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Conflict in far South could use serious reconciliation also - 05/03/2012 
March 5, 2012 1:00 am
To Mr Kofi Annan, Former UN secretary general, President of Kofi Annan Foundation
And to Mr Martti Ahtisaari,
Former president of the Republic of Finland,
Chairman of Crisis Management Initiative:
Honourable Gentlemen,
On the occasion of your visit to Thailand at the invitation of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) in a bid to encourage reconciliation by the leftist Red and rightist Yellow, allow us, on behalf of Malay Muslims from the Patani region, which consists of the five southern Malay-speaking provinces, formerly known as "The Malay Kingdom of Patani", to introduce our long-standing conflict that exists between us and the Thai state. We would like also to draw your attention to our basic rights, dignity and justice, which are threatened by the Thai state. First of all, we would like to give a little background leading to the present-day Yellow-Red confrontation scenario. As you may recall, while you were serving as UN secretary general, the Thak Bai atrocity occurred during the Thaksin administration in 2004, which in fact stoked popular opposition that led to the formation of the Yellow movement, which took the southern problem as one of their legitimate claims to stage mass protests. This in turn spurred the red counter-protest. The situation was also rooted in the southern problem, which was either intentionally or coincidentally evaded by the emergence of both camps. The southern problem must not be made marginalised. It is your opportunity to address and verify that the life-and-death problem very much needs to be solved politically, not by means of force but with a truly faithful and sincere understanding that it needs to start now rather than later. As the TRCT is concerned with the basic Thai national ideology or state institutions, while the Malay Muslims' cry is about beyond-injustice matters, it's about the Thai state's institutionalised abuse, from which the locals have nowhere to turn to. Except if the Thais change their mind and attitude if they were really to regain the locals' hearts and minds and to behave as any other free multicultural countries do towards their minorities - with respect and dignity. Some of the red shirts' family victims have now been able to approach you to express their grief in person in the capital, but what about the fate of the thousands of Malay Muslim families affected directly by the state? When can their voices be heard too? If your visit were just for the TRCT programme, which is about Yellow-Red reconciliation, if nothing is done in pursuit of a just and permanent peace in the South, can the Thai state's wish for a peaceful and stable Thailand become a reality? Honourable gentlemen, historically, when Siam during the 14th through the 17th centuries was in the age of wars with its neighbours, the then independent Patani in the South had already denounced violence by naming itself as "Patani Darussalam", which means "Land of Peace". As our forefathers have already planted this valuable seed, there would be no reason why the present Malay Muslims would reject the fruits of a peaceful life, as it should be. We would, therefore, like you to urge the Thai state to make some good gestures so that the peace process can continue in a sincere and proper manner. We wish you a pleasant stay and successful journey. Kasturi Mahkota
President of the Patani United Liberation Organisation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Conflict-in-far-South-could-use-serious-reconcilia-30177250.html |