Leading Thai Muslim foresees improving situation in deep South

BANGKOK, March 2 (TNA) - A leading Thai Muslim, Wan Muhammad Nor Matha, who was Thailand's first Muslim Parliament President and House Speaker, says he believes that the situation in the violence-plagued Thai far South will be, from now on, improving, after the signing of a peace talks pact between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgent group in neighbouring Malaysia on February 28. Wan, who was also a deputy Thai premier and held several other Cabinet portfolios, pointed out that Thursday's deal was a good start, as it provided an opportunity for the Thai government and the BRN insurgent group to enter negotiations to restore peace in the troubled Thai deep South. Wan, who is now a key figure of the Wadah group, known as an influential group of Thai Muslim politicians in the southern border Thai region, acknowledged that the violent unrest in the southernmost Thai region appears not to end immediately, as much more need to be done to create common and proper understanding to settle the historic problem in the Thai far South, where there are also unique identities. Wan, however, denied his Wadah group’s involvement in the concluded peace talks pact between the Thai government and the BRN Coordinate insurgent group. Meanwhile, incumbent Thai Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yubamrung on Friday called a meeting with a team of his advisors, comprising members of the Wadah Group, to exchange views and to discuss proposed solution to the insurgency-hit southernmost Thai region. Following the talks, in which Thai former deputy army chief General Wichit Yathip also participated, Chalerm reaffirmed the Thai government’s policy on peaceful solution to insurgency in the southernmost Thai region. (TNA)