't lay claim to them.

[Mosha]

Anybody that thinks Chalerm is sincere in his request for advice should look at those Democrat policies that actually had benefit for the Thai people and which have since been scrubbed after PTP came to office. All scrapped because Thaksin couldn't lay claim to them.

Get your list ready my friend. You know someone will ask for which policies? That despite countless posts mentioning them. Edited February 27, 2013 by Mosha

[Songhua]

Next question: Khun Abhisit old mate, I'm a bit snowed under - would you mind heading down there?

[Bagwan]

I'm not at all sure that 'Dem pollies' have any more idea what it would take to solve the Southern unrest than the Man in the Moon. Does our not so revered DPM think that Abhisit and Dem MP's have any live contact with the troublemakers? Are they privy to the same amount of information that Government Ministers have? This being Thailand it is all too easy to think that a politician of any hue has his eyes on the chance of getting his/her snout in the trough rather than solve the long festering problem.

[hellodolly]

I took it as a admittance that he is clueless and getting a lot of pressure to solve the problem. His master thinks he can just solve it in a flash. Goes to show how out of touch the PT are with the problem.

Don't really know what they expect from Abhist.

Every one knows that if he figures it out the PT will ignore it for a couple of years brush it up the odd tweak and say look what we have done. Were they not making a little progress in the south with Abhist. I think he had the soldiers helping the civilians learn new tricks for making a living. lots of senior moments.