Pattani - Faced with high expectations to resolve tensions in its southern provinces bordering Malaysia, the new Thai government of prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has come up with programmes to bring economic and social benefits to the region.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday the campaign to win over support from the largely Malay-Muslim populace, reportedly disenfranchised under previous Thai governments, is one of the new administration`s top three priorities.
The other priorities are tackling the repercussions of the global financial crisis, and restoring Thailand`s battered image overseas following the recent political unrest centred largely in Bangkok.
Kasit expressed confidence that once the government gains better confidence and trust from the southern people, the militancy would decline.
Quick implementation of infrastructure and financial programmes is seen as critical in the restive region.
"If we are successful in some of them, that in itself would make the people turn to us," he said. "The miltants need the people`s support. Once we have the people on the government`s side, chances of them (the militants) operating will decline."
Kasit said this at a press conference with Malaysian journalists before presiding over a meeting with the governors of five southern provinces, officials of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) and federal representatives.
The five southern provinces are Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun. About 70% of the population of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat are Malay-Muslims.
The meeting comes a day after Abhisit made a landmark visit with 10 cabinet ministers to the southern provinces over the weekend.
The flurry of visits in the first month of the government`s existence is seen as the new administration`s demonstration of goodwill to heighten much-needed confidence among residents in the border regions.
Kasit denied that the anonymity or "faceless" nature of the militants was an issue, adding that they had made informal contacts with some militant groups who are now "inside and outside the country".
The government was also in discussion with the army and police on how to "humanise" security arrangements in the area, he said.
Kasit said the Malaysian government has offered assistance to develop education, economy and entrepreneurship, within the context of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).
He also stressed the importance of engaging joint commissions already set up between Thailand and Malaysia.
"There have been a lot of offers from Malaysia on education entrepreneurship and economic development. Let`s do it in a more concrete way and push these as quickly as possible," he said.
On a recent report by Amnesty International on human rights abuses by security forces in the south, Kasit said the administration was acting on the issues.
"Some of the allegations have been reported to Paliament," he said.
Source: http://www.sun2surf.com (January 19, 2009)
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday the campaign to win over support from the largely Malay-Muslim populace, reportedly disenfranchised under previous Thai governments, is one of the new administration`s top three priorities.
The other priorities are tackling the repercussions of the global financial crisis, and restoring Thailand`s battered image overseas following the recent political unrest centred largely in Bangkok.
Kasit expressed confidence that once the government gains better confidence and trust from the southern people, the militancy would decline.
Quick implementation of infrastructure and financial programmes is seen as critical in the restive region.
"If we are successful in some of them, that in itself would make the people turn to us," he said. "The miltants need the people`s support. Once we have the people on the government`s side, chances of them (the militants) operating will decline."
Kasit said this at a press conference with Malaysian journalists before presiding over a meeting with the governors of five southern provinces, officials of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) and federal representatives.
The five southern provinces are Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun. About 70% of the population of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat are Malay-Muslims.
The meeting comes a day after Abhisit made a landmark visit with 10 cabinet ministers to the southern provinces over the weekend.
The flurry of visits in the first month of the government`s existence is seen as the new administration`s demonstration of goodwill to heighten much-needed confidence among residents in the border regions.
Kasit denied that the anonymity or "faceless" nature of the militants was an issue, adding that they had made informal contacts with some militant groups who are now "inside and outside the country".
The government was also in discussion with the army and police on how to "humanise" security arrangements in the area, he said.
Kasit said the Malaysian government has offered assistance to develop education, economy and entrepreneurship, within the context of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).
He also stressed the importance of engaging joint commissions already set up between Thailand and Malaysia.
"There have been a lot of offers from Malaysia on education entrepreneurship and economic development. Let`s do it in a more concrete way and push these as quickly as possible," he said.
On a recent report by Amnesty International on human rights abuses by security forces in the south, Kasit said the administration was acting on the issues.
"Some of the allegations have been reported to Paliament," he said.
Source: http://www.sun2surf.com (January 19, 2009)
