PULO opens Battle front for chairman’s seat.
Who is this battle for ?
After Tuanku Biyo Kodoniyo chairman who established Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO) died in 2008. PULO is one of the active separatist movements calling for a free and independent Patani. Initial objective was splendid set up as organization fight for independence of Patani Raya which has been claimed as right of Malay-Muslim but in reverse the outstanding roles were within the scope of criminal by kidnapping and extorted protection money from businessmen at that time. The well known case was Haji Da-oh Thanam was arrested and sentenced to execute but mitigated to lift imprisonment today he still imprison.
Who will know that today PULO has fallen hard times since its former members and current members both are competitive to be PULO chairman and used propaganda skills to discredit each other with no exception even in website Puloinfo.net which belong to them and used to attack Thai government. At present members of 3 factions used propaganda skills to convince the acceptance of their own faction as the chairman of PULO. Those are very funny for the government and another separatist group who have been playing game above PULO. That is BRN.
The significance of competition for chairman’s seat absolutely ones will get the advantages for themselves and their members, then who else involved.
Nur Abdul rohman or kamae Yusoh claimed that he has been appointed as a chairman of PULO after Tuanku Biyo Kodoniyo the first chairman died, not long after that he gave statement attacked to Mr. Kasturi in case of claiming that he entrusted by majority vote of central committees of PULO “That was a lied” after that both have conflicted in leading role.
Apart from that Mr.Samsuding Khan the chairman of old PULO is another person who attempts to have leading role with strong standpoint insists no need of special administrative region or autonomy what he needs is only independence as same as the group of kamae Yusoh’s objective.
Lately, on 29 October 2013 Mr. Kasturi has announced through group’s website by claiming that he is a PULO chairman with interviewed to senior reporters in southern border provinces. He stated that at present 3 factions of PULO have united in order to prepare to take part in peace talks with Thai government which previously had peace dialogs with BRN representatives. He disclosed himself that he has been to Malaysia to meet with facilitator in peace talks between Thai government representatives and Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO) to consult about participating in peace talks. PULO will send 2 representatives including him to participate in next round of peace dialog.
However, all of 3 factions if we look with creative eyes we will see there is only Mr. Kasturi who likely agree with peace talks process. If everything go along with its claim that will be accepted from both side between Malaysia as facilitator and BRN allow PULO to join in peace talks table.
Even through Mr. kusturi claimed that all of 3 factions have been united but from statement of PULO secretary point out that the lead core of PULO set up meeting on 8 Oct 2013 and had a solution to appoint Mr. Mamud Mahyiddeen as a PULO chairman and Mr. Kabir Abdur rahman Zane or Mr. kamae yusoh as secretary of PULO . It obviously clear that if any factions claim himself as a chairman that is a lied.
This indicates the conflict among 3 factions is endless due to anyone who take part in peace talks table means they are all accepted and if they achieve the agreement with Thai government as BRN 5 drivel proposals. Those things they have done will support them to be a ruling class and have a bright future immediately.
Finally, they cannot overcome their desire to be a leader which will follow by large amount of budget supported by Muslim countries. They close ears and eyes donate large amount of money each year. As a leader, they will gain a lot of interests.
Terrorist strategy of the group as a term “separated walking – combined attacking” in various dimensions of armed forces and international politic seem not to be survived because its target is not direct to peacefully area and the well-being of people as its ideology.
Guerrilla warfare may not decide win or lose due to the absolutely win depends on people but today they have brought people’needs for claiming what they have done. Actually people are not stupid as they thought any more. We can guess they won’t carry out their objectives because of their nature have been emerged.
“Sor-Khor Niranam”
“Bicara Patani ” The voice of people Is it true?
Many questions that engendered the suspicion of the majority of civil society organizations in the area and general public. In addition to the activities of political dialogue on the brink of national security. With the claims about the intent of this event to open space for brainstorming and exchange of knowledge in all sectors of the public to the choice in decentralized and reflect the real needs of the people. However. It was not considered that the outcome from this discussion was the real needs of the people because of behavior and patterns. Including targeting a narrow group of people could be persuaded to think that was true then there was a deep secret as waves underwater was formed wait for time to crashed and fall over the shore.
With a discussion on the use of party has inflicted in society involved with influences and drug dealers in the area or a joint seminar with ones who use of mob above the law compels the authorities to release the offender. Even a person who have knowledge of law call “Attorney” that represent the foundation of law in the area have claimed to help people in trouble. Until it was revealed from villagers who have charged with internal security act in southern border provinces by asking for money If they get helped and won the case but if they lost they would be ignored. The seminar stage was not reliable and not in the eyes of the people.
Efforts aimed at the masses, especially for people in conflict area is a major effort to organize the seminar especially in the areas where the gab between public turns against state officials. Limiting the audiences only to Muslim brotherhood. This strategy use to limit the expression with different comments. Then in the end is to proclaim to all parties with no exception even to target audiences abroad and assume that “ The need is the voice of people”
The important information gained by asking the seminar audiences, most of listeners did not know about self-management as superb objectives besides distortion of situation by providing the same information received from the panel. But it was the potential to provocations directed people to believe what they want to, even the means to accept and obey the leadership of the people in the area have been followed for a long time still remain, but for people who are under the flow of information, must use the term “ People are not stupid cannot be led by the nose like some kinds of animals that are farmed ” At least most people do.
Never think that little scrap of money as compensation to villagers who come to hear the distortion will make them amenable to the concept of creating a rift .
Initially, the organizer has planned to organize seminar stage up to 200 times, but from the beginning up to now has organized less than 50 times that obviously indicated that “ People do not want to ” people listened to each episode was only 50 people, then concluded that was a calling of majority which was became the world deception.
Another viewpoint is Thai Buddhists which is called sectarian who live on this land since the speaker unborn yet, they have never been asked or even acknowledge the right of self- management or they might know but didn’t want to listen because of those has lessened the right of the sectarian seem like this land does not belong to Thai Buddhists.
Is the right of the ownership limited only Muslim? A false claim with distortion to the people who has not realized or perception nothing besides the acceptance of the same group and then claim those are the needs of people. This is the strategy to take the different faiths and then lead to disharmony among the people.
The significant strategy is the same as a separatist group “BRN” which stimulate their members to kill innocent people who have different religions by claiming that no sin. The different just only the seminar has organized in public area but BRN hide and instructed secretly to their members in the jungle, religious school (pondok) even in the mosque. That is the same strategy lead to think that they are the same group.
