Support for peace talks
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The majority of residents of three southern border provinces surveyed in a recent poll showed support for an ongoing peace effort and voiced calls for an immediate halt to the violence, DeepSouthWatch said yesterday.
Some 1,800 people based in the provinces and four Yawi-speaking districts of Songkhla were surveyed a week before the first round of a peace dialogue that took place last Thursday. Of the respondents, 68 per cent showed support. Many said they believed it was the right way to long-term peace – but they still lacked trust or felt uncertainty, said DSW director, Asst Prof Srisomphob Jitphiromsri.
Asked about preconditions expected of security officials and insurgents, Srisomphob said they were similar to those cited in news reports: full withdrawal of troops from the area, development projects, and amendment to or abolition of the Emergency Decree.
