Southern Thai peace talks on agenda as PM visits Malaysia

[webfact]

Southern Thai peace talks on agenda as PM visits Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | AFP |

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha held talks with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak on Monday during which they were expected to discuss the deadly Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand along their shared border.

Prayut arrived Monday morning for the several-hour visit, his first to Thailand's southern neighbour since the former military chief seized power in a May coup.

Prayut's regime has said it wants to re-start Malaysia-hosted peace talks between Thailand and Muslim rebels that began under the previous Thai government of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who Prayut deposed.

Those talks made little headway, and eventually collapsed last year as Yingluck's government became engulfed by a political crisis that ultimately led to the coup.

Prospects for a resumption of the dialogue now look slim following deadly post-coup militant attacks in southern Thailand and a subsequent fresh security crackdown.

A Malaysia government statement Monday said Prayut's visit "will provide the opportunity for both sides to explore ways to further strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries in various areas such as the southern Thailand peace dialogue process, trade and investment" and other spheres.

Buddhist Thailand colonised its predominantly Muslim deep south more than a century ago, and insurgencies have repeatedly flared.

More than 6,000 people have been killed or wounded during the current decade-long eruption. Most have been civilians.

Muslim-majority Malaysia -- where some insurgent leaders are believed to be holed up -- hosted several rounds of secretive peace talks last year between Thai officials and representatives of a rebel group.

But several shadowy insurgent organisations are waging the rebellion, and it has remained unclear how much control the rebel negotiators have over the larger conflict.

Rights groups accuse Thai authorities of widespread human rights abuses -- including extra-judicial killings -- in the southern region and of sweeping aside the distinct local culture through forced assimilation projects.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-12-01

[webfact]

PM visits Malaysia to discuss southern solutions
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 1 -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha left Thailand for Malaysia today to discuss solutions to the insurgent violence in southern Thailand, bilateral partnerships including attempts to raise rubber prices and projects to develop a special economic zone and promote tourism in border areas adjacent to Malaysia.

Gen Prayut’s delegation in this official visit to Malaysia includes Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Defence Minister and Army chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, also secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board, Gen Chatchaloem Chaloemsuk, secretary-general of the Internal Security Operations Command, Army chief advisor Gen Aksara Kerdpol, Panu Uthairat, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center, and 4th Army chief Lt Gen Prakan Cholayuth.

The delegation arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 10am, one hour ahead of Thailand’s time.

He was officially received at Malaysia's Government House.

At 11.15am Gen Prayut had discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and other authorities.

Topics included ideas to raise rubber prices such as new forms of rubber use. In the afternoon the Malaysian prime minister hosted a lunch for Gen Prayut’s delegation.

Before returning to Thailand, Gen Prayut is set to meet the Team Thailand and representatives of Thai businesspeople and others living in Malaysia.

He is scheduled to arrive back in Bangkok at 6.30pm. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-12-01

[Eric Loh]

Seem some part of the not too pleasant news of PM Prayuth visit have been omitted. Shouldnt be a suprise.

[englishoak]

Definitely something missing in this report

[Boxclever]

What was the unpleasant part of the visit?

[Nuddy]

It is indeed refreshing that our PM is visiting many countries and bringing the word of peace.

It makes me very happy.

Regards

[FangFerang]

They were not having talks. They were suggesting the possibility of having non-binding discussions concerning a memorandum of understanding to perhaps consider talks. There will a casual conversation about a notion that might one day become an idea that can crafted into a concept. Perhaps.

[webfact]

Prayut gives Malaysia assurance



BANGKOK: -- The Thai government recognises Malaysia’s role as the facilitator for peace efforts in southern Thailand, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, as reported by The Star Online.

The Prime Minister said his counterpart, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, had also stated categorically that Malaysia was the only country that the Thai government would work with in the effort.

“He gave a firm assurance that the Thai government will continue and be committed to the peace process. Our facilitator, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim, has also been recognised and accepted by the Thai government to continue his role,” he told reporters after hosting an official luncheon in honour of Gen Prayut at Seri Perdana here yesterday.

Gen Prayut, who was here for a half-day visit, had earlier held a four-eyed meeting with Najib, followed by a delegation meeting. Najib said they agreed that the peace efforts should be based on basic principles.

“First, there must be a period of respect for the law and no violence. If the parties in the south respect the law, then they have nothing to fear. Prayut went to the extent of saying that the army could reduce its presence in the south if violence was discontinued,” he said.

Najib said the second principle was inclusivity, where all parties must be represented in the process. “We will, through Datuk (Seri Ahmad) Zamzamin, talk to all parties and try to work towards including all parties in the south, not just one or two groups.”

“Thirdly, we agreed that it is important that all the demands will be collated and put up as one united demand. In other words, all the parties must agree to a list of demands or requests that they should put forward to the Thai government and that would be the basis of starting the actual substantive negotiations with the Thai government,” he said.

Najib added that there was no time-frame set for the peace process to reach a conclusion.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/prayut-gives-malaysia-assurance


-- Thai PBS 2014-12-02