Malaysia To Help Thailand Nab Southern Militants

[Jai Dee]

Malaysia To Help Thailand Nab Militants, Says Thai Army Chief

BANGKOK, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to expand their existing cooperation to end the unrest in the southern Thai provinces, including sharing information on militants hiding across the border.

Thai army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said Malaysia was willing to help the Thai authorities to find and arrest suspected militants who often crossed into Malaysian states bordering Thailand to escape after staging violence in the south.

"Malaysia is ready to help us, especially in the issue of militants who hide there," Sonthi told reporters here Wednesday, a day after his visit to Kuala Lumpur where he met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and armed forces top brass.

Sonthi, who staged the Sept 19 coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was accompanied by Defence Ministry permanent secretary-general Winai Phatthiyakul.

The first Muslim army chief in the kingdom said that during the visit which was closed to Malaysian media, he discussed various issues regarding the southern conflict that had claimed more than 1,800 people since violence escalated in the Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

Sonthi, however, said he did not discuss the issue of Thai Tom Yam Kung restaurants operating in Malaysia supporting insurgent movements in southern Thailand as claimed by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont last week.

"It's (the issue) over. We did not discuss it," he said.

Following strong reaction from Kuala Lumpur, Surayud said several days later that the matter had been put to rest after he called Abdullah and both leaders agreed that the issue would not affect relationship between the two neighbours and hoped to resolve it amicably without going to the press.

Sonthi said both countries would probably set up a working committee to look into various common issues concerning the south.

"We already have good understanding and closer working relationship. We hope to expand our cooperation level," said Sonthi without going into details on his visit yesterday.

Prior to leaving for Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Sonthi disclosed that the previous government under Thaksin had killed many suspected insurgents who were handed over by Malaysia into Thai custody.

"Malaysia is reluctant to help us as we don't behave. Sometimes they handed over suspected militants as requested, but we killed them," said Sonthi.

Both countries also could not resolve the issue of the 130 Thai Muslims who fled their homes in Narathiwat in August 2005 and are currently being detained in Terengganu.

Many insurgent groups emerged in the south following the struggle by ethnic Malays seeking independence from Thailand. Peace was restored in the last decade until separatists launched a campaign of bombings and shootings in January 2004.

Despite many attempts by Surayud to use peaceful ways to restore peace in the south instead of Thaksin's heavy measures, violence continued unabated with almost daily killings and bombings.

More than 1,000 schools remain closed in the three provinces as militants continued targeting teachers. In the past two years, almost 60 teachers had been killed.

An attempt was also made by former Malaysian prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to end the conflict when he initiated a peace road map after brokering meetings between several militant groups and Thai army officials this year.

Source: Bernama - 29 November 2006

[Francis Maube]

With he level of cooperation going on between ASEAN countrie, it will be interesting to see if that helps.