Thailand to submit three-point proposal : Paradon
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Thailand is to submit a three-point proposal to Muslim militant groups at tomorrow's peace dialogue demanding that they reduce daily hostile activities, stop attacks against innocent targets and cease car bomb attacks in downtown areas, National Security
Paradorn and his 15-member team are travelling to Malaysia for first peace dialogue with militants, who are made up of representatives of more than nine groups. The militants are led by Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)’s Hasan Tohib.
Paradorn said Malaysia, as a facilitator, has already submitted a list of 15 militants who would be present at the meeting.
“We would submit our proposal before reaching any deal. We would like to see reduction of daily attacks, a stop to violent activities against innocent people and car bombs in downtown areas,” he said.
There would be no talk about setting up of Pattani Metropolis as widely speculated, he said.
Meanwhile a civic group in Pattani province has submitted an open letter to the government, advocating support for tomorrow’s peace dialogue.
Representatives of the Patani and Peace-Loving People Network presented the letter to Paradorn at Government House yesterday.
Network core member Hakim Pongtikoh said the open letter reflects the opinions of more than 7,000 people in the far South.
He said the group supports the Thai authorities’ peace dialogue with militant leaders of the BRN on the condition that no agreement with negative impacts on the southern people is signed.
The Thai delegates must not agree to the withdrawal of Thai military troops from the South or an abolition of the Emergency Decree, Hakim said.
Paradorn said proposals from the network will be summarised and forwarded to the Thai delegates.
The general said the prime minister had approved the names of the 15 Thai members taking part in the dialogue, and ruled out a report that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be in Malaysia during the peace dialouge.
Paradorn said the BRN has named five Muslim members for the dialogue: Hassan Toib, its leader, two BRN Coordinate members, and one each from the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) and the Barisan Islam Pembangunan Pattani (BIPP).
Some preliminary proposals by the Muslim militant groups are the withdrawal of Thai troops from the South, assigning Malaysia as mediator for the dialogue and amnesty for wrongdoers.
