Religion
Thailand: Govt and Muslims agree to end southern conflict
Bogr, West Java, 22 Sept. (AKI/Jakarta Post) - Indonesia-mediated peace talks between the Thai government and representatives of the Muslim community in southern Thailand concluded on Sunday with a commitment to ending years of conflict that have claimed 2,700 lives.
The two sides pledged to resume negotiations in November at the same location in Bogor, West Java, to find ways to meet the Muslim group's demands for justice, economic development and use of the Malay language in Thailand's three southernmost provinces - Pattani (photo), Narathiwat, and Yala - while maintaining Thailand's territorial integrity.
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said the second round of negotiations would take place on Nov.1 and 2, and the third round in mid-November.
"Both sides have agreed that the settlement should be conducted peacefully through dialogue forums, and should be in line with the Constitution of Thailand," Dino said at the State Palace.
The Thai government sent five negotiators, headed by Gen. Khwanchart Klahan, the supreme commander of the Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command (SBPPC), which oversees the country's southern provinces.
The country's southern Muslims were represented by leaders of the Pattani Malay Consultative Congress (PMCC), an umbrella organization of insurgent groups in southern Thailand.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla acted as the mediator during the closed meetings. University of Indonesia political expert Fachry Ali and Paramadina University political expert Anies Baswedan were also in attendance at the talks.
Other notables included the Vice President's political advisers, Johermansyah Johan and Farid Hussein, and Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand M. Hatta.
"We made substantial progress during the negotiations, with both sides expressing commitment to ending the conflicts," Fachry told The Jakarta Post after the talks, held at the Bogor Presidential Palace.
Anies described the talks as a solid basis for the next negotiations, with representatives from both sides appreciating and willing to listen to each other.
"This is just the first encounter, so they have to adjust and feel comfortable. However, many of the lingering issues have been tabled," he said.
Demands by Thai Muslims include the introduction of Islamic law and making ethnic Pattani Malay (Yawi) a working language in the region, as well as the improvement of the local economy and education system.
Previous negotiations, including that sponsored by the Malaysian government, failed to halt violence within the three provinces, because of a lack of trust between the parties, as well as the Thai government's failure to identify which groups or individuals it should talk to.
Anies stressed that the PMCC adequately represented Thai Muslims because it included representatives from most insurgent groups.
An official close to the preparation of the meeting said Kalla wanted to apply methods used during the Aceh peace talks in 2005, in which Finland acted as the mediator.
Dino said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would continue instructing the Vice President on the matter, and would maintain communication with Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
The two sides pledged to resume negotiations in November at the same location in Bogor, West Java, to find ways to meet the Muslim group's demands for justice, economic development and use of the Malay language in Thailand's three southernmost provinces - Pattani (photo), Narathiwat, and Yala - while maintaining Thailand's territorial integrity.
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said the second round of negotiations would take place on Nov.1 and 2, and the third round in mid-November.
"Both sides have agreed that the settlement should be conducted peacefully through dialogue forums, and should be in line with the Constitution of Thailand," Dino said at the State Palace.
The Thai government sent five negotiators, headed by Gen. Khwanchart Klahan, the supreme commander of the Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command (SBPPC), which oversees the country's southern provinces.
The country's southern Muslims were represented by leaders of the Pattani Malay Consultative Congress (PMCC), an umbrella organization of insurgent groups in southern Thailand.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla acted as the mediator during the closed meetings. University of Indonesia political expert Fachry Ali and Paramadina University political expert Anies Baswedan were also in attendance at the talks.
Other notables included the Vice President's political advisers, Johermansyah Johan and Farid Hussein, and Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand M. Hatta.
"We made substantial progress during the negotiations, with both sides expressing commitment to ending the conflicts," Fachry told The Jakarta Post after the talks, held at the Bogor Presidential Palace.
Anies described the talks as a solid basis for the next negotiations, with representatives from both sides appreciating and willing to listen to each other.
"This is just the first encounter, so they have to adjust and feel comfortable. However, many of the lingering issues have been tabled," he said.
Demands by Thai Muslims include the introduction of Islamic law and making ethnic Pattani Malay (Yawi) a working language in the region, as well as the improvement of the local economy and education system.
Previous negotiations, including that sponsored by the Malaysian government, failed to halt violence within the three provinces, because of a lack of trust between the parties, as well as the Thai government's failure to identify which groups or individuals it should talk to.
Anies stressed that the PMCC adequately represented Thai Muslims because it included representatives from most insurgent groups.
An official close to the preparation of the meeting said Kalla wanted to apply methods used during the Aceh peace talks in 2005, in which Finland acted as the mediator.
Dino said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would continue instructing the Vice President on the matter, and would maintain communication with Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
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