Should the Thai Government Begin Talks with Muslim Separatists?

Producer: Bharati Jagdish
First broadcast: 25 May 04, Radio Singapore International

Top Thai security officials have opposed the government's plans to begin talks with a Muslim separatist leader.

Deputy Prime Minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, said the move would only legitimise the underground group blamed for much of the continuing violence in Thailand's Muslim South.

He also said that the group is only interested in beginning negotiations with the government so that it could qualify for observer status at the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

His warning comes after the government announced that it has established unofficial contacts to begin peace talks with Wan Kadir Che Man, the leader of Bersatu, an umbrella group of three insurgent organisations.

For more on this, Bharati Jagdish (BJ) spoke to Somchai Homlaor (SH), Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of Thailand's Law Society.

SH: "Actually some effort has been put into arranging talks with this group for some time now. The Ministry of Defence has said that it had been trying to contact separatist groups including Bersatu in order to understand them better and arrange talks with them. At least one leader from Bersatu has said that it's willing to talk with the Thai government and even the Prime Minister himself has offered to talk with the group."

BJ: Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, has said that Bersatu has its own agenda. It is trying to qualify for observer status at the Organisation of Islamic Conference and entering into negotiations with the authorities is actually a pre-requisite for this position. Do you think the government is making a mistake by having talks with this group and perhaps, giving them too much credibility through formal negotiations?

SH: "As a human rights organisation working in the region, we think that one reason behind the violence is that the government and the separatist groups do not understand one another. So we think that negotiations or dialogue will be productive and constructive rather than destructive."

BJ: But wouldn't you be legitimising these separatist groups by negotiating with them?

SH: "If we think that by not recognising them, we can solve the problems in the South, we are sadly mistaken. Ignoring the existence of these groups will hardly solve the problem."

BJ: Has Bersatu claimed responsibility for the violence that has occurred since January this year?

SH: "That is the point. The dialogue between the Thai government and Bersatu will solve the problem only if Bersatu is really behind the violence in the South."

BJ: But, reportedly, Bersatu has said that none of its affiliated groups have anything to do with the violence in the South?

SH: "That's the point. If Bersatu was not the organisation behind that problem, I think that to have dialogue with Bersatu may not be really fruitful."

BJ: Exactly, so what is point of having talks with this particular group if we can't be sure they're responsible for the violence?

SH: "I'm thinking along different lines. At least Bersatu represents some Muslim political groups and this may be enough to solve the problems to some extent, even if Bersatu may not have a large amount of influence on the responsible groups. It's a good start."

BJ: What are their demands likely to be during the talks with the government?

SH: "I think what they've proposed is reasonable. They want to have a greater role in governing in the South. Actually, even in our constitution, it is stated that the central authority must recognise the participation and involvement of the local people and the communities in the realm of public administration. But in the past, the central government in Bangkok ignored the right of the Muslim people and it was not fully recognised."

BJ: Will they be asking for autonomy or complete independence?

SH: "To be separate and completely independent is against the constitution of Thailand. If independence is undertaken with due process, like through a free and fair referendum, I think they have the right to self-determination. But anyhow, under the framework of the constitution of Thailand, the three provinces in the South can have - not autonomy - but at least enjoy decentralisation of power from the central government."

BJ: How do you think the Thai government is going to respond to this?

SH: "I think the Thai government will be very cautious in dealing with this group. But it is keen in having a better understanding of the group. I think it's good if the government is sincere about solving the problems in the South."