Let justice be seen to be done in the South
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It seems every day we hear of a yet another terrorist incident in southern Thailand. Sad indeed. Here are some suggestions for what could be done to reduce the strife in that region.
Get creative-thinking Thais (is that an oxymoron?) to arrange “town hall meetings” in the southern region. Find out, firsthand, what locals are thinking and what they want. Get all concerned involved in dialoge with each other and with moderators. Get authorised people involved also –to see what what tangible things they can get the government to do to assist.
One big step toward fixing things would be to seriously discipline any and all authorities that made bad decisions which led to problems such as Kru Sae and Tak Bai. The bad-will among some Muslims, because of those events, is still smouldering in the south, and ongoing terrorist incidents are indications of that. The responsibility goes from middle-rank officers at the scene, up to generals and on up to the prime minister. Lest we forget, that was “Mr Hands-on CEO” Thaksin, at the time the insurgency began.
If Thaksin and his generals were taken to task regarding their questionable decisions at Kru Sae and Tak Bai, that would be a big step towards reducing strife in the southern region of Thailand. Revenge is a deep-set sentiment among Muslims. Many are still seething about the Crusades of centuries ago.
Kip Keino
Ban Nam Lat
