Thai PM Sorry, Yala Gets Muslim Governor
A Thai Muslim has been named the first-ever governor of the southern province of Yala, once part of an independent Muslim sultanate, while Muslims received on Thursday, November 2, a long-awaited official apology for decades of marginalization and discriminations.
Teera Mintrasak, the 54-year-old former vice-governor of Pattani, will assume his new post as of Friday, November 3, reported Malaysia's The Star.
None of the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat has ever had a Muslim governor.
The border provinces, an independent Muslim sultanate until annexed officially a century ago, are home to 1.8 millions or 80 percent of the populace.
"This goes to show that the Thai government is sincere and committed to bringing peace to south Thailand," Honorary Thai Consul Shazryl Eskay Abdullah told the Malaysian daily.
He expected the appointment to boost the spirits of the Muslims in the southern provinces.
Thai Muslims, who make up more than five percent of the predominantly Buddhist kingdom's population, have long complained of discrimination in jobs and education.
In a practical step to address the root cause of south, Thailand on November 1, reopened the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), four years after it was shut down by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The center had been credited with easing the unrest in the 1970s by providing a forum where local political and military leaders could iron out their differences with residents.
The military coup led by Thailand's first ever Muslim chief-of-staff Sonthi Boonyaratglin has brought hopes of peace for the people of the south who have long complained of the heavy-handed policies of Thaksin.
Apology
Nearly two months after the hope-bringing coup, Thai Muslims are starting to gain back their rights. (Reuters)
Marking a departure from the hardline stance of his ousted predecessor, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont expressly apologized to Muslims for years of abuse and ignorance.
"I'm here today to apologize for what past and present governments have done," Surayud told 1,000 Muslim leaders in Pattani Thursday.
Admitting that as a former army chief he had failed to oppose the iron-fist policies of deposed Thaksin, Surayud pledged to reach out to Muslims and to root out corrupt and abusive officials in the three southernmost provinces.
"I come here today to reach out to everyone and say: 'It's my fault. I am sorry.'"
The Muslim-majority provinces have been plagued by unrest since January 2004 and Thaksin's decision to impose emergency rule there in 2005 was widely criticized, especially among the sizable Muslim community.
The measure gave security forces broad immunity from prosecution, which human rights groups say led to extra-judicial killings and other abuses.
Nearly 1,500 people have been killed since the unrest erupted.
Surayud asserted that those days were over.
"The legal apparatus, from police to prosecutors, has to be revamped."
He also vowed to investigate the disappearance of Muslims
"Cases of missing people, we don't know how many people have gone missing in the entire country, have to be resolved quickly," he told the meeting.
In January, Amnesty International pressed for a climate in which people may report on all alleged violations of human rights by state officials and seek redress without fear of reprisal, including "disappearance."
The newly-appointed prime minister called for a dialogue to solve the conflict peacefully.
"We don't want to have ceasefire talks because our situation hasn't gone that far, but I would like to have a dialogue with them to seek mutual solutions," he said.
His sincere words earned immediate applause from Muslim religious leaders in the region.
"His apology is a key to restoring peace in the future, which will take time, but it has already defused hostility and resentment in many Muslim minds," said Waedueramae Maminchi, head of the Islamic Council of Pattani.
Surayud vowed after taking the oath on October 2 to end unrest in the south and heal the nation's political divisions within one year.
Newspapers
None of the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat has ever had a Muslim governor.
The border provinces, an independent Muslim sultanate until annexed officially a century ago, are home to 1.8 millions or 80 percent of the populace.
"This goes to show that the Thai government is sincere and committed to bringing peace to south Thailand," Honorary Thai Consul Shazryl Eskay Abdullah told the Malaysian daily.
He expected the appointment to boost the spirits of the Muslims in the southern provinces.
Thai Muslims, who make up more than five percent of the predominantly Buddhist kingdom's population, have long complained of discrimination in jobs and education.
In a practical step to address the root cause of south, Thailand on November 1, reopened the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), four years after it was shut down by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The center had been credited with easing the unrest in the 1970s by providing a forum where local political and military leaders could iron out their differences with residents.
The military coup led by Thailand's first ever Muslim chief-of-staff Sonthi Boonyaratglin has brought hopes of peace for the people of the south who have long complained of the heavy-handed policies of Thaksin.
Apology
Nearly two months after the hope-bringing coup, Thai Muslims are starting to gain back their rights. (Reuters)
Marking a departure from the hardline stance of his ousted predecessor, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont expressly apologized to Muslims for years of abuse and ignorance.
"I'm here today to apologize for what past and present governments have done," Surayud told 1,000 Muslim leaders in Pattani Thursday.
Admitting that as a former army chief he had failed to oppose the iron-fist policies of deposed Thaksin, Surayud pledged to reach out to Muslims and to root out corrupt and abusive officials in the three southernmost provinces.
"I come here today to reach out to everyone and say: 'It's my fault. I am sorry.'"
The Muslim-majority provinces have been plagued by unrest since January 2004 and Thaksin's decision to impose emergency rule there in 2005 was widely criticized, especially among the sizable Muslim community.
The measure gave security forces broad immunity from prosecution, which human rights groups say led to extra-judicial killings and other abuses.
Nearly 1,500 people have been killed since the unrest erupted.
Surayud asserted that those days were over.
"The legal apparatus, from police to prosecutors, has to be revamped."
He also vowed to investigate the disappearance of Muslims
"Cases of missing people, we don't know how many people have gone missing in the entire country, have to be resolved quickly," he told the meeting.
In January, Amnesty International pressed for a climate in which people may report on all alleged violations of human rights by state officials and seek redress without fear of reprisal, including "disappearance."
The newly-appointed prime minister called for a dialogue to solve the conflict peacefully.
"We don't want to have ceasefire talks because our situation hasn't gone that far, but I would like to have a dialogue with them to seek mutual solutions," he said.
His sincere words earned immediate applause from Muslim religious leaders in the region.
"His apology is a key to restoring peace in the future, which will take time, but it has already defused hostility and resentment in many Muslim minds," said Waedueramae Maminchi, head of the Islamic Council of Pattani.
Surayud vowed after taking the oath on October 2 to end unrest in the south and heal the nation's political divisions within one year.
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