Any action that is intended to do for country. To improve the quality of life including the movement for calling the right as citizens of the country by mobilization of various organizations in 3 southern border provinces should be proud because that has been done on the role of civil society. But Bicara Patani Seminar stage with insidious movement by cover their real need cannot be hidden from the eyes of people.
Only 47 times of Bicara Patani stage has made many sectors look through their inwardness and see more clearly to their extravagance behavior and their wealth in spite of having no career, the dream of reaching 200 times of seminar not only glimmer but those have died down with the reason of lacking confidence of seminar organizers.
Those reasons cannot be claim that is the voice of the people.
We obviously heard that was a barking of animal snatching food greedily. The different of food in this statement mean large amount of budget that will be gained from sponsors aboard.
If you do not believe, just take a look on November the 4th , 2013.
Look
“ Silence atmosphere”
From “ Patani Merdeka” book
to Tuwa Dania Street Beggars
The Peace process in conflict areas across the world could be declined to lasting peace. We could not refuse, that was the result of peace process mobilization, one of the achievements was the outcome of Non governmental organizations (NGOs) which played an important role together with seeking an effort of mutual agreement between conflict countries. To solve the conflict, some cases may take a long time, some cases may take a short time depend on various factors. The expectation of all efforts just to bring peace to the area. Most of the conflicts across the world have similar direction except in southern border provinces of Thailand which have many hidden points overlapped with various reasons especially “The interests”
The image of paying of extravagant money of these groups can be observed continually such as Journey to The United State of America very often or Journey for Muslim pilgrimage (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia of their members which would be expensed 100,000 baht per head. ( USD. 33,333 ). Convenience living with a luxury cars including having meal in grandiose restaurants in spite of having no career. So, we can guess which sources they have earned money.
Patani Merdeka a street beggar book seem to be another business with hidden fake ideology besides selling cloths, stickers ant flags etc. during on tour seminar activity in different places. The phase of Merdeka (struggle for independence) is struggle on democracy way deserve to be praised but this group with its disgusting behaviors cannot be hidden all , then it just be a road beggar with the false claims that was the need of people but actually only for their own interests. That only the best way they can do.
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GENERAL AKKANIT: PEACE TALKS JUST A DRAMA WITH ITS ENDING ALREADY SET
The ongoing peace talks between the government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist group is just a drama with its ending already set – that is a special administrative zone for the deep South which will become a buffer zone between Thailand and Malaysia.
The above statement was the view recently expressed by General Akkanit Muensawat, former chief of Thai-Malay coordinating centre and a specialist on Thai-Malay border affairs who used to be a key driver in the attempt to put an end to insurgency waged against Malaysia by the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). In addition, the retired general who was a classmate of Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha was involved in the secret peace talks with the BRN and other Muslim separatist groups dating back to the 90s.
General Akkanit sat down for an exclusive interview with Isranews reporters recently. The followings are excerpts of the interview.
To begin with, the general said that there are only three players in the ongoing peace talks process namely Thailand, Malaysia and the BRN. The peace talks brokered by Malaysia in his capacity as the facilitator amount to an official recognition that Kuala Lumpur has provided shelter to the separatist group.
He recalled remarks previously made by former Malaysian prime ministers Mahathir Mohamad and Abdulloh Ahmad Badawi during their lectures in Thailand that the only solution to the southern insurgency was to grant self-rule or autonomy to the region. Similar opinion was also voiced by Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak and Malaysian defence minister and foreign minister in their talks the Thai counterparts.
"Why Malasia think that autonomy for the Deep South will resolve the insurgency problem? I don’t know whether there is any secret deal between the governments of the two countries. But I remember Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut, secretary-general of the National Security Council and head of the Thai negotiating team in talks with the BRN talked about the idea of a special administrative zone as if there was already a secret deal to make the three southernmost provinces a SAZ (special administrative zone) which corresponds with Malaysia’s idea of autonomy for the restive region. And this might be the reason of Malaysia’s cooperation to help resolve our problem," said General Akkanit.
When encountered with widespread criticisms toward the SAZ, he noted that General Paradorn softened his stand on the issue saying that it was still a long way before the idea would be realized. "But on the ground, it is a different matter. People in the region have been told about SAZ by officials concerned and bill for the setting up of Patani city state of Patani Maha Nakhon were proposed," said the general.
Regarding the BRN’s five demands to the government, he explained that the demands reflected the separatist group’s historic concept. "They (the separatists) still attach to the history. But if people in every area of conflict stick to history, then there will be war all over the world. There are some arguments that once Asean become an economic zone, the border problem will be meaningless citing the example of EU. But I think that is a misunderstanding. There is no country which will allow their territorial sovereignty to be breached. The EU is all about economic and cultural integration, not about military affairs and sovereignty."
He predicted that the peace talks will drag on until 2015 when Asean economic community becomes a reality. Then, he said the far South will turn a special administrative zone.
As for the SAZ concept, General Akkanit said he thought Kuala Lumpur appears to be at the driving wheel and the real beneficiary. "They (Malaysia) are in control of the game even without the BRN’s demands. Anyone who wants to see Hassan Taib, BRN’s chiefnegotiation, must get the approval of Kuala Lumpur. Wasn’t Malaysia totally unaware when Hassan posted the demands through YouTube?".
He said that the SAZ was defence strategy of Malaysia. Just visualize the map of Malaysia. Its western border has a SAZ which is Ajeh of Indonesia. The eastern border is Mindanao of the Philippines which will become SAZ in the next two years and its southern border with Singapore is problem-free. Malaysia, he pointed out, brokered the peace talks in Mindanao.
"The three southernmost provinces are located on the northern border of Malaysia. If the area is made a SAZ, it will become a buffer zone for Malaysia and Malaysia will be surrounded by Muslim-administered areas. And this is their defence strategy."
But will violence stop in the deep South if the region is made a special administrative zone? General Akkanit does not think so noting that SAZ is not the goal of the separatists.
The retired general said he believes the BRN’s demand for the fifth district of Songkhla province to be incorporated into the Deep South does not mean Hat Yai district but Sadao district because the district sits on the border with Malaysia.
He doubted Malaysia’s sincerity towards Thailand, noting that if Malaysia is really sincere it should not have provided shelter to the separatists and should not have called for autonomy for the deep South as a solution to the conflict while at the same time announcing its disagreement with separatism.
