Thailand committed to resuming peace process in south - PM Prayuth

By LINDA KHOO

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (Bernama) – Thailand is committed to resuming the peace process in southern Thailand to end the decades-long conflict, said Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan o-cha today.

He said the new government under his leadership would continue with the peace dialogue and nothing has changed.

“We will continue to coordinate with Malaysia.

“The peace talk has showed some progress,” Prayuth, who is also Defence Minister, told a media conference during his visit to Yala in southern Thailand today.

The peace dialogue has been disrupted since February following the disappointment of the dialogue panel of Majlis Syura Patani (Mara Patani) with the action of General Udomchai Thammasarorat who refused to meet the negotiating panel of Mara Patani in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia has picked former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor as its facilitator for the peace negotiations in southern Thailand between the Thai government and Mara Patani, which represents several groups in southern Thailand.

Prayuth reiterated that the government has not decided whether to appoint a new negotiating panel chief or retain Udomchai, who was appointed as senator recently.

“He (Udomchai) is still working (as Thai government’s negotiating panel chief),” he said.

Last month, Mara Patani said the peace process to end the conflict in southern Thailand had stalled due to the lack of commitment, sincerity and strong political will on the part of the Thai government.

Its spokesman, Abu Hafez Al-Hakim, has also called on the international community and leaders to help find a political solution to end the violence in southern Thailand. 

Abu Hafez said the military approach adopted by the government thus far had failed to curb violent incidents and confrontations, and in fact the animosity and retaliation from the liberation movements had escalated.

During his inaugural visit to southern Thailand today after being appointed as new prime minister in June, Prayuth opened the Southern Border Provincial Government Center in Yala.

He also attended a briefing on provincial development and handed over remunerations for provincial Islamic heads and financial aid to victims of the southern conflict.

He was accompanied by Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on and Deputy Defence Minister Chaichan Changmongkol.

-- BERNAMA