Do you know the southern Thailand conflict has lasted for almost century? As you may know, the three-provinces violences have been gradually more serious in recent years. However, I realized a looming hope that the Thais wished and a positive progress of the rift between the government and the separatists when I read the Bangkok Post Online last night about their coming peach talks in Malaysia.
According to "BRN demands, but Thais say 'prove you represent' insurgents", the Barisan Revolusi Nasianal (BRN), a reportedly leading southern insurgent group, recently issued their five demands on Youtube in response to halt their violent attacks in the three deep southern provinces but subsequently "were rejected by the Thai officials" (¶ 3) due to its too much conditions. However, in the second round of peach talks between the two sides in Kuala Lumpur Monday, the government officials gave the souther militants group one month to prove its status of leading southern group by making the southern violence abate first prior to discussing further about the possible agreement. The meeting conclusion is to resume the talks on June 13.
This is such a good start from the both sides but we are still not certain whether this group is a truly leading group who has a power and influence on the rest of the insurgent bands or not. If it is, the government has to be cautious as the opposition party said in the news that the southern militants might use this opportunity to take their advantages. Nonetheless, I'm supporting this approach, following the development closely and wishing my government do their utmost without any corruption.
Anyway, although it's greatly difficult to solve this prolonged problem in the reality, I still hope, one day, the deep south of the Thailand territory will meet the needs of all the Thais in bringing the real and sustainable peach to the stunning lands of Thailand.
Reference :
BRN demands, but Thais say 'prove you represent' insurgents. (2013, May 5). BangkokPost Online. Retrieve May 5, 2013 from http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/347612/nsc-brn-demands-affect-peace-talks
Reference :
BRN demands, but Thais say 'prove you represent' insurgents. (2013, May 5). BangkokPost Online. Retrieve May 5, 2013 from http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/347612/nsc-brn-demands-affect-peace-talks
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ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I would like to extend my apology to all of you. I just arrived home at 9.30pm due to another class at the evening (end 7.30). I did it as rapidly as possible.
DeleteLate is not a problem. Anyway, it's still Monday.
DeleteOne of the questions I will give you tomorrow, time permitting, discusses terrorism. Are the Southern insurgents terrorists? Do they use terrorism?
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder why the word terrorism seems to be avoided in favour of insurgents in discussions of what goes on in the far south.
And fresh from my careful reading of Alan Strathern's article "Why are Buddhist monks attacking Muslims?" in the BBC News, I'm wondering whether Buddhism of the Thai version bears some responsibility for the long lasting violence and other problems in the south of Thailand.
It's such a long problem which deep-roots in Thailand.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning we are wake up and found that it's report about southern terrorist for a decade, It ruined Thai like never have anything did it before.
If it is real video which from real leading group, may be it is the good news we are waiting for.
What are the deep roots?
DeleteDo you think, as I've suggested, that the use of Buddhism as a tool, or weapon, of the government is one of the roots?
Reading is again (I'm taking a break from the Rise of the Planet of the Apes), I realized that Ai uses language such as conflict, violence, separatists, insurgents, and militants, but does not use and form of the word terrorism. This is a word that I believe successive Thai governments have also been keen to avoid. I wonder why?
ReplyDeleteAnd for Poom, and myself, the more interesting question is whether we think that some of the acts the militant insurgents commit do qualify as terrorism. If they used computer hacking skills to completely shut down all of Thailand's electricity system, would that be terrorism? It would certainly get the attention of people in Bangkok if all the lights, and computers, and air conditioners, and TVs suddenly went out.
An example from Ai this time on how very useful blogging can be to help with more academic projects.
Delete