He pointed out that there are many things that Kuala Lumpur could help but it didn’t do so such as the extradition of separatists wanted in Thailand for criminal activities.
"The extradition treaty between Siam and the British empire is still enforcible. It can be dusted off and updated if it is deemed obsolete. Or the 2000 border agreement between Thailand and Malaysia can be amended. Malaysia can play a lot of roles but it didn’t."
General Akkanit said the Thai military is strongly against the SAZ concept as it goes against Article 77 of the Constitution and also the concept will lead to the creation of a separate statehood.
He said he agreed with the idea of decentralization and a limited self-rule on local level.
The general disclosed that, to his knowledge, there have been talks about nine models of special administrative zone among academics and local politicians with the grassroot people in general barely knowing anything about them.
As for the ongoing peace talks process, General Akkanit suggested that the process be temporarily suspected so that that all sides would go back to rethink and to review the process although, in principle, he said he supported negotiations as a means to resolve the conflict.
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A NEW LIFE FOR A FORMER SEPARATIST
"It has never occurred to me there is today. I am very happy to be with my wife and my two-year old kid. I think that they will have a better life because I don’t have to run and hide again," said a smiling Suriya Manu as he walked out of the Na Thawee provincial courtroom on September 5.
It was the first taste of real freedom and also a memorable day for the former militant when the court in Na Thawee district of Songkhla ordered his release from detention after having undergone "re-education" programme for just four months.
On hand to give him a warm welcome were his family and close relatives. Then he returned home in Tambon Ban Na, Chana district of Songkhla in the company of his family.
Speaking to Isranews reporters, Suriya recalled the tough and dangerous life of having to run and hide from security forces during the past five years he spent as a member of a separatist group. The turning point of his life came when his elder brother one day visited the "re-education" or training programme organized by the forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command for separatists who defected to the government.
After that visit, his brother told Suriya’s family of his impression of the training programme and its merits. Suriya was not impressed but his family finally persuaded him to join the programme which they believe would give him a new life.
Suriya was one of four defectors who volunteered to join the programme. They represent the second class of the trainees. The first class comprised Royalee Bueraheng and Yaza Jehma.
Suriya said he was told by other "trainees" that he had to undergo "re-education" to change his behavior and also occupational training for up to six months. But he only spent four months in the training camp and was set free.
The ex-separatist said he would make use of the occupational training he received while in custody to open up a window repairs shop in his hometown in Chana district.
The training programme for the defectors was made possible by Article 21 of the Internal Security Act which was meant to entice separatists to stop their struggle and to turn themselves in to the government. The defectors will be spared prosecution but will be required to undergo training for at least six months after which they will be set free.
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Still no glitter of light
at the end of the tunnel in far South
at the end of the tunnel in far South
Four months after the historic signing of the peace deal framework between the government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist group in Kuala Lumpur on February 18 followed up by three rounds of peace talk, it now appears that peace remains elusive and not a glitter of light at the end of the tunnel.
Instead, violence seems to have escalated much to the dismay of locals in the restive region – many of whom have started to question whether the rebel group is really committed to the peace process and what is the point of peace talk.
On one single day on June 18, there were three bombings, one ambush and one gun attack resulting to three members of the security forces killed and 12 others injured.
According to official records, there were altogether 46 violent incidents in January this year, 42 incidents in February, 57 in March, 63 in April and 48 in May. The casualties from the violence are as follows: 38 deaths and 49 injured in January, 50 deaths and 90 injured in February, 45 deaths and 109 injured in March, 49 deaths and 79 injured in April and 56 deaths and 77 injured in May.
Out of 1,970 villages in the three southernmost provinces, 136 of them have been classified as "red" villages where separatists are active, 234 villages are classified as "yellow" and kept under close watch by authorities and the rest are classified as "green". Of the 136 "red" villages, 32 of them are in Yala, 47 in Pattani, 48 in Narathiwat and nine in Songkhla.
However Group Captain Somkiat Pholprayoon, commander of the South-based marine task force, said that the situation in the deep South remains stable without any clear sign that violence has escalated. He noted that violent incidents increased and dropped in accordance with timing as usual.
At the last peace talk on June 13, the BRN has agreed to scale down violence during the fasting month of Ramadan. Group Captain Somkiat said that whether violence has de-escalated as agreed by the rebels or not had to be assessed during the Ramadan.
As for the government’s promise to scale down the operations of the security forces during Ramadan, the naval officer said that he was yet to receive an instruction from his superior otherwise his men would continue to do their job as usual.
Former senator Den Tohmeena earlier told Isra news agency that he was pessimistic that the peace talk would be successful because the rebels have no intention to seek peace but they were forced to enter the peace process by Malaysia.
Violent incidents continued unabated. On June 22, suspected insurgents detonated a roadside bomb in Nong Chik district of Pattani, killing an army major and wounding five other army personnel. The men were travelling in an armoured pick-up truck on highway 43 when the insurgents set off the bomb which was buried under the road. The powerful blast overturned the truck and killed Major Itthipol Kammongkol at the scene and injured five others.
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The Thai government and a group representing Muslim communities in southern Thailand have agreed to a ceasefire during Ramadan.
A press statement from the secretariat of the Joint Working Group-Southern Thai Peace Process (JWG-STPP) said the agreement represented a milestone achievement in the fourth round of talks held here yesterday between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).
"Both sides have agreed to this move aimed at saving lives and in accordance with the spirit of Ramadan. This is also a show of sincerity, goodwill and trust between them."
The 11-hour talks, which started at 10am yesterday, was held at an undisclosed location in the city. It was facilitated by former director-general in the Prime Minister's Department (research division) Datuk Seri Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim. The Thai government was represented by 12 delegates led by its National Security Council's secretary-general Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut while BRN was led by the organisation's head of Foreign Liaison Office in Malaysia Hassan Taib.
BRN is expected to provide details on five initial demands they previously submitted to the Thai government.
The demands were for Malaysia to mediate the talks; the unconditional release of political prisoners; the recognition of BRN as the Patani liberation movement; the participation of other Asean members in the talks; and for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and other non-governmental organisations to witness the talks.
