Thailand signs breakthrough deal with Muslim insurgents
Breakthrough as Thailand agrees to hold negotiations with insurgents in country's southern provinces, but immediate end to fighting is unlikely
Thailand's government signed a breakthrough deal with Muslim insurgents for the first time ever yesterday, agreeing to hold talks to ease nearly a decade of violence in the country's southern provinces that has killed more than 5,000 people.
It is seen as a positive step, but is unlikely to immediately end the conflict because several other shadowy guerilla movements also fighting in southern Thailand have yet to agree to talks.
"God-willing, we'll do our best to solve the problem. We will tell our people to work together," Hassan Taib, a Malaysia-based senior representative of the BRN, said after a brief signing ceremony with Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanathabutr, secretary general of Thailand's National Security Council.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who met with his Thai counterpart, Yingluck Shinawatra, later yesterday, said Thai officials and the insurgent representatives would hold their first meeting in Malaysia within two weeks. Najib described the signing as "merely the starting point of a long process" because many issues have to be resolved, but added that it was a "solid demonstration of the common resolve to find and establish an enduring peace in southern Thailand".
Yingluck said talks would be conducted "within the framework of the constitution" of Thailand to address the root causes of the unrest.
I have to say we are seeing a better direction in solving the problem, and I consider it a good start