Gen Surayud's Concerned Over The Southern Unrest

[Jai Dee]

Gen Surayud's concerned over the southern unrest

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont talked about the solutions to end the southern violence, as the unrest has been spreading throughout the southern borders, and it has also ignited a severe conflict between Buddhists and Muslims.

Gen. Surayud indicated that the solutions for these problems can be divided into two levels. First, the officials have to promote harmony and develop a clear understanding with the local people. For this level, the Prime Minister is working step by step, starting from meetings with religious leaders and then students and youths so they would truly realize the problems. Another level is for the officials to approach all involved governmental institutes, but this responsibility belongs to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center, or SBPAC.

Furthermore, Gen. Surayud told the Army Commander-in-Chief to provide the best security in the deep South. The supporting power from the state must be tantamount with the hidden power of the southern insurgents.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Minister of Interior is ready to go down South again to help the people

Mr. Aree Wong-araya, the Interior Minister, believes immigrating the victims out of violence-plagued province of Yala to other areas would not escalate the problems. Moreover, he has confirmed that he will do his best to solve the unrest during the one-year administration.

In addition, the Interior Minister and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will travel to the South on November 16th. Mr. Aree said this trip is not just to inspire the locals but to solve many different problems in the southern border areas, especially budget constraints, unrest situations, public security, and damaged public properties.

Furthermore, he will push forward all proposed project to help the people as soon as possible.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

A psychiatrist team is providing psychological-recovering assistance for victims in the far south

The Director-General of the Mental Health Department, M.L. Somchai Chakraphan (สมชาย จักรพันธ์), has dispatched a team of psychiatrists to help recover the residents who have been affected by violence in the southernmost provinces.

The psychiatrist team visited 72 families affected by the unrest, who are sheltering in the Nirotsangkharam (นิโรธสังฆาราม) Temple in Yala provincial municipality. Even though more than 10,000 victims’ mental conditions are not in a severe state, they still need mental recovery.

As a result from the ongoing unrest, all of them have left their homes to temporarily shelter in secured place at the temple. According to M.L. Somchai, assistances have to be provided for them so their mental health would be rehabilitated.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

PM Surayud leaves for deep South morale-boosting visit

BANGKOK, Nov 16 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont left here on Thursday for a one-day visit to the country's deep South, intending to boost the morale of local residents affected by the region's ongoing violence.

Accompanied by senior officials, including Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya, Gen. Surayud is scheduled to meet students and teachers in Narathiwat's provincial seat and have an audience with Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn at the palace on the occasion of presenting honorary shields and prizes to Islamic religious teachers and provincial committee members.

The prime minister will also visit some 200 Buddhist villagers, from 55 households, who left their homes in two districts in nearby Yala province last week for fear of the rising violence and are now taking temporary refuge at Wat Nirotsankharam temple in Yala municipality.

The villagers decided to stay at the temple after insurgents operating in the deep South made death threats against Buddhist villagers.

Source: TNA - 16 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

PM and his entourage visits teachers and students in Narathiwat

Prime Minister Surayud Chuland and his entourage today met with teachers and students in Narathiwat (นราธิวาส) Province.

At 8.30 hours, the premier together with Interior minister Aree Wong-araya (อารีย์ วงศ์อารยะ), Prime Minister’s Secretary Gen Pongthep Thetpratheep (พงษ์เทพ เทศประทีป), and the Spokesman of the Prime Minister’s Office, Army Capt. Yongyuth Maiyalarp (ยงยุทธ มัยลาภ), flew on the Royal Thai Air Force to visit teachers and students in Narathiwat Province.

At 15.00 hours, the premier and his entourage are scheduled to have an audience with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn Mahidol.

The premier will also travel to Yala (ยะลา) Province to give moral support to the victims of violence who have been evacuated to stay at Nirotsangkaram (นิโรธสังฆาราม) Temple temporarily.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

ICT Minister to consider pulling off cell phone signals in the Deep South

Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Mr. Sitthichai Phokai-udom (สิทธิชัย โภไคยอุดม) insisted that the registration of Sim Cards will not help curb violence in the Deep South. He said he may consider pulling off cellular phone signals at certain times of the day in the Deep South to weed off the root problem of using mobile phones to trigger bomb explosions.

Mr Sittichai said that one of the ideal ways to reduce violence in the restive south is to muster up cooperation from all state and private agencies. He said that CCTV installation also help lessen the number of the tragedies.

He said that although cell phone signals have been cut, the insurgents can find other ways to cause trouble to local residence. However, he said that his ICT Ministry will consider the possibility on cutting mobile phone signals as an alternative solution.

In regards to the National Legislative Assembly’s approval of the Act concerning cyber crimes, he said that advanced technology in the present is being abused; therefore, the Act concerning the matter is needed.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

PM met students in Narathiwat and gathered education information in the area

Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont led a group of officials including Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin, Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya, Education Minister Wichit Srisa-arn, among others to meet the local youths, students, and residents in Narathiwat province.

The Prime Minister met the Islamic school administrators, teachers and students at one of the biggest schools in Narathiwat. During the visit, former Narathiwat Senator Umar Doyib delivered a welcoming speech to the entourage.

Gen. Surayud will gather educational information in the Narathiwat, and he will use it to solve the problems. In addition, he also met the teachers and students at Narasikalai School and went to tambon Lam Phu (ลำภู) in Muang district to check the residents' livelihood. The area has been occupied by Buddhist and Islamic people, and they have lived together harmoniously.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

PM affirms that ending the violence in the Deep South must use peaceful means

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont reminded all state officials that to douse the southern flames, one must stick to peaceful means but remain resolute as well in handling insurgents.