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Read more: Thai ceasefire during Ramadan - Top News - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/thai-ceasefire-during-ramadan-1.300160#ixzz2WRLB16bn
A press statement from the secretariat of the Joint Working Group-Southern Thai Peace Process (JWG-STPP) said the agreement represented a milestone achievement in the fourth round of talks held here yesterday between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).
"Both sides have agreed to this move aimed at saving lives and in accordance with the spirit of Ramadan. This is also a show of sincerity, goodwill and trust between them."
The 11-hour talks, which started at 10am yesterday, was held at an undisclosed location in the city. It was facilitated by former director-general in the Prime Minister's Department (research division) Datuk Seri Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim. The Thai government was represented by 12 delegates led by its National Security Council's secretary-general Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut while BRN was led by the organisation's head of Foreign Liaison Office in Malaysia Hassan Taib.
BRN is expected to provide details on five initial demands they previously submitted to the Thai government.
The demands were for Malaysia to mediate the talks; the unconditional release of political prisoners; the recognition of BRN as the Patani liberation movement; the participation of other Asean members in the talks; and for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and other non-governmental organisations to witness the talks.
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Muslim minorities of the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar will prosper better with meaningful forms of autonomy instead of forming independent Muslim states.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said these communities needed to have their religion, language and cultural identities protected and, at the same time, cooperate with their non-Muslim countrymen to move forward.
“On the one hand, these Muslims should be made to understand that they must live under the current national governments.
They must eschew violence and forget this idea of having an independent Muslim state, which is not realistic. They must recognise the true responsibilities within the current nation-states and contribute to the moral and socio-economic strength of the nation.
"For Muslims, on the other hand, we (governments) must grant them a degree of autonomy. Not independence but autonomy over religion, cultural needs, education and understand their sensitivities.
"And Muslims must also understand the sensitivities of non-Muslims as well," said Najib when giving his inaugural address at a symposium entitled "Islam and the new era of Asean countries: unity of world view towards a shared prosperity" at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) yesterday.
Najib outlined social justice as among three imperatives that could bring progress to Muslims in Southeast Asia, which constitute about 40 per cent of the region's almost 600 million population. The other imperatives were to identify bases of Muslim cooperation and to respect the principles of diversity.
He said Asean's diversity of cultures and religions had a common adversary in the form of extremists, bigotry and hatred.
Najib said Malaysia was honoured to have helped brokered the signing of the framework agreement between Muslims in southern Philippines and the Philippines government. He described Malaysia's assistance to the Thai government in stabilising security and promoting bilateral development initiatives in south Thailand as a "major breakthrough".
Later, during an interview with Ikim FM, Najib said Malaysia would not go beyond the current joint training programmes in education when it came to helping Muslims in southern Thailand.
Read more: ‘Autonomy better option for Muslim states’ - Top News - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/autonomy-better-option-for-muslim-states-1.294001#ixzz2WRDKoDlC
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Is Malaysia really helping Thailand douse the southern fire
There are indications that Malaysia’s role in "facilitating" the peace talk process between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist organization was meant for domestic political gains.
Although the official role of Malaysia is just a "facilitator", it seems that the country has been acting as if it were the “mediator” of the two parties in the conflict. This was evident in the way that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak stole the limelight from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the historic signing of the General Consensus on Peace Dialogue Process agreement on March 28 in Kuala Lumpur between Lt-Gen Paradorn- Pattanatabut, secretary-general of the National Security Council, representing the Thai government and Hassan Taib on behalf of the BRN.
Mr Razak broke the news about the role played by fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in making possible the peace talk. But his disclosure of Thaksin’s involvement amounted to the dropping of a political bombshell which could derail the peace process because of the strong resistance against the fugitive in Thailand.
The historic event was played up by state-owned and mainstream media the following day whereas the alternative media gave little interest to the event. No Thai media representatives were present at the event and the source of the news about this historic event was from foreign news agencies.
It is an open secret that Prime Minister Najib is facing increasing challenges at home with a general election looming on the horizon and a security threat in Sabah state of Borneo from hundreds of Muslim rebels from the Philippines who invaded the state to claim territorial sovereignty.
Malaysia’s role in facilitating the peace initiative in southern Thailand is widely believed to help boost Mr Najib’s popularity. It is a win-win situation for Malaysia and Thaksin, too, will stand to gain if the initiative results to improvement of the situation. But what the Thai people and Thailand will gain
A source close to the NSC chief said noted that this was the first time that Kuala Lumpur had clearly announced that it would not provide sanctuary to escaping separatists from Thailand, would not support separatism and violence in southern Thailand. This announcement amounts to open support of Thailand in the handling of insurgency problem.
But critics wonder why the support now As a good neighbor, why didn’t Malaysia help out long time ago especially on the problem of providing shelter for the separatists from Thailand.
Lt-Gen Paradorn said that in international politics, political gains are a common consideration and hence Malaysia will stand to gain something for its involvement. But what really matters is Thailand’s gains, he added.
There is a question regarding the BRN representatives who were involved in the signing of the peace process agreement. That is: Were they forced to sign the agreement because they have been living in exile in Malaysia
Security sources said that previous Thai governments had held informal peace talks with the same group of separatists and, once held talks in the Philippines. So why not the Philippines chosen to facilitate or broker the peace talk process between the Thai government and the BRN instead of Malaysia which shares a common border with Thailand and provides shelter to the separatists
Can or should we place our hope on Malaysia Can we be assured that the Malaysian government can effectively police the border and stop the separatists from seeking refuge in Malaysia
Undoubtedly, peace talk process is welcoming and should help in finding a solution to the protracted conflict. But we should also be smart enough and adhere to our national interests as top priority.
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Talks a "first step" in bringing peace to Deep South
Analysts, religious leaders and politicians discuss the significance of this week's accord on launching a dialogue between the Thai authorities and one of the main insurgent groups in the Deep South. Malaysia has offered to mediate the talks.
