Malaysia can help to secure peace

DEEP SOUTH

Published: 2 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The news that Thailand has agreed to formal Malaysian facilitation of a dialogue process to end the long conflict in southern Thailand is surely welcome. Most immediately it reflects that both the Thai government and all its parts, as well as the shadowy insurgent movement and all its parts agree that Malaysia needs to be part of the solution to the conflict that has raged for nine long years and cost more than 5,000 lives.

Armed soldiers providing security to school children are a common sight in the restive South. Malaysia’s role as mediator in peace talks between the Thai government and the insurgent movement has given fresh hope that normal life in the Muslim-dominated deep South will return. AFP

In fact, the last time the two sides met officially in January last year, they agreed that the next step towards resolving the problem rested on defining a role for Malaysia in the process. A lot of politics intervened and held things up, but this step has now been taken. It should now be possible to move towards a settlement of the conflict based on dialogue and compromise.

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bucktoui
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Discussion 9 : 03 Mar 2013 at 20.169
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D#8 Spiceman
I agreed with all you had said, but for Lao Isane to leave Thailand back to Laos or Cambodia now is might not be possible. In the future when the kingdom is weak, you'll never knew something or someone might do, the rich man like Thaksinh might buy out local men create the chaos, or even Laos government might do like they did Romklao War three decades ago.
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spiceman
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Discussion 8 : 03 Mar 2013 at 05.108
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Bucktoul #7, let face it, Thailand wants to keep the land of the Deep South, which we annexed by force long time ago, but not the Muslim-majority people who have totally different culture, language, and religion. If the local people there have the same culture, language, and religion as the majority of Thai people, including those E-Saan border provinces you mentioned, the current conflict would not have existed in the first place, don't you think? Besides, who want to leave a relatively rich country, in order to become part of much poorer countries? If they think things are bad in Thailand, they are a lot worse in Laos and Cambodia, OK?
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bucktoui
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Discussion 7 : 02 Mar 2013 at 22.577
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D#1
I don't think Thailand will be able to do simple as you said, because the huge future problem will coming such as Isan provinces, and some provinces near Cambodia have to be return to Laos and Cambodia. True that those area right now don't have problem, but if Thailand let Deep South go, what will follow with Isan and Surin... no one know for sure.
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bucktoui
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Discussion 6 : 02 Mar 2013 at 22.496
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I hope this is the good first step to peace and all side are willing to perfect it in very near future. And I hope the opposition leaders drop their greed for power, work for peace and prosperity of Deep South People. There is no quick fix in this century old conflict, who ever want to see this problem solve over night should think he is dreaming.
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onlyasking
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Discussion 5 : 02 Mar 2013 at 13.125
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D4 The informal negotiations was started by TS, but after his removal everything in the country including these negotiations grinded to a halt. This was reported by Asian times a month ago by a person who have contacts on both sides. One should expect hardliner terrorist would intensify their attacks in an attempt to derail negotiations. Malaysia are now cornered by Thailands move. If the insurgents derail the negotiations Thailand can put international/ASEAN pressure on them to stop support of the terrorist. This ,ust be seen in the light of recent articles regarding Malaysia and their involvement with extremist.
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pjt
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Discussion 4 : 02 Mar 2013 at 09.444
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D3@packman - but you did not read the article which clearly says discussions have been occuring since 2006. Back channel discussions happen all the time in these sorts of terrorist situations - even though everyone says they do not. The critical question is when to bring these into the open - which is what the government has now chosen to do. Results will now be expected quickly in terms of reduced violence. I think they should have waited until something more concrete was in hand and certainly not rushed to give Khun Thaksin all the credit which is an insult to all involved - including the present PM
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nui
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Discussion 3 : 02 Mar 2013 at 06.033
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The peace talk’s agreement will not be trusted by any insurgence groups and people in the South, because Thaksin was involved and people connect him with Krue Se and Tak Bai massacre. Besides, it is not appropriate for the Thai government to let a fugitive get directly involved in Thai foreign politics and talk to neighboring PM about the national security of Thailand. It was a mistake to announce that Thaksin started the talks with Malaysia’s PM. Malaysia will also not be trusted because of this.
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packman
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Discussion 2 : 02 Mar 2013 at 05.282
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Why not give it a try. It would hurt to talk with anyone who is involved in the insurgence in the south. The Democratic just can't stand it when the government in power does anything that it couldn't do when it was in office. Anyway, if it doesn't work just ingorne the treaty like they did with the border in Cambodia.
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spiceman
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Discussion 1 : 02 Mar 2013 at 04.441
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What will Malaysia gain by getting involved in the Deep South? Only if Thailand promises to turn the Deep South over to Malaysia, like a hot potato, I suppose!
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Malaysia can help to secure peace | Bangkok Post: opinion