Thai Govt. Admits Failure in South
Five months in office, the military-backed Thai government admitted Tuesday, February 13, that the battle to win the hearts and minds in the Muslim-dominant south has failed so far, as neighboring Malaysia renewed an offer to help stabilize the restive region.
"Evaluation reports have suggested that government officials are not getting much response from villagers (in the south)," Reuters quoted Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont as saying.
Surayud acknowledged that the government's campaign to win the trust of Muslim civilians is making no progress in southernmost provinces where nearly 2,000 people have been killed in the violence over the past three years.
After the bloodless September 19 coup, the military-installed government has vowed to restore peace by bringing greater justice to Muslims in south and reversing iron-fisted policies of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
But the violence has continued unabated with shootings and bombings occur almost daily in the three Muslim-majority provinces.
Surayud maintained that the south dilemma needs comprehensive efforts to promote understanding between the state and the public.
"Only when we get more cooperation from the people, our efforts to restore peace in the region will be realized and violence recedes."
The government has taken a number of measures to gain the confidence of Thai Muslims, starting with an apology to Muslims for years of abuse and marginalization.
However, a recent survey showed that Chulanont's approval rating had plunged to 48 percent from nearly 71 percent in November.
Muslims have lamented that their main complaints over being treated like second-class citizens, and the inadequate educational and job opportunities, have fallen on deaf ears.
The three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were an independent Muslim sultanate until annexed by the Thai army a century ago.
They are home to 1.8 millions or 80 percent of the populace.
Muslims make up around five percent of the population in predominantly Buddhist Thailand.
Malaysian Help
Citing religious and cultural ties with the south, neighboring Malaysia renewed its offer to play a bigger role in helping stabilize the troubled region.
"We know the separatist groups, in the sense that they are Muslims, of Malay descent and Malaysia has good relations with Thailand," the Malaysian news agency Bernama quoted Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as telling reporters.
Ending his three-day visit to Thailand, Abdullah stressed that the majority-Muslim Malaysia would be an instrumental mediator in peace talks with Thai Muslim leaders.
Abdullah's visit to Thailand aimed at finding ways of putting an end to the southern strife.
He affirmed during his talks with the Thai leaders that poverty in the region was one of the factors fuelling the unrest there.
"Poverty and meager economic development in the border areas were among the contributing factors which brought about security problems in southern Thailand," Abdullah has said.
He urged the government to tackle the citizens' calamities in order to gain their support and trust.
"Once there is stability and prosperity, the task of securing an enduring peace in the area will become more feasible."
Ties between mainly Muslim Malaysia and Buddhist Thailand were badly strained under ousted premier Thaksin.
Surayud's government has given priority to improving relations with Malaysia.
News Agencies
Surayud acknowledged that the government's campaign to win the trust of Muslim civilians is making no progress in southernmost provinces where nearly 2,000 people have been killed in the violence over the past three years.
After the bloodless September 19 coup, the military-installed government has vowed to restore peace by bringing greater justice to Muslims in south and reversing iron-fisted policies of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
But the violence has continued unabated with shootings and bombings occur almost daily in the three Muslim-majority provinces.
Surayud maintained that the south dilemma needs comprehensive efforts to promote understanding between the state and the public.
"Only when we get more cooperation from the people, our efforts to restore peace in the region will be realized and violence recedes."
The government has taken a number of measures to gain the confidence of Thai Muslims, starting with an apology to Muslims for years of abuse and marginalization.
However, a recent survey showed that Chulanont's approval rating had plunged to 48 percent from nearly 71 percent in November.
Muslims have lamented that their main complaints over being treated like second-class citizens, and the inadequate educational and job opportunities, have fallen on deaf ears.
The three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were an independent Muslim sultanate until annexed by the Thai army a century ago.
They are home to 1.8 millions or 80 percent of the populace.
Muslims make up around five percent of the population in predominantly Buddhist Thailand.
Malaysian Help
Citing religious and cultural ties with the south, neighboring Malaysia renewed its offer to play a bigger role in helping stabilize the troubled region.
"We know the separatist groups, in the sense that they are Muslims, of Malay descent and Malaysia has good relations with Thailand," the Malaysian news agency Bernama quoted Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as telling reporters.
Ending his three-day visit to Thailand, Abdullah stressed that the majority-Muslim Malaysia would be an instrumental mediator in peace talks with Thai Muslim leaders.
Abdullah's visit to Thailand aimed at finding ways of putting an end to the southern strife.
He affirmed during his talks with the Thai leaders that poverty in the region was one of the factors fuelling the unrest there.
"Poverty and meager economic development in the border areas were among the contributing factors which brought about security problems in southern Thailand," Abdullah has said.
He urged the government to tackle the citizens' calamities in order to gain their support and trust.
"Once there is stability and prosperity, the task of securing an enduring peace in the area will become more feasible."
Ties between mainly Muslim Malaysia and Buddhist Thailand were badly strained under ousted premier Thaksin.
Surayud's government has given priority to improving relations with Malaysia.
News Agencies