In response to the daily unrest situation in the Deep South, the premier said that the government still sticks onto its peaceful means to cope with the brutality of insurgents challenging the authorities.

The premier said that officials are planning a long-term working process in dealing with violence in the Deep South, and to continuously relieve the plights of local residents as well as to encourage them to cooperate with the local authorities.

He said that he has requested the Council for National Security (CNS) Secretary Prakij Prajonpudjaneuk (ประกิจ ประจนปัจจนึก) to help inform the government's work to people.

As for news saying that the martial law will be lifted within this year, the premier refrained from commenting on the matter. Gen Surayud said he needed to consult with Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin (พลเอกสนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน) first. The premier will travel to Myanmar on November 23rd.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Ex-PM insisted that govt. and Southern insurgents need to compromise

Ex-Prime Minister insisted that the government and the insurgents in the three Southern-most provinces need to compromise no matter how long it will take if the government wants to see Thai-Buddhists and Thai-Muslims live in peace.

Anand Panyarachun (อานันท์ ปันยารชุน), the former prime minister and president of the now defunct National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), said although PM Surayud Chulanont’s apology to the Southern people was deemed a good start of the eradication of prolonged violence situation, it cannot put an end to the problem. There are still a number of people refusing to cooperate with the government. As a result, it is crucial for state officials to persuade 1.5 million Thai-Muslims in the region to stand by the government’s side.

The former premiere added that the most important thing is that the government and the insurgent groups compromise. The authorities should urgently try to identify the masterminds of the unrest like when he traveled to Malaysia to talk to the Southern Thai-Muslims insurgents taking refuge there to find out whether they still contacted with other insurgents in Thailand. Mr Anand suggested that the government should first learn about the opponent’s demands before moving on to negotiation.

The former PM said further that although the Southern situation of 15 years ago, when he was PM, was like the present one in many ways, he has no special suggestion to Gen.Surayud. People should be patient with the government’s work to solve the deep-rooted Southern problem. Moreover, the interim government should focus on the problem of Thai-Muslims who have been treated unfairly in the justice system.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Sonthi orders increase in manpower for security provision in deep South

Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief and Council for National Security (CNS) Chairman Sonthi Bunyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน) has ordered an increase in manpower to provide security in the far South, as well as readjustment of security measures to suit each area.

Gen. Sonthi has assigned the 4th Army Area commanding-general to send more manpower into spots in the southern border provinces that are targets of insurgencies. He said the forces will be dissipated throughout each locality so as to achieve comprehensive coverage. Bannangsata (บันนังสะตา) district in Yala is being emphasised as insurgents recently damaged public utility systems.

Gen. Sonthi said the state will have to arrange security measures that are tailored to the area, and aerial photographs will be used to follow the movement of the insurgents.

Gen. Sonthi also said the current unrest is not so intense for the insurgents to declare the province as a State of Pattani.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thai Defence Minister Visiting Malaysia

BANGKOK, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Thai Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas and Army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin will make a three-day visit to Malaysia beginning Monday where they are expected to discuss the unrest in southern Thailand.

Army spokesman Gen Akara Tipparoj said the duo, who would be accompanied by the ministry's permanent secretary, Gen Winai Phatthiyakul, would leave the capital in the evening and return on Wednesday.

"They are expected to meet Malaysian military officials to discuss bilateral relations," said Akara when contacted here Monday.

Akara said he had no further details of the visit and could not confirm whether the Thai delegation would meet Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The southern issue is expected to be the main agenda of the talks between the two parties, especially in the wake of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's disclosure last week that Thai Tom Yam Kung restaurants operating in Malaysia were funding insurgents involved in the daily violence in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

Malaysian government officials and Thai restaurant owners in Thailand and Malaysia have vehemently denied the accusation.

Akara said Sonthi, who led the Sept 19 coup that ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was going to Kuala Lumpur in his capacity as chairman of the Council of National Security which was established after the coup.

More than 1,800 people have died since violence escalated in the three Muslim-majority provinces in January 2004.

Two weeks ago, Thai supreme commander Gen Boonsrang Niampradit visited Malaysia where he discussed the southern issue with Malaysian armed forces officials.

The Thai officials are expected to touch on the recent peace talks initiated by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had arranged several rounds of meetings between several militant groups and Thai army officials.

Both sides are also likely to further discuss the dual-citizenship issue involving citizens of both countries, particularly those in southern Thailand where it is assumed that between 50,000 and 100,000 people have such status.

The fate of 130 Thai Muslims currently under detention in Terengganu after fleeing their homes in August last year could also be brought up again.

Source: Bernama - 27 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Yala holds training session to promote patriotism

Yala (ยะลา) Province will be promoting and cultivating youngsters with 'patriotism', an act seen as a major means to restore peace in the restive south.

Yala Youth Center under the administration of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) has arranged training sessions to officials in a bid to cultivate the youngsters 'patriotism' and 'nationalism' into their daily lives. The training session was attended by 440 people.

Mr. Suthipong Therdrattanapong (สุทธิพงศ์ เทิดรัตนพงศ์), director of Yala SBPAC, said that the provincial implementation need collaboration from four units, which are village chiefs, assistants district office, security-related units, and local resident.

At the same time, he has instructed officials to pass knowledge to local residents and what the government is doing to help eradicate elements of insurgency in the Deep South.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 November 2006

[Scott]

There seems to be a lot of effort, but little outcome.