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"I will talk to the Muslim
leaders in the south, talk to kids in schools," Surayud (R)
said. (Reuters)
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KUALA LUMPUR — Marking a departure from the
hardline stance of his ousted predecessor, the new the military-backed
Thai Premier Surayud Chulanont pledged on Wednesday, October 18, to
reach out to Muslims in the troubled south and solve the conflict
peacefully.
"Let me explain my personal strategy of trying
to solve the problems in the south, by peaceful means," Surayud
said after talks with Malaysian leaders, reported Agence France Presse
(AFP).
"We will try to talk to a lot of people.
Initially I told the Malaysian prime minister that I will talk to the
Muslim leaders in the south, talk to kids in schools," said the
former chief of staff installed after last month's coup.
"So that is the way I'm trying to present
myself, by way of talking."
Thailand's new military leaders signaled on
Wednesday, October 4, possible peace talks with Muslims to end unrest
in the Muslim-majority south.
Coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin,
Thailand's first ever Muslim army chief, had long opposed the
heavy-handed policies of ousted Premier Thaksin Shinawatra in the
south and suggested talks to solve the conflict.
Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country with
Muslims making up five percent of the population and mostly live in
the five southern provinces bordering Malaysia.
Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat are the only
Muslim-majority provinces in Thailand and were an independent Muslim
sultanate until annexed officially a century ago.
Thai Muslims have long suffered from discrimination
in jobs, education and business opportunities.
Positive Signs
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Thai Muslims have long complained
of discrimination in jobs, education and business opportunities.
(Reuters)
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After meeting with Surayud, Malaysian Premier
Abdullah Badawi hoped the new government would address the root cause
of the problem in the Muslim south.
"For Malaysia we would like to see southern
Thailand as an area that is peaceful, where the Thais many of whom are
Muslims will be able to live in peace without fear," he said.
Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak also
welcomed Thailand's announcement that it will restore a center for
mediation in troubled Muslim provinces, reversing Thaksin's 2001 move
to close it down.
"In our meeting, the Thai PM has showed his
dedication to solve the southern Thailand political issue," he
said.
"He will restore ties with Muslim leaders in
southern Thailand and take steps to start a new administration there,
retaining the old administration but with new adjustments," added
the minister.
"These are positive signs that there will be a
political solution there."
Malaysia has expressed willingness to play a bigger
role in resolving the crisis.
Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej has given his backing
to talks held by former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad with Thai
Muslim leaders, his son revealed on Tuesday, October 10.
He said the peace talks — sponsored by Mahathir's
non-governmental Perdana Global Peace Organisation — were held with
more than 50 senior members of various groups in the south, and
stretched from the middle of last year to August this year.
In 2004, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said
the government's failure to address Muslim injustices and open a
genuine dialogue with Muslim leaders in the south is the real reason
behind unrest in the country.
Experts have urged the Thai government to come to
terms that Muslims in the south have an identity of their own but want
to be seen as part and parcel of the society and not like second-class
citizens.
