ABHISIT SAYS NO GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOUTHERN VIOLENCE

By D.Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Thailand is unable to hold direct talks with any
separatist group fighting for independence in the three southern provinces
because no one has come forward so far, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said
Monday.

He said it was difficult to identify which group was responsible for the
violence as none of them had claim responsibility.

In an exclusive interview with Bernama at his official residence, Ban
Pitsanulok, here today, Abhisit said his government was more keen to engage
directly with the local population from the three southern provinces.

When told that some separatist groups like the Pattani United Liberation
Organisation (Pulo) were willing to hold talks with the Thai government, Abhisit
reiterated that none of them had come forward to claim responsibility whenever
a violent incident took place there.

Asked if his government was willing to hold talks with any separatist group
that could be identified and took responsibility for its action, Abhisit said he
was not sure whether they would want to claim responsibility.



More than 3,500 people have died since separatist groups resumed their armed
campaign in January 2005 to seek independence for the three Muslim-majority
provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

Bangkok has despatched more than 60,000 security forces to combat the
insurgent groups that often employ roadside bombing, shooting and other guerilla
tactics.

On Wednesday, Abhisit and Najib will travel together to Narathiwat to see
for themselves the progress that had been made in the Thai-Malaysian joint
development programmes undertaken to resolve the conflict in the south.

Asked if the Thai governnment was ready to engage third party mediators like
Malaysia or other organisations like Asean or the Organisation of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) to solve the conflict, Abhisit said there was no need for such
arrangement as it was an internal matter.

"We are getting the grips of it. Obviously we appreciate the cooperation we
have from neighbours like Malaysia and the programme that we do together in
terms of enhancing the capacity for education, economy and entrepreneurship.
Also, cooperation between the security forces and intelligence (gathering) is
vital too and we appreciate that," he added.


"We are interested in talking to the local people, and to make sure that we
are responding to their needs, and that they can be sure that the Thai
government is looking after the people, they can be sure they can retain their
identity, they can achieve and have opportunities like any other Thai," he
stressed.

Abhisit said the Thai government was already holding regular talks and
dialogues with local and religious leaders as well as local businesses on what
they wanted and "this is an integral part of the plan we have for the three
provinces."

With various plans in place, he was confident that the Thai government was
on the right track to solving the long-standing conflict.

In fact, he said, violence had been contained, with the level and
frequency of violent incidents reduced substantially in recent months.

"It increased dramatically back in 2005 up to 2007, and there has been quite
a substantial reduction last year, the number is reduced sligthly this year. So
I think we have made progress, we need to do much more."



On claims that the conflict was far from over because the Thai government,
military and various other parties could not agree on the best solution, Abhisit
said the current government had put in a new direction in terms of policy and
getting support from the security agencies.

"I think the policy is clear. We need to make sure that all the organs and
agencies are taking the same direction. I got good cooperation from the
military, the police. The situation is improving in terms of the clear-cut
direction of the policy, and we need time, but I am sure we will get results,"
he said.

Asked if civilians would be taking over the lead role currently played by
military in the south, Abhisit said that with the new law that was going to be
passed, there would clearly be someone at the policy level who would be in
charge and that would pave the way for greater coordination.

"That way, we can send clear signals to the local people on what we are
trying to do," he said.

-- BERNAMA