ID :
88053
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 01:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/88053
The shortlink copeid
THAI DPM NOT KEEN ON PULO PROPOSAL FOR MALAYSIA AS MEDIATOR
BANGKOK, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Thailand's influential Deputy Prime Minister
Suthep Thaugsuban has poured cold water on calls by the separatist group,
Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), for Malaysia to act as a mediator
in the southern Thai conflict.
Suthep, who takes charge of security matters, told the media here that he
personallly believed that the suggestion would not work.
"But I'm not going to say anything that will create disputes," he said when
asked about Pulo deputy president Kasturi Mahkota's statement that they were
willing to negotiate with the Thai government through a third party, including
Malaysia.
Despite that, Kasturi told a Malaysian daily that the Thai government was so
far not willing to have Malaysia as a mediator as they felt the the neighbouring
country would take sides due to similarities in religion, race and history.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said recently that the independence
demanded by separatist groups was not viable, but Thailand should offer a
certain degree of autonomy to people in the predominantly Muslim region.
Najib has accepted an invitation from his Thai counterpart, Abhisit
Vejjajiva, to visit the restive region next month after their annual
consultation in the capital.
More than 3,600 people had died in daily violence since separatist groups
resumed armed campaign in January, 2004 to seek independence for Pattani,
Narathiwat and Yala bordering Malaysia.
Bangkok, which has despatched more than 60,000 troops to the area, said the
violence had dropped compared with previous years, but bombings and shooting
still occurred.
On the planned visit by opposition Puea Thai Party chairman and former prime
minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to Malaysia and his proposed autonomous 'Pattani
City', Suthep said that he was not worried as it was a domestic issue.
"We will continue with our policies," he said.
Chavalit said he had sought a meeting with Najib during his meeting next
week to discuss several issues of common interest, among them, the southern
problem, rice, rubber and the halal industry.
-- BERNAMA
Suthep Thaugsuban has poured cold water on calls by the separatist group,
Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), for Malaysia to act as a mediator
in the southern Thai conflict.
Suthep, who takes charge of security matters, told the media here that he
personallly believed that the suggestion would not work.
"But I'm not going to say anything that will create disputes," he said when
asked about Pulo deputy president Kasturi Mahkota's statement that they were
willing to negotiate with the Thai government through a third party, including
Malaysia.
Despite that, Kasturi told a Malaysian daily that the Thai government was so
far not willing to have Malaysia as a mediator as they felt the the neighbouring
country would take sides due to similarities in religion, race and history.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said recently that the independence
demanded by separatist groups was not viable, but Thailand should offer a
certain degree of autonomy to people in the predominantly Muslim region.
Najib has accepted an invitation from his Thai counterpart, Abhisit
Vejjajiva, to visit the restive region next month after their annual
consultation in the capital.
More than 3,600 people had died in daily violence since separatist groups
resumed armed campaign in January, 2004 to seek independence for Pattani,
Narathiwat and Yala bordering Malaysia.
Bangkok, which has despatched more than 60,000 troops to the area, said the
violence had dropped compared with previous years, but bombings and shooting
still occurred.
On the planned visit by opposition Puea Thai Party chairman and former prime
minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to Malaysia and his proposed autonomous 'Pattani
City', Suthep said that he was not worried as it was a domestic issue.
"We will continue with our policies," he said.
Chavalit said he had sought a meeting with Najib during his meeting next
week to discuss several issues of common interest, among them, the southern
problem, rice, rubber and the halal industry.
-- BERNAMA
