Published: Thursday November 5, 2009 MYT 4:19:00 PM
Thai DPM not keen on Malaysia acting as mediator
BANGKOK: 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, in charge of security matters, told the media here that he personally 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.
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.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun 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 south.
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 have died in daily violence since separatist groups resumed an armed campaign in January, 2004 to seek independence for Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, its three provinces which border 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
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