By Ahmad Ramansiriwong for Khabar Southeast Asia in Yala
March 02, 2013
Religious and academic leaders in Thailand's strife-torn Yala province have expressed optimism about the Malaysian government's role as a mediator between insurgent groups and the Thai authorities. If all sides in the conflict are brought into the negotiations process, they say, peace could finally be restored to the Deep South after close to a decade of near-daily terror attacks.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (right) shakes hands with his Thai counterpart, Yingluck Shinawatra (left), during their meeting on Thursday (February 28th). Leaders in Thailand's religious and academic communities are optimistic about Malaysia's agreement to mediate talks between Thailand and insurgents in the Deep South provinces. [Mohd Rasfan/AFP]
Ustaz Hassan Taib (centre) of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) militant group holds a document folder on Thursday (February 28th) after the signing of a new accord on starting a peace dialogue. The accord is being seen as a significant first step in ending the violence that has plagued Thailand's Deep South for nearly a decade. [Mohd Rasfan/AFP]
"Negotiating or signing an agreement with even just one of the two or three groups with influence on the ground still represents a change of approach," said former Chairman of the Yala Islamic Council Nimoo Makarja. [Rapee Mama/Khabar]
The talks proposal emerged Thursday (February 28th) during an annual bilateral meeting between Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak.
During the visit, an accord on launching the peace process was signed by the head of Thailand's National Security Council, Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabut, and Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) representative Ustaz Hassan Taib.
The BRN is only one of several separatist organisations operating in the region, and some analysts were quick to stress that Ustaz has limited command over active insurgents in the Deep South and along the border with Malaysia.
Paradorn has acknowledged that the dialogue process is only a "starting point" for restoring peace in the south – an issue which both Thailand and Malaysia view as a top priority.
Cautious optimism
In Yala, religious and academic leaders expressed hope that the "Southern fire", as the conflict has been nicknamed, can be resolved at the negotiating table. They emphasised, however, that the insurgency has become a complex phenomenon.
Nimoo Makarja is a former chairman of the Yala Islamic Council and a close observer of the militant campaign, which has claimed over 5,500 lives – both Buddhist and Muslim – since early 2004. He has consulted with the Thai government on ways to find a solution.
In an interview with Khabar Southeast Asia, he said the BRN among several groups that have the capability to incite unrest in the region. All, he said, are highly factionalised and also compete with drug dealers, smugglers and corrupt politicians for influence in the region.
"Given the number of groups involved, we have to step back and ask ourselves whether a delegation of just three or four [BRN] representatives actually has the command power to order a lowering in the number of attacks or not," he added.
However, he said, the agreement was a step in the right direction. "Negotiating or signing an agreement with even just one of the two or three groups with influence on the ground still represents a change of approach," Nimoo said. "If they can then go on to negotiate and make agreements with the second and then third groups, they can claim success."
"We will have to wait and see just how much influence [the BRN signatory] has over his group, and how much capability that group actually has [on the ground]."
The monitoring effort should not be difficult, Nimoo said.
"We just need to review the number of incidents at regular intervals, say every three or six months. If we note a decrease in the number of incidents, we will know the situation is improving and that we are on the road back to peace and a normal way of life," he said.
Identifying the key players essential
Sombat Yothatip, an associate professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Yala Rajabhat University, agreed that negotiations with the BRN are only a first step.
"Today we have to accept that groups outside the BRN and Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) command structures are also active in carrying out attacks in the region," he told Khabar. "I do believe straightforward discussion is part of the correct vision, but this will take some time because there are so many groups involved."
Involving the Malaysian government might help Thailand determine exactly which [insurgent] players actually have the power to bring the violence to an end, he said.
According to Sombat, the underlying issues behind the insurgency must be addressed if the peace effort is to meet with success. "I would like the government to think systematically and come up with a comprehensive policy that addresses the root causes of all the violence, rather than focusing on individual negotiations with any particular group, such as the BRN or PULO," he told Khabar.
Yingluck administration is "reaching out"
The mayor of Yala Town, meanwhile, credits the administration with making a demonstrable effort to break the ongoing cycle of violence.
"I do believe this government is really reaching out," Pongsak Yingchoncharoern told Khabar. He added, however, that it is too early to predict the outcome, as successive administrations have changed their policies and tried different approaches over the years, with no let-up in the bloodshed.
He agreed that the roots of the violence must be understood in order to bring about success.
"One thing I would like my fellow brothers and sisters to consider why these Thais have come out to fight," he told Khabar. "No person would want to live in a state of constant duress, having to hide out in hilly, forested areas or even moving abroad, where they must be so uncomfortable. So they must hold real grievances to do such a thing. If we say we view this group of individuals as fellow Thais who share the same land, I think we have to be open-minded about it."
Mayor Pongsak cautioned against overly high expectations. "I think everyone is glad that we have a written agreement to hold talks," he told Khabar, "But talks are all they are; we can't even call them negotiations yet."
Nevertheless, the mayor welcomed this week's accord. "History has proved time and again that negotiation, not firepower, remains the only way to resolve armed struggle," Mayor Pongsak said.
"As for the insurgent groups, they need to make it completely clear that the attacks will stop while the talks are under way. They need to stop as a way of showing good faith with the local people. A temporary stop to the unrest will lift [people's] spirits. The government has to show good faith to the local people in many ways too, such as by easing security measures somewhat for their benefit," he said.
On Friday, one day after the accord was announced, suspected rebels detonated two bombs in a busy market area of Narathiwat, injuring six persons. The prime minister, noting that such attacks have been a regular occurrence in the Deep South, downplayed the significance of the incident.
"The signing yesterday does not mean that the violence will stop immediately," Yingluck told reporters.
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Good intelligence and map are key to insurgents’ defeat
Good intelligence and the seizure of a map of the Marines’ outpost in Narathiwat’s Bacho district from Islamist insurgents are two key elements attributable to the Marines’ success in the defence of the outpost and dealing a lethal blow to the attacking insurgents on February 13.
Tipoffs from the locals about the movement of the insurgents in Ban Kue Lae, Tambon Barae Nua, Bacho district helped the Marines intercept a group of between 6-8 insurgents near a cemetery in Ban Kae Lae on February 4. The fleeing insurgents left behind some weapons and ammunition, cellphones, some foodstuffs and, most importantly, a hand-drawn map of the Marines’ base in Ban Yue Lor, Tambon Barae Nua.
The second map showing a drawing and some details of the outpost was seized five days afterward in a house raid in Ban Doku Surao, Tambon Bacho, in which one wanted insurgent, Suhaidee Tahae, 31, was shot dead.
The two seized maps convinced the Marines that their outpost located in a rubber plantation was marked for attack by the insurgents, said a Marine officer, adding however that they had no idea when exactly the attack would take place but it might be imminent.
But the outpost was put on red alert and security beefed up with the reinforcement of a special force unit. The same officer said that all the preparations were done quietly without the notice or knowledge of the local people in close vicinity of the outpost as some of them were suspected to be spies of the insurgents.
