'Period of non-violence must for peace' in Thai South

[webfact]

'Period of non-violence must for peace' in South
The Nation


Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, right, and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak chat

Prayut, Najib agree on three principles to kickstart the process

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to base their peace efforts to end violence in the far South on three principles - a period without violence, representation of all concerned parties, and a conclusion with all parties united in their demands, Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak said yesterday.

He spoke after meeting with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who yesterday made his first official visit to Kuala Lumpur as Thai premier.

Malaysia's state-run news agency Bernama quoted Najib as saying: "The three principles were a period of no violence; all parties being represented in the peace talks; and all parties in southern Thailand agreeing to a single united demand to be put to the Thai government."

Elaborating on the three principles, Najib said that firstly there must be a period of no violence and respect for the law. "If the parties in the South respect the law, then these parties have nothing to fear," he said.

He quoted General Prayut as saying the Thai army could even reduce its presence in the South if violence was discontinued.

"Secondly, we agreed that it is important that not just one party but all parties be represented in the peace process," he said, adding that Malaysia and Thailand would try to talk to all parties in the South, not just one or two groups.

Thirdly, all demands would be collated and put up as one united demand, he said. In other words, all the parties must agree to the list of demands or requests they wish to put forward to the Thai government, he said.

"That (united demand) would be the basis for starting the actual substantive negotiations with the Thai government," he said.

Najib said Malaysia and Thailand would reinvigorate the peace process and restart their efforts based on the three principles.

"Malaysia will continue (the peace process) and the Thai government has stated categorically that Malaysia is the only country they will work with on the peace process," he said.

The talk about the peace dialogue in the South had been suspended after Prayut seized power on May 22. Yesterday's talk was the first since Prayut became prime minister.

Prayut told Team Thailand members - Thai officials working in Malaysia - that the Thai Army's advisory chief, General Aksara Kerdpol would be assigned to lead the Thai negotiating team in the peace dialogue.

"In the meeting with the Malaysian premier, we agreed that peace should be restored in the South to attract investors to the areas. All parties concerned should talk to find the solution to the problems," he said.

'Tough to set timeframe'

Asked about the timeframe for the peace process, Najib said it was hard to create a limit for such an effort.

"When you sit down and discuss such complex matters, it will take time. It is important we give them impetus based on these three principles," he said.

On terrorists using border passes to enter either country, Najib said ministers in the two countries had been tasked to work out an answer to the matter.

"Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to work to strengthen cooperation in addressing the problem of extremism and militancy," he said.

On dual citizenship, Najib said Malaysia and Thailand agreed to resolve the issue, but it was a long-standing problem.

"There is not much movement. In this regard, I did express our (Malaysia's) need and desire to work closely to resolve this problem," he said.

Najib described his discussions with Prayut as productive and having covered various aspects of bilateral relations.

"We both agreed that the state of bilateral relations remains very strong, but we should look at ways to strengthen our cooperation," he said.

Internal Security Operations Command spokesman Col Banpot Poolpian, meanwhile, said the insurgents wanted to discredit Prayut's credibility during his visit to Malaysia. They had hung anti-coup banners, set fires and planted explosives in a total of 29 areas in Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani and Songkhla province. No one was injured in the incidents.

"They just want to discredit the premier who would discuss the southern problems with the Malaysian authorities. They also wanted to draw attention from the world community," he said.

Some banners said 'Prayut is a coup-maker - so how can people trust him?'

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Period-of-non-violence-must-for-peace-in-South-30248986.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-02

[Bluespunk]

"Secondly, we agreed that it is important that not just one party but all parties be represented in the peace process," he said, adding that Malaysia and Thailand would try to talk to all parties in the South, not just one or two groups."

Good. The last strategy of negotiating with a few groups only was just plain stupid.

[Bluespunk]

"Some banners said 'Prayut is a coup-maker - so how can people trust him?"

Did any read 'Terrorist scum butcher civilians, so you can trust us'?

Edited December 1, 2014 by Bluespunk

[The stuttering parrot]

Coming from a general who's army sabotaged the peace talks of the previous government and now trying to take credit as a peacemaker is a bit rich.

Dealing with fanatics who won't negotiate is a bit different to rounding up people under martial law.

General your attitude adjustments aren't going to work on these extremists as seen by their reaction to the way you grabbed power!

[Bluespunk]

Coming from a general who's army sabotaged the peace talks of the previous government and now trying to take credit as a peacemaker is a bit rich.

Dealing with fanatics who won't negotiate is a bit different to rounding up people under martial law.

General your attitude adjustments aren't going to work on these extremists as seen by their reaction to the way you grabbed power!

At least he is willing to negotiate with them.

Better than refusing to talk with a lot of the groups as was the previous ridiculous approach.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Bluespunk

[theoldgit]

Completely off topic post removed.

[BSJ]

It will fail. You can't negotiate with terrorists/extremists.

[Bluespunk]

It will fail. You can't negotiate with terrorists/extremists.

Certainly can't if you don't try.

If it helps further splinter and isolate the hold out groups all the better.

Negotiate with those that will.

Defeat/eliminate those who won't.

[The stuttering parrot]

The very people who are negotiating are the ones who torpedoed the last lot of peace talks.

No credibility !

[Bluespunk]

The very people who are negotiating are the ones who torpedoed the last lot of peace talks.

No credibility !

Possibly that's true, but those talks were never going to succeed. The govt was not negotiating with all groups involved and could never have achieved a peace treaty.

[BestBitterPhuket]

The consensus in Malaysia is that those three provinces "belongs" to Malaysia and that Thailand is an occupier, and further that the inhabitants are ethnic Malays. When many Malaysian are of this opinion, including many at the top, it is hard to get Malaysia along on any peace process. Why is even Malaysia involved in talks? Because Malaysia is part of the problem. Without Malaysian support, this rebellion would fade quickly. This is not a religious fight, but a territorial and ethnic conflict. Thailand should demand, that Malaysia stop supporting the rebels.

Edited December 2, 2014 by BestBitterPhuket

[rickirs]

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Coming from a general who's army sabotaged the peace talks of the previous government and now trying to take credit as a peacemaker is a bit rich.

Dealing with fanatics who won't negotiate is a bit different to rounding up people under martial law.

General your attitude adjustments aren't going to work on these extremists as seen by their reaction to the way you grabbed power!

At least he is willing to negotiate with them.

Better than refusing to talk with a lot of the groups as was the previous ridiculous approach.

How many times did the military actually get any insurgents to peace talks? Zero. And while the Yingluck regime only got them to the peace table once, one is the only one. And that was only accomplished in part by excluding the military. Any real solution for peace with the Malay-Thais is entirely dependent on the Thai military and requiring a list of preconditions before any peace talks can occur just continues to challenge the military's creditability for a resolution agreable to BOTH sides.

[Eric Loh]

The very people who are negotiating are the ones who torpedoed the last lot of peace talks.

No credibility !

Possibly that's true, but those talks were never going to succeed. The govt was not negotiating with all groups involved and could never have achieved a peace treaty.

You keep harping the same theme that the government was not negotiating with all groups. Please tell us in your wisdom who are the groups not negotiating. The RKK, BRN and the NBR, the biggest of the insurgent groups were involved at one stage or another. No one really know the smaller splinter radical groups. You know??