ID :
42493
Sat, 01/24/2009 - 17:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/42493
The shortlink copeid
PULO WILLING TO TALK TO THAI GOVERNMENT BY D. ARUL RAJOO
BANGKOK, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- The Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), one of the main separatist groups in restive southern Thailand, has welcome the Thai government's new policy on the three border provinces, and signalled its willingness to hold talks.
In a posting on Pulo's website, its Chief of Foreign Affairs, Kasturi
Mahkota said the movement hoped the policy represents a genuine step towards
reform and change in the region.
He said the Patani Malay Movement welcomed the new direction that could lay
the foundations for a political settlement of the conflict.
Kasturi, who is believed to be living in exile in Europe, said the movement
was ready to come together and meet with representatives with a genuine mandate
from the Thai Government, facilitated by an impartial third party, to begin
discussions on a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
"To this end, the legitimate representatives of the movement have agreed to
form a special body to engage in dialogue with Thai government representatives,"
he said.
Kasturi said Pulo hoped that after long years of struggle, which has cost
the lives of many innocent people in the region, that at long last there could
be a sustained process of dialogue based on principles of democracy, openness
and sincerity.
More than 3,500 people have died in daily violence since January, 2004 when
separatist groups resumed an armed campaign to seek independence for the
Muslim-majority provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala which border Malaysia.
Pulo was established at the Mount Arafat area on Jan 22, 1968 by Tengku Bira
Kota Nila or also known as Kabir Abd Rahman, who was its president until he died
in June, 2008.
Its was one of the prominent groups during the armed struggle by ethnic
Malays in the southernmost provinces which were annexed by Thailand early last
century.
There had been reports of talks betwen several separatist groups and
Thai government representative that took place in Geneva, Jeddah, Langkawi and
Jakarta in the past few years, but nothing concrete came out as the Thai
Government and the military had refused to hold direct talks.
Prime Minister Abihist Vejjajiva, who visited Yala on Saturday, had said
that the government would set up a new agency to address the problem, as well as
investigate complaints of torture and human rights abuses by state agencies.
-- BERNAMA
In a posting on Pulo's website, its Chief of Foreign Affairs, Kasturi
Mahkota said the movement hoped the policy represents a genuine step towards
reform and change in the region.
He said the Patani Malay Movement welcomed the new direction that could lay
the foundations for a political settlement of the conflict.
Kasturi, who is believed to be living in exile in Europe, said the movement
was ready to come together and meet with representatives with a genuine mandate
from the Thai Government, facilitated by an impartial third party, to begin
discussions on a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
"To this end, the legitimate representatives of the movement have agreed to
form a special body to engage in dialogue with Thai government representatives,"
he said.
Kasturi said Pulo hoped that after long years of struggle, which has cost
the lives of many innocent people in the region, that at long last there could
be a sustained process of dialogue based on principles of democracy, openness
and sincerity.
More than 3,500 people have died in daily violence since January, 2004 when
separatist groups resumed an armed campaign to seek independence for the
Muslim-majority provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala which border Malaysia.
Pulo was established at the Mount Arafat area on Jan 22, 1968 by Tengku Bira
Kota Nila or also known as Kabir Abd Rahman, who was its president until he died
in June, 2008.
Its was one of the prominent groups during the armed struggle by ethnic
Malays in the southernmost provinces which were annexed by Thailand early last
century.
There had been reports of talks betwen several separatist groups and
Thai government representative that took place in Geneva, Jeddah, Langkawi and
Jakarta in the past few years, but nothing concrete came out as the Thai
Government and the military had refused to hold direct talks.
Prime Minister Abihist Vejjajiva, who visited Yala on Saturday, had said
that the government would set up a new agency to address the problem, as well as
investigate complaints of torture and human rights abuses by state agencies.
-- BERNAMA
