Chalerm takes a gamble on Wadah faction

COMMENTARY

Chalerm takes a gamble on Wadah faction

Published: 25 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Wadah group is back in the limelight, and that is good news for it, the government and the Pheu Thai Party. But it is not a move for the southern insurgents to necessarily despair about.

The decision by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung last Tuesday to bring Wadah into his orbit was welcomed by its nine members. The over-confident deputy premier hopes to use those politicians' home-bases in the far South to advise him on how to win the fight against the militants and build more government sympathisers in the strife-torn region.

The move is another step in the offensive by the government after the insurgents were defeated in their raid on a marine base in Bacho district of Narathiwat on the eve of Valentine's Day. The victory boosted the government's confidence and for the first time since violence returned to the southern border provinces on Jan 4, 2004, authorities believe they are no longer the underdog in this calamity.

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meme
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Discussion 6 : 26 Feb 2013 at 00.246
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After Tak Bai and Krun Se the fugitive will never be trusted by the southern Thais.
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deville
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Discussion 5 : 25 Feb 2013 at 18.005
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"Violence returned to the southern provinces 0n Jan 4, 2004" when Thakin's hubris/greed, fed by his recent landslide re-election courtesy of the tsunami, ('It's an ill wind that blows no good') led him to take away such consultative measures, saying that they were no longer needed as his government had the problem solved.
Pigs might fly too.
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onlyasking
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Discussion 4 : 25 Feb 2013 at 14.284
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D3 Before TS was taken out he was in the process of setting up formal negotiations with the terrorists. His strategy was based on negotiation from a position of strength. That is why the death toll in the south increased during his stay in office. But the end play he intended was a negotiated settlement. His sister will now have to conclude the end play and the signs of that is everywhere.
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sirron
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Discussion 3 : 25 Feb 2013 at 13.533
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The Wadah politicians left the TRT when "the Thaksin Coup" took place. Perhaps they're glad to be back to get their share of political spoils among other things.
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Cynical
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Discussion 2 : 25 Feb 2013 at 09.282
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I think the terrorists just want the security officials to go away and leave them in peace to carry on their ethnic cleansing.
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commonman
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Discussion 1 : 25 Feb 2013 at 06.251
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Considering all the interrogations, tortures, killings, racial inequities, if you were a Muslim living in the South would you trust security officials?
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Chalerm takes a gamble on Wadah faction | Bangkok Post: opinion