EDITORIAL
Peace talks were doomed from the very beginning
The Nation

The govt should admit the latest peace initiative with southern separatists was flawed from the outset, and start anew with credible representatives

BANGKOK: -- The February 28 signing ceremony of a "peace agreement" between the Thai government and a group of self-proclaimed leaders of the separatist Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Coordinate (BRN-C) was presented to the public as the start of a confidence-building process between the state and the Malay-Muslim separatist movement in the deep South. But it didn't take long for this event to become a political circus that later evolved into a spitting contest between the two sides.

Today, three months later, after demands and counter-demands have been tossed back and forth, the two sides have backed themselves into a tight corner. It has become harder by the day for National Security Council secretary-general Paradon Pattanatabut, the Thai team leader, to spin the issue in such a way that will not chip away at his credibility, not to mention the public's faith in this process.

Like others on his team, Paradon made a big leap of faith at the signing ceremony with his counterpart, Hasan Taib. The thinking was that the initiative would draw other separatist groups, as well as insurgents active in the field, into the confidence-building process, which could lead to formal negotiations and a final peace settlement.

But reality proves otherwise as roadside bombs and gunfights continue every day.

At first Paradon maintained that the violence had nothing to do with the talks. He insisted that Hasan Taib, who calls himself the "liaison officer" for the BRN-C, has the backing of the entire separatist movement to speak on its behalf.

But doubts soon emerged when it became clear that Hasan was unable to demonstrate any influence over the insurgents' activities. It's strange how the Thai side didn't ask Hasan to prove this point before February 28.

To make life more difficult for Paradon, Hasan's team, over the past three months, has issued three videotaped statements making several demands. These include releasing all imprisoned insurgents and dropping all pending charges against any other suspects held in custody.

The latest statement dismissed the allegation that insurgents were behind the May 1 shooting in Pattani's Rusamilae district that ended in the death of six Buddhist residents.

Needless to say, this whole affair has become a public-relations disaster for Paradon and the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, which initially billed the February 28 signing as a spectacular event. Yes, it was spectacular because it was the first time that a Thai government had gone public about its willingness to enter into peace talks with Patani Malay separatists.

But the public-image disaster is Thailand's doing. Because the Thai side did not provide an accurate picture to the public about what it was entering into - that Hasan might or might not have much influence with the current generation of militants - the public was led to believe that things would get better and violence would gradually disappear.

Today, Paradon's three-month-old public-relations exercise has hit a brick wall and the public has lost faith in him and "Team Thailand".

To make matters worse, the Army chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has suggested building a wall between Thailand and Malaysia, ostensibly to obstruct the movements of insurgents and explosive materials. Needless to say, this ridiculous suggestion has alienated the local Patani-Malay population even further. It's not too late to go back to the drawing board and rethink this whole thing again. Perhaps we should start with finding a new "liaison" who can actually coordinate things with the various separatist groups and the anonymous active insurgents. The Thai side can also improve its performance by developing a unified position under an identifiable process that is responsible for the peace negotiations.


-- The Nation 2013-05-31

I was going to make a serious contribution to this subject but the government doesn't bother so why should I.

Right, this is not a serious editorial on the subject and the south.

Its a bit like Comedy Hour !

There will be no peace talks, the insurgents have got the Thai security right where they want them ,they know they are disorganised and not very bright , this would have to be the most easy opposition any insurgency group could have in the world, they will make as much mileage as they can and probe the weakest points in the system, one of the weakest points, is the decision making, especially peace talks.

So why doesn't the Nation get off its ass and take the initiative to go down there and interview these people and put their story into the media limelight?

Why doesn't the Nation form a debate and invite both sides to the podium and get it on National TV with translators in several languages, so everyone can hear it from the horse's mouths?

It's really amazing how things get sorted out when everyone gets to see and hear directly from the source, as well as getting to see who comes to the table with legitimate substance or simple pap and diversion.

My guess is that the insurgents would mop the floor with any Thai representative at said debate simply by stating cold hard facts, whilst the Thai representative would digress and side-step and outright lie, accuse and offer nothing in return beyond that... as is there style.

Come on, Nation, when is this debate or when is this editorial interview going to go down? After all, you people seem to know so much without ever really doing anything; so put your money where your mouth is and report something that has yet to be reported.

