'Reconciliation will solve Thai violence'

2007/06/22
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand wants to find a peaceful solution to the violence in its southern provinces through reconciliation, its Defence Minister Gen Boonrawd Somtas said yesterday. "We are trying to enact new measures to solve the problem using a reconciliation policy, but such policies take time to be incorporated," he said

"Once the policies of the Thai government come into effect, the situation will improve," he said after chairing the 47th General Border Committee (GBC) meeting between Malaysia and Thailand yesterday.

Boonrawd said the escalating violence over the past weeks indicated that the people behind it wanted international exposure.

The unrest, which erupted in January 2004 has left more than 2,200 people dead and thousands wounded.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who co-chaired the meeting with Boonrawd, said the situation in southern Thailand would not affect the people in Kelantan as the violence was far from the border area.

He expressed confidence that the Thai government would resolve the conflict in the provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

"Security along the Malaysian-Thai border is under control."

Earlier in his opening speech, Najib who is also the defence minister, said Malaysia and Thailand must share and exchange information to fight and meet new challenges along their border.

"We must also be committed and determined to boost co-operation between the law enforcement agencies of both countries to prevent and combat transnational crimes and international terrorism, which threatens our security and economic development along the border areas.

"While we gather our efforts to strengthen security and stability along our common border for economic and social reasons, we must also make sure that our cordial relationship and our close co-operation continue to flourish,"

Although Malaysia had pledged to help Thailand in finding a solution to the conflict, Najib reaffirmed that this was a domestic problem and Malaysia would not interfere in its neighbour’s internal affairs.

The meeting agreed that both countries would continue their co-operation and co-ordination, and intensify efforts to restore confidence and peace to the area.

The Malaysian delegates included Defence Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

Thailand will host the next meeting in June next year.