ID :
67086
Mon, 06/22/2009 - 17:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/67086
The shortlink copeid
THAILAND TO BRING DEVELOPMENT, JUSTICE TO RESTIVE SOUTH
By Zakaria Abdul Wahab
SINGAPORE, June 22 (Bernama) -– Thailand is bringing back economic
development and justice to the restive southern Muslim-dominated provinces as a
way to end the long and deepening violence and insurgency there.
Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government was making a shift in its
policy towards the southern provinces by giving emphasis back on to development
and justice as a way out of the problems in the southern border provinces.
He said this when addressing Singapore-based influential business leaders
and regional media at a Thomson Reuters-hosted ‘Newsmaker’ talk here Monday.
The Thai prime minister who arrived in the city-state today, is on a
day-long official visit to the republic.
Thailand’s South provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have, of late,
increasingly become the flashpoints of violence and insurgency which since 2004,
claimed more than 3,500 lives.
Abhisit said, a development plan drawn up by a special committee comprising
Thai cabinet ministers and related agencies to develop the southern provinces
had been completed and was now awaiting approval.
He said, once the plan got the go-ahead, people in the areas would benefit
from
the comprehensive and massive investment projects aimed at raising their level
of income.
Last week, Abhisit had said that the Finance Ministry proposed a budget of
63
billion baht (about US$1.85 billion) under the plan for several sectors, with
economic potential such as the halal food industry, plantation and fishery.
Abhisit also said that the Thai Parliament would soon pass a legislation to
set
up a special office headed by a minister who would be in charge of the affairs
in the south.
However, he noted that to solve the problems in the restive region, all
quarters needed patience, time and also a comprehensive approach.
At the same time, Abhisit said the Thai government would try to resolve all
outstanding (killings) cases brought to the attention of the authorities.
He also said the Thai security forces too, had to adapt to ways of how they
were operating there to ensure it was more integrated.
Abhisit believed that this was the right approach to take to solve the
problems in the south although he knew that along the way, it would be tested
and challenged.
On the recent mosque massacre in Narathiwat, in which unknown gunmen killed
nearly a dozen worshippers, the Thai premier said the incident had caused pain
and suffering to all Thai people.
“We certainly condemn all the people who staged the violence in the areas,”
he added.
-- BERNAMA
SINGAPORE, June 22 (Bernama) -– Thailand is bringing back economic
development and justice to the restive southern Muslim-dominated provinces as a
way to end the long and deepening violence and insurgency there.
Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government was making a shift in its
policy towards the southern provinces by giving emphasis back on to development
and justice as a way out of the problems in the southern border provinces.
He said this when addressing Singapore-based influential business leaders
and regional media at a Thomson Reuters-hosted ‘Newsmaker’ talk here Monday.
The Thai prime minister who arrived in the city-state today, is on a
day-long official visit to the republic.
Thailand’s South provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have, of late,
increasingly become the flashpoints of violence and insurgency which since 2004,
claimed more than 3,500 lives.
Abhisit said, a development plan drawn up by a special committee comprising
Thai cabinet ministers and related agencies to develop the southern provinces
had been completed and was now awaiting approval.
He said, once the plan got the go-ahead, people in the areas would benefit
from
the comprehensive and massive investment projects aimed at raising their level
of income.
Last week, Abhisit had said that the Finance Ministry proposed a budget of
63
billion baht (about US$1.85 billion) under the plan for several sectors, with
economic potential such as the halal food industry, plantation and fishery.
Abhisit also said that the Thai Parliament would soon pass a legislation to
set
up a special office headed by a minister who would be in charge of the affairs
in the south.
However, he noted that to solve the problems in the restive region, all
quarters needed patience, time and also a comprehensive approach.
At the same time, Abhisit said the Thai government would try to resolve all
outstanding (killings) cases brought to the attention of the authorities.
He also said the Thai security forces too, had to adapt to ways of how they
were operating there to ensure it was more integrated.
Abhisit believed that this was the right approach to take to solve the
problems in the south although he knew that along the way, it would be tested
and challenged.
On the recent mosque massacre in Narathiwat, in which unknown gunmen killed
nearly a dozen worshippers, the Thai premier said the incident had caused pain
and suffering to all Thai people.
“We certainly condemn all the people who staged the violence in the areas,”
he added.
-- BERNAMA