The anticipated attack took place during the early hours of February 13. The insurgents believed to be led by Marorso Chantharavadee arrived near the Marines’ outpost in three pickup trucks and two motorcycles. But they had no idea that the Marines were well prepared and were already waiting for them.
The result of the attack was already wellknown. Marorso and 15 of his men were killed by the Marines and their bodies were scattering in the perimeter of the outpost. It was one of the biggest loss of the insurgents in many years.
Besides the casualties, the Marines seized three hand grenades, 13 rifles which included five M4, four M16, two AK47 and two AK102, three handguns, three homemade bombs, one pickup truck, two motorcycles and one chainsaw.
Three suspects were arrested in Rueso district after police manning a road block stopped a pickup truck and found blood stain on the right door of the vehicle.
Lt-Gen Udomchai Thammasarorat, commander of the Fourth Army Region, who later visited the Marines’ outpost to give morale support to the troopers said that good cooperation from the locals in providing information about the insurgents to the Marines was key element in the successful defence of the outpost and defeat of the raiders.
Commander Somkiat Pholprayoon, commander of the Marine force in the far South, however, expressed regret for the deaths of the insurgents saying that they were also Thais. He pleaded with the insurgents to stop the violence and to resort to peaceful settlement of conflict.
As for families of the dead insurgents, the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and the governors of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces had been instructed to help in their rehabilitation, but no compensation will be paid to them for the deaths of their loved ones.
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Good intelligence and cooperation help fend off attack
Good intelligence and cooperation from the locals are two key elements for the success of the Marines in the defence of their jungle base in Bacho district of Narathiwat against Islamist attackers on February 13.
At least 16 insurgents were shot dead and their bodies were found scattering in the camp’s perimeter. Several war weapons were also seized from the insurgents.
Thanks to a tipoff from the locals about the movement of a small group of insurgents led by Marosor Chantharavadee at a cemetery in Ban Kaelae, Bacho district, a Marine unit was dispatched to the scene and clashed with the insurgents on February 4. The insurgents escaped but left behind some ammunition, food supplies, mobile phones and a sketch of the Marine base in Ban Yuelor.
A second sketch of the Marine camp plus some information of the camp was found in the body of an insurgent, Suhaidee Tahae, killed by security forces in a clash in Sai Buri district of Pattani on February 9.
The two seized sketches convinced the camp commander to suspect that the camp was targeted for an imminent attack but when exactly was not known at the time. But as a precaution, security was quietly beefed up without the notice of the locals with a special force unit being brought in.
At about 1 a.m. of February 13, insurgents, led by Marosor, arrived near the camp in three pick-up trucks and two motorcycles. All the insurgents, numbering about 90 by latest estimate, wore army uniforms with bullet-proof vests and white scarfs. Splitting in two groups with the advance group started the attack with hand grenades and assault rifles.
The well-entrenched Marines who were already alerted in advance fought back and engaged in a fierce firefight which lasted about an hour. The surviving insurgents retreated but not after they had cut down trees and placed spikes on the road in front of the camp to delay the pursuit of the security forces.
A subsequent search of the camp’s perimeter found 14 bodies of the insurgents. Two more bodies were found on the road not far away from the camp reportedly shot dead by Marines positioned at the spot to block the fleeing insurgents.
Three suspects were arrested in a pick-up truck in Rueso district after bloodstain was found in the car’s door. The suspects claimed that they had no idea where the bloodstain came from. However, they were detained for interrogation anyway.
Weapons seized from the insurgents include five M4 rifles, four M16 assault rifles, two AK47 assault rifles, two AK102 assault rifles, three handguns, three hand grenades and three bombs stuffed in cans.
Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre Secretary-General Thawee Sodsong said that the government had promised help for two groups of people – villagers whose houses were damaged during the firefight and families of the dead insurgents.
He said that families of the dead victims would not be given compensation but would be given other forms of assistance for humanity sake because they had nothing to do with the illegal activities of the insurgents.
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Four teachers were shot dead and another seriously wounded within 19 days from November 22 to December 11.
The followings are identities of the victims, timings and locations where the shootings took place:
On November 22, Mrs Nanthana Kaewchan, director of Tha Kam Sham school in Nong Chik district of Pattani, was shot dead by suspected insurgents shortly after she left the school for home.
On December 3, Mrs Chatsuda Nilsuwan, a teacher of Ban Ya Ngo in Cho-Airong district of Narathiwat, was fatally shot by suspected insurgents as she was leaving the school for home.
On December 4, Mr Thirapol Chusongsaeng, a teacher of Ban Bo Koh, Su-ngai Padi district of Narathiwat was seriously shot as he was riding his motorbike for home.
on December 11, suspected insurgents stormed into the Ban Ba Ngo school in Mayo district of Pattani and shot to death Mrs Tatiyarat Chueykaew, the school director, and a teacher, Mr Somsak Kwanma, as they were having lunch at the school’s canteen.
Authorities were quick to blame the violent incidents on the insurgents in order to gain publicity or to terrorise the other Buddhist teachers. But was this the real motive behind the violent attacks against the Buddhist teachers?
Many local villagers however thought otherwise and suspected that the shootings of the five teachers which killed four of them within almost three weeks time might actually be revenge attacks perpetrated by suspected insurgents in response to violent attacks against a Muslim religious teacher or ustaz and local Malay Muslims.
On October 30, Mr Mahama Ma-ae, a Muslim religious teacher at Thammawitthaya Foundation School in Muang district of Yala, was gunned down in his pick-up truck in Yarang district of Pattani by gunmen armed with M16 assault rifles. Authorities claimed that the murder was carried out by suspected insurgents in order to put the blame on the government side but local villagers thought otherwise and suspected that he was killed by security forces as the ustaz might by suspected by the authorities of having links with insurgent groups. The former headmaster of the school, Mr Sapae-ing Masor, was accused of being a separatist leader and had a 10-million baht bounty on his head.
Local villagers suspected that the fatal shootings of teachers in Pattani and Narathiwat during November-December could be a revenge against the killing of the ustaz.
It was also pointed out that a few hours before the killing of the two teachers at Ban Ba Ngo school in Pattani at the school’s canteen on December 11, unidentified gunmen opened fire at a tea house in Tambon Tanyong Limor, Ra-ngae district of Narathiwat, killing four Malay Muslims, including a 11-month old baby and a 70-year old man. Local villagers believed that the two incidents might be linked with each other.
