PM responds to call to recognize BRN as a terrorist group

 

BANGKOK, 17 May 2017 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has detailed ways that foreign organizations can take part in remedying Thailand’s southern situation but pointed out many may lack an understanding of the circumstances. 

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha has responded to a call by Human Rights Watch for the United Nations to define the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) group as a terrorist organization to allow for more pressure to be placed by international organizations, saying that the Thai government is already exercising its legal means to suppress violence undertaken by the group and remarking that foreign bodies many not clearly understand the Thai south issue. 

The PM explained that the situation in the south is complex with issues from narcotics to violence and smuggling, noting that the disorder in the region has allowed movements such as BRN to operate. He assured nonetheless that the government has tightened control on the area and has garnered the support of locals. 

Gen Prayut argued that elevation of the status of BRN would only embolden it and further put pressure on the government to crackdown on a sensitive matter. He reminded that the countries of ASEAN have agreed not to intervene in one another’s domestic issues. 

He reminded that the most effective solution to the southern problem was development and public inclusion as to foster loyalty and patriotism. While he believes the government has been successful in counteracting insurgent propaganda, locals of the south remain fearful of violence and need the reassurance provided by military and legal action.

 

-- nnt 2017-05-17

All well and good to state that foreigners would not understanding the situation in the south......but clearly, the Thai authorities appear to have very little understanding either..... 7000+ killed and no sign of peace!

Foster loyalty and patriotism? Surely he jests

 

Your problem is you do not see this through the eyes of the good general. Yes 7,000 lives lost over the years and what has been achieved? Out of sight out of mind I guess. 

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

All well and good to state that foreigners would not understanding the situation in the south......but clearly, the Thai authorities appear to have very little understanding either..... 7000+ killed and no sign of peace!

Actually they do understand it only to well. It's their attitude to fixing it that requires a radical rethink. I agree with Prayuth about not internationalising it but the problem lies in this: ' He reminded that the most effective solution to the southern problem was development and public inclusion as to foster loyalty and patriotism. '

 

Development is correct but it needs a degree of local autonomy, not 'loyalty & patriotism'.

Foreign government cannot understand that making statements is more important than taking actions...

 

He is actually probably right 

One of the few things you cannot blame him for, nightmare for anybody and not very nice.

1 hour ago, wakeupplease said:

One of the few things you cannot blame him for, nightmare for anybody and not very nice.

He is a military man not a diplomat. It would need the best of both to solve the problem.

To give some perspective 7500 lives lost is about the equivalent of 3 - 4 months road deaths? And they (Governments) don't seem to be able to "solve" that.

If there is no will there is no way!  

It  doesn't matter much what the Thais call the BRN the perception of most of the people down there and of many foreign countries, especially Muslim ones, is that it is a region under foreign occupation.  Quite apart from the Muslim nations, the EU has had a non-binding resolution in force against small arms sales to Thailand for over 10 years, due to its perception of human rights abuses in the South. That is why Thailand cannot import any small arms directly from any major Western European suppliers like Heckler & Koch and Glock.  Prayut still has a lot of work to do in fostering greater loyalty and Thai patriotism amongst the people of the South and in bringing foreign governments around to the Thai point of view. Better not waste too much time on nomenclature and semantics.    

If he (PM) knows what the problem is, why has he still not yet solved it?   In the meantime his citizens, (military, police and civilians) continue to die - for what?

 

Wasting money on a submarine (for the protection of resources) certainly is not going to help! The country's greatest resource is its people. PROTECT THEM, educate them, nourish them, listen to them and treat them with dignity.