Just my view on what I haven't seen yet. I am tired of reading "he said" "they said" etc. I want to hear it from the horse's mouth. What is so difficult about that when lives are at stake?

Edited May 31, 201313 yr by cup-O-coffee

Just before the Bangkok Governor elections, Yingluck stated that there was a peace-deal in place and Thaksin was a big contributor to this deal.

A well, just a bit of false info in order to get more votes.. doesn't hurt anybody....

There will be no peace talks, the insurgents have got the Thai security right where they want them ,they know they are disorganised and not very bright , this would have to be the most easy opposition any insurgency group could have in the world, they will make as much mileage as they can and probe the weakest points in the system, one of the weakest points, is the decision making, especially peace talks.

So no change from the previous 10 years then, or do you think this a particular failure specific to the present government

"This problem cannot be solved in a few months," said Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of national security.

Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of Thailand's Malay Muslim minority, including alleged abuses by the military and a perceived lack of respect for their ethnic identity, language and religion.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hQESp04-NFOG6zrOvhwREMuWJ-kQ?docId=CNG.94f20013cdd393d22cb9d0a563a113f9.581

The one constant appears to be the heavy handedness of the Army throughout this period.

Edited May 31, 201313 yr by amore

There will be no peace talks, the insurgents have got the Thai security right where they want them ,they know they are disorganised and not very bright , this would have to be the most easy opposition any insurgency group could have in the world, they will make as much mileage as they can and probe the weakest points in the system, one of the weakest points, is the decision making, especially peace talks.

So no change from the previous 10 years then, or do you think this a particular failure specific to the present government

>>

"This problem cannot be solved in a few months," said Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of national security.

Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of Thailand's Malay Muslim minority, including alleged abuses by the military and a perceived lack of respect for their ethnic identity, language and religion.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hQESp04-NFOG6zrOvhwREMuWJ-kQ?docId=CNG.94f20013cdd393d22cb9d0a563a113f9.581

The one constant appears to be the heavy handedness of the Army throughout this period.

...And the fact that Suthep prefers to use the peace-talks trip to Malaysia to drink 6 bottles of wine with his Malay buddies.

Edited May 31, 201313 yr by Nickymaster

There will be no peace talks, the insurgents have got the Thai security right where they want them ,they know they are disorganised and not very bright , this would have to be the most easy opposition any insurgency group could have in the world, they will make as much mileage as they can and probe the weakest points in the system, one of the weakest points, is the decision making, especially peace talks.

So no change from the previous 10 years then, or do you think this a particular failure specific to the present government

>

"This problem cannot be solved in a few months," said Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of national security.

Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of Thailand's Malay Muslim minority, including alleged abuses by the military and a perceived lack of respect for their ethnic identity, language and religion.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hQESp04-NFOG6zrOvhwREMuWJ-kQ?docId=CNG.94f20013cdd393d22cb9d0a563a113f9.581

The one constant appears to be the heavy handedness of the Army throughout this period.

"So no change from the previous 10 years then, or do you think this a particular failure specific to the present government"

No, but they are the ones who made people believe that there was a deal in place.

There will be no peace talks, the insurgents have got the Thai security right where they want them ,they know they are disorganised and not very bright , this would have to be the most easy opposition any insurgency group could have in the world, they will make as much mileage as they can and probe the weakest points in the system, one of the weakest points, is the decision making, especially peace talks.

So no change from the previous 10 years then, or do you think this a particular failure specific to the present government

>

"This problem cannot be solved in a few months," said Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of national security.

Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of Thailand's Malay Muslim minority, including alleged abuses by the military and a perceived lack of respect for their ethnic identity, language and religion.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hQESp04-NFOG6zrOvhwREMuWJ-kQ?docId=CNG.94f20013cdd393d22cb9d0a563a113f9.581

The one constant appears to be the heavy handedness of the Army throughout this period.

No, there's another constant. Dealing with militant muslims. THEIR tactics tend to be somewhat "heavy handed" as well... They demand respect for THEIR ethnic identity(ies), language(s) and religion, while declaring everyone else infidels and offering up no tolerance whatsoever. None. (Just ask the family of the Brit soldier who had his head hacked off the other day.) Muslims can't even tolerate other muslim sects! Pretty hard to "respect" a "religion" like that. I don't blame the Thai military one bit.