Informed sources said that the ustaz’s killing and the tea house attack were not widely reported in the Thai mainstream media but were given special attention by Malaysian media which sent a news team to cover the tea house attack incident.
Lately it was reported that Pol Col Thawee Sodsong, secretary-general of Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, had ordered an investigation into the teachers’ shootings and the tea house attack.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a security officer said that the attacks against the Malay Muslims could be perpetrated by suspected insurgents to put the blame on the security forces. He said the targeting of Buddhist teachers might be intended to terrorise the teachers to quit teaching so the teachers would be short of teachers and finally forced to close down.
Meanwhile, a reliable source in the National Security Council told Isra news agency that the new breed of insurgents do not have any political ideology and have no respect for the safety of the innocent people, including Malay Muslims. Based on evidences collected, he said that the insurgents were involved in illegal business activities in the region such as oil smuggling and illicit drug trade.
Lt-Gen Samret Srirai, former commander of the Fourth Army Region, noted that the weak point of the state authorities was that there was no serious investigation to find out the real truth behind each violent incident.
"For instance if a teacher was fatally shot what needs to be done is to conduct an investigation to find out why the teacher was shot, why him and who would benefit for the victim’s shooting," he said, adding that the probe was not intended to put the blame on any particular party but to establish the fact in order that preventive measures could be adopted to prevent a repeat of such an incident.
But what need to be heeded by the government are the demands or proposals which were voiced in a series of peace forums which were recently held in the deep South with the support of the National Security Council.
Some of the demands include the adoption of Malay language in the formal educational curriculum in parallel with the Thai language; the delisting from the black list of suspects against whom there are no incriminating evidences against them; a special administrative zone for the deep South and revocation of all special laws in the region, especially the emergency decree.
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1,200 South schools halt classes
Fresh teacher killings by militants spur move
Teachers at 1,200 schools in the deep South have decided to suspend classes today and tomorrow following a spate of attacks by insurgents.
The Confederation of Teachers in the Southern Border Provinces (CTSBP) decided to suspend classes after meeting school administrators yesterday.
The closure of all schools in 10 secondary educational service areas will allow security forces to review their performance, lay out plans to protect teachers, and hunt down the assailants, Boonsom Tongsriprai, the confederation chairman, said.
The confederation called an urgent meeting with school administrators in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat yesterday after a fresh insurgent attack on teachers earlier this week.
On Tuesday, five armed men entered Ban Ba-ngo school in Pattani's Mayo district and opened fire, killing the school director and a teacher.
Last week, one female teacher was also killed and a male teacher seriously injured in attacks in Narathiwat.
Mr Boonsom said security plans to better protect teachers must be rolled out by Monday.
The group also called for the transfer of both Muslim and Buddhist teachers in high-risk areas to safer locations.
Schools are expected to resume class on Monday if the demands are met, Mr Boonsom said.
The teachers would take further action if nothing is done, he said, without elaborating.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she will travel to Pattani today to gather first-hand information as well as give support to people affected by the violence.
The government has approved the deployment of more police in the South but this was not sufficient to solve the shortage of security staff there.
State agencies must stand ready to provide manpower and equipment to ensure public safety, Ms Yingluck said.
The prime minister will be briefed on the situation on her arrival in the deep South at Pattani City Hall this morning.
She will meet members of the Women's Development Fund and other groups at CS Pattani Hotel in the afternoon before travelling to Bang Lang Dam in Yala to preside over the inauguration of a bridge across the dam.
Paradorn Pattanathabutr, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said more than 4,000 police will be deployed gradually to the troubled region by April next year to help ease the shortage of manpower there.
Thongthong Chandrangsu, the permanent secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, said a new working group will be created to work on education programmes for the far South.
Piya Kijthavorn, deputy secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, said the agency will propose the Education Ministry encourage university graduates from the region to teach in the far South.
The Yala-based 12th Regional Education Office said 124 teachers and 34 education staff have been killed in the violence between Jan 7, 2004 and Dec 11 this year.
Meanwhile, a villager, Siteerohema Sama, 70, who was injured in a tea shop attack in Narathiwat's Rangae district a couple of days ago, has died from his injuries, taking the death toll from Tuesday's attack to six.
A combined force of 60 security officers yesterday combed Ba Ngoyare and Ba Ngolubo villages in Rangae district to hunt for the gunmen.
Sawawi Putae, 20, was caught during the raid after authorities discovered he was wanted for the theft of a pickup truck on Oct 18 in Yala's Bannang Sata district.
Officials believe the vehicle was to be used to make a car bomb for an attack in the deep South.
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UNICEF calls for end to violence against children in Thailand’s deep south
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Bangkok, 12 December 2012 – A UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) official today urged an immediate halt to violence against children in Thailand’s restive southern provinces, where an 11-month-old girl was among five people killed in an attack on a Narathiwat tea house Tuesday.
Bijaya Rajbhandari, the UNICEF Representative in Thailand, termed the slayings “a tragic, senseless and unacceptable act” and called upon all parties involved “to use every means at their disposal to end the violence and ensure that all children are protected from it.”
The infant girl, Infani Samo, was killed early Tuesday morning when gunmen armed with automatic weapons sprayed gunfire into a tea house in Narathiwat’s Rangae district. More than 50 children have been killed and some 340 injured in Thailand’s southern border provinces since the resurgence of violence in January 2004. In total, more than 5,000 people have lost their lives as a result of the violence.
In late October of this year, an 11-year-old boy was slain along with his father when gunmen fired upon their pickup truck in Yala’s Raman district.
“Every time a child is killed or injured, every time a child loses a parent or relative, and every time their schools and teachers are attacked, the more all children in the deep south suffer,” Rajbhandari said. “Bringing an end to the violence is the only way to ensure that the rights of all children in the south are fully protected and respected.”
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Dedicated teacher knew he might be killed but didn’t give up
The latest teacher shot dead by suspected militants in the restive deep South knew he was marked for death but he refused to give up his teaching job and went to school and back home riding unescorted in a motorcycle.
Mr Komsant Chomyong, 40, a teacher of Ban Bor Ngor school in Ra-ngae district of Narathiwat, was shot dead on October 1 as he was riding home in his motorcycle. According to eyewitnesses, two men riding on a motorcycle approached him and the pillion-rider shot him to death with a handgun. Then the shooter stopped and took away the victim’s 11-mm pistol which he always carried but did not have a chance to use it.
