Friday, March 1, 2013

THAI GOVERNMENT, SOUTHERN THAILAND MUSLIM INSURGENTS SIGN MALAYSIA-INITIATED TREATY FOR PEACE TALKS


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 2013 (Bernama) -- In yet another drive for regional peace and stability, Malaysia successfully initiated a general consensus treaty that was signed today between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), a southern Thailand Muslim insurgency group.
The treaty, which is to pave the way for a dialogue process for peace in the border provinces of southern Thailand, was signed by both parties at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak, here.
It was Malaysia's second effort in helping to bring about regional stability in Southeast Asia, after having successfully initiated the historic peace agreement for Mindanao in the southern Philippines.
At the signing today, the Thai government was represented by Thailand's National Security Council secretary-general Lt Gen Pharadorn Phatthanatabutr and the rebel side was represented by the chief of the BRN Liaison Office in Malaysia, Hassan Taib.
The signing was witnessed by Malaysia's National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab.
Others present were Thailand's Defence Ministry deputy permanent secretary Gen Nipat Thonglek, Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre secretary-general Col Tawee Sodsong and Thailand's Special Branch commissioner Lt Gen Saridchai Anakevieng.
BRN was also represented by its Foreign Relations Office secretary Awang Jabat, Ulama Affairs chief Abdullah Sawa and Internal Security Division chief Abdul Rahman Jabat.
Malaysia's Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar were also present at the ceremony.
A press announcement will be made in Putrajaya during Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's visit to Malaysia later today for the annual consultation with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Speaking to reporters, Mohamed Thajudeen said Malaysia played the role of facilitator in working towards the treaty and that the details would be provided in Putrajaya.
Najib, in his talks with the Thai authorities, had expressed the willingness to help bring an end to the long-running insurgency in the southernmost provinces of Thailand.
He reportedly said that Malaysia was willing to act as a broker in the process.
It has been reported that more than 5,000 people have been killed in Thailand's three southernmost provinces since the insurgency erupted there in 2004.

SOURCE : BERNAMA

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