Special report: Project to Bring Misled Persons in the Southern Border Provinces Back Home

[webfact]

Special report:Project to Bring Misled Persons in the Southern Border Provinces Back Home

BANGKOK, 8 January 2016 (NNT)-Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon cited the project “Bringing People Back Home”as an effective way to reduce the severity of the southern situation.

In his recent inspection of the deep South of Thailand, General Prawit presided over an event to welcome a group of people joining this project to take part in resolving problems in the southern border provinces. The project was launched by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 Forward, in cooperation with the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center. It provides an opportunity for those who have been misled into creating unrest to turn over a new leaf. After reporting themselves to the authorities, they will be sent for training, so that they will be able to reintegrate into society, instead of standing trial in court.

From October to November 2015, around 1,000 people from the southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat participated in this project. In welcoming them back home, General Prawit urged them to communicate with other people “holding different views to that of the state” in order to persuade them to join this project, as well. He explained that the Government would ensure justice for them and that all relevant agencies are ready to give a helping hand. The Government is determined to create better understanding with local people and to improve their living conditions, especially those in the three southern border provinces.

He pointed out that those who hold different views with that of the state should not escape. They should join officials in developing Thailand. The public sector would offer them assistance, in terms of employment generation, so that they would be able to earn a living and support their families. By so doing, peace will be soon restored in the deep South. General Prawit said that several thousands of misled persons have joined this project and that their cooperation played a part in reducing suspicions of local people toward officials. The District Operations Center has been assigned to accept misled persons to report themselves to the authorities.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dolsiya Mudyasiri, one of the participants in the project, thanked relevant officials and his relatives for their assistance and suggestions. He said that the project was good and provided him with an opportunity to return home to live with his family and join peace-building in the South.

During his inspection of the South, General Prawit also chaired a meeting with local officials and gave his policy briefing. He called on them to uphold His Majesty the King’s royal advice to “understand, reach out, and develop” as a major strategy for tackling problems in the southern border provinces. The royal advice is meant to encourage responsible for officials to seek a better understanding about the problems, then to win the hearts of local people, and carry out development for them by taking account of the local environment in terms of physical, sociological, and cultural conditions. General Prawit stated that the Government also focused on suppressing local influential persons and tackling narcotics and poverty problems. These issues form part of the problems in the deep South and must be brought under control.


-- NNT 2016-01-08

[ddavidovsky]

In other words: Hearts and Minds. Do the Thais know that this is an old trick? And that it doesn't work in a conflict situation? Especially when done by the army?

[worgeordie]

I thought Moses was dead

regards Worgeordie

[phuketsub]

But maybe it's better than flying admitted insurgents to Mecca for the Hajj, at the taxpayers' expense. That's what the previous administration did. According to Deep South Watch, the 'State' spent 206,294,000,000 baht 'trying to solve the Deep South conflict' during the first decade.

Money well spent?

The real problem is that far too many people are making far too much money on this conflict: military and state officials, clerics, even the media and academics. I don't see any indications of the status quo ending any time soon because the underlying mindsets persist.

[phoenixdoglover]

It provides an opportunity for those who have been misled into creating unrest to turn over a new leaf. After reporting themselves to the authorities, they will be sent for training, so that they will be able to reintegrate into society, instead of standing trial in court.

This is a fairly strong statement. I don;t know if it is the right approach, or if it will achieve some success. However, it is an approach that could also be labeled "reconciliation" and seems to be lacking in the major political conflict at play in Thailand (reds vs Yellows, etc).

[Enoon]

It was their "misunderstanding", as a result of listening to "misinformation", that caused them to be "misled".

So many people in Thailand have the same "problem".

So much work to do.

[jerojero]

Yes yes! It's all a misunderstanding by many poor people who disagree with the government. They are stupid. We will help you see the light, the one and only true light. And thou shalt like it!