Mr Komsant’s death brought to 152 the number of teachers killed by suspected militants for the past eight years since the start of a renewed insurgency in January 2004.
The victim’s younger sister, Mrs Kantha Veeraseni, told Isra news agency that Mr Komsant used to be a border patrol policeman but served in the force for only three years and had to quit the service due to health problem. Then, he took a teaching course and got a teaching job at Ban Lupodeeyae in Ra-ngae district after graduation. But later on, he further his study until he got a Master’s in education and got transferred to Ban Bor Ngor school where he taught until his murder.
"He knew that it was a great risk teaching in this red zone so he decided not to get married in order to be able to fully devote himself to teaching. He did not want to move out of the district and wanted to teach here," said Mrs Kantha.
The victim’s colleagues at the school told Isra news agency that Mr Komsant was fully aware that he would one day be attacked by suspected militants but he refused to travel with them for fear that they might be harmed.
While most of the teachers in the school travelled together in a chartered truck and escorted by security forces, Mr Komsant rode alone in his motorcycle but kept changing the routes, said his colleagues.
Mr Komsant’s sudden death has provoked widespread concern about safety problem among teachers in the restive region, especially in the so-called red zones. Mr Boonsom Thongsriplai, head of the Federation of Teachers in Three Southernmost Provinces, said the killing had badly affected the morale of teachers. He urged the government to increase incentives for the teachers such as better welfare, a rise in risk fees and better career path.
Pol Col Thavee Sodsong, secretary-general of Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, and Narathiwat Governor Apinan Suethanuwong, presided over the bathing rite of the victim on October 1 along with several teachers of Ban Bor Ngor. About two million baht in cash were also given to the victim’s family as compensation.
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93 Disturbants Defect. A Quake to Separatist Groups.
A Pivot Point that requires follow-ups.
Up until now, the situation in southern Thailand is of much interest to all involved, whether it be the government security sector, the Southern Border Province Administration Center (SBPAC) and the general public, both in the area and outside. And, certainly, the movement would follow up closely on the situation, too. This is an important pivot point of the situation, whether for the better or worse.
On the better side, we see a cooperation between the operational core leaders of the movement and the government security sector, even though a cooperative resolution is not certain of, yet. However, it is believable that the violence will lessen, although other insurgency groups may not agree with this cooperation and may continue their operations against officials and the innocent people. At the very least, operations by "Jeh Ali" or Waeali Copter Waji's group in its area of responsibility will lessen. However, the situation may worsen due to those leaders high up in the policy-making level may disagree and may order other groups to accelerate violence to demonstrate that they still have the potential. This is a matter of concern.
However, the decision made by "Jeh Ali" and the 93 members has certainly resulted in significantlytroubling the propaganda machine of the movement. Twisted information has been quickly transmitted through various media, especially through web sites and the social media, including the "ambranews.com" web site. This site is owned by a treacherous Thai person, renting a server in Malaysia, and specifically spreading information against the Thai security sector and government. All the while the Malaysian side is keeping a blind eye. The twisted information has repainted "Jeh Ali" and his other comrades who reported themselves in, calling them rubber plantation workers. While, in reality, "Jeh Ali" was a commanding leader in Narathiwat Province, a criminal against national security, a co-planner in the arms heist at the 4th Development Battalion in Narathiwat on January 4, 2004 which resulted in the deaths of four military officials. The information has twisted the once brothers-in-arms to adversaries.
The web site has further cooked-up information that the 93 persons who reported in for the benefit of peace have been paid by the security sector to start a drama. This clearly demonstrates the deceptive ideology of the movement, insincere towards anyone, even going against those who have shared the same ideals, for fear that they might lose their hold on the masses.
This is the struggle by the separatists in trying to gain the masses. For it is clear that whoever loses the hold on the masses in the region, defeat would be near.
The PULO has also joined in, as usual. This "money-hungry, paper tiger" group collectively posts the operations of other groups on their web site and twists the information for their own benefits. This allows them to shamelessly gain funds from abroad.
The humor lies in the fact that the PULO had nothing to do with the 93 defectors and yet made their appearance.
The actual reason for the 93 defectors of its core leaders and united front members reporting in was a result of networking that led to a discussion between the security sector and members of the network, who mainly are local politicians, religious leaders, owners of religious-schools, past members of Ramkhamhaeng PNYS and past Indonesia-educated students, who are against violence and want to bring peace to their homeland. This opens up the opportunity for the pro-violence fighters to turn towards peaceful means through a middle-link cooperation. As a result, a political party named Party Kita was established, proclaiming "Melayu Party for the people of Melayu". The party leader was Mukhtar Kila.
However, such move resulted in a split amongst the movement's public affairs people, especially the pro-violence group. This group uses violence to gain funds from other Muslim nations, claiming to fight for their ideals, which, in reality, these funds were distributed amongst the members for their personal gains. As a result, Mukhtar Kila was killed on December 15, 2011. The killing was staged as though it was to be the work of government officials. Luckily the hitman was killed by the village security team and it was found that he was from Tanyong Limo village, Chalerm sub-district, Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat Province, the same village that assaulted the teacher Juling Pongkanmun to death. As a result, the evil plan of putting the blame on the nation's security sector was foiled.
Although Mukhtar was killed, the members of the peaceful ideals pushed on and have thus made contact with the group leaders to report themselves to the government, in order to proceed with peaceful means. This has eventually resulted in the defection of these 93 people.
The reporting-in of the core leaders and united front members is considered a success of the Thai government in striving to fight peacefully. Moreover, this defection has caused a big quake in the whole insurgency operations, all the way from leaders/united front body and personnel/organization, domestically and internationally. This also shook the underground businesses that supported violence, which, together, benefited mutually. Also affected are some local NGO's which supported the dark movements in the southern provinces.
The resolution of the reporting-in of the movement’s core leaders and its united front members on the 11th day of the 9th month, which was comparatively referred to as 911 by the 4th Army AreaCommander, is still difficult to fathom. Yet, this is a good starting point for the people of the three southernmost border provinces who can now begin to see a glimpse of peace at the end of the tunnel, instead of the darkness under the tyranny and fear of the insurgents. Isn't it?
I'm here with you.
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