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BANGKOK - The Malaysian premier pledged his support Tuesday for Thailand's "constructive" plans to curb the violence in its southern provinces during his first official visit to the neighbouring country.
Najib Razak held "especially productive, very comprehensive" talks with his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva, who welcomed him to Government House in Bangkok for a landmark visit.
He said Abhisit had been "very candid" explaining Thailand's strategy to deal with its six-year separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 4,000 lives in the country's southern border provinces bordering Malaysia.
"Malaysia stands ready to be your partner but a partner who will respect that this is essentially a domestic problem for Thailand," Najib said.
"We understand that this is going to be a challenging process but the Thai government... has got specific plans to move forward in a very positive and constructive manner," he added.
Abhisit will host a banquet in Najib's honour on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday the two leaders will travel to the insurgency-plagued region where two attacks in as many days have illustrated the extent of the challenge.
On Tuesday, an unknown number of gunmen ambushed eight soldiers on four motorcycles in Narathiwat province as they patrolled a route that Abhisit and Najib will take during their trip.
Two of the soldiers and one of the militants were killed in the clash, while another solider was critically wounded, police said.
On Monday, a powerful bomb hidden in a motorcycle ripped through a market in the province, killing two people and wounding nine others.
Rights groups and academics have called on the Thai premier to revoke martial law and an emergency decree that give the armed forces broad control of the region.
In its latest report Tuesday, Brussels-based think-tank International Crisis Group said that Thailand must also deal with perceived impunity by security forces and disarm civilian militia groups.
It said corruption among local authorities was also wrecking plans to quell unrest by pursuing economic development policies in the area.
But Abhisit defended his handling of the uprising. He said a new political policy direction would emphasise justice and focus on the region's economy.
"We're taking incremental steps towards a solution that will have to include the political dimension," Abhisit told reporters after his meeting with Najib.
Najib and Abhisit will fly to Narathiwat on Wednesday, visiting one government-run and one Islamic school, a handicraft village and a so-called "widow village" that shelters some 140 families affected by the unrest.
They will also attend the renaming of a "friendship bridge" spanning the countries' river border.
Abhisit said he and his counterpart discussed ways of co-operating over the curriculum in religious schools, as well as language and teacher-training.
Najib has also offered support "in terms of making sure that the people engaging in violence do not use Malaysia as a base for their operations," Abhisit added.
Thailand has in the past accused Malaysia of failing to prevent insurgents criss-crossing the porous 650-kilometre border.
But since Najib came to power in April the rhetoric has softened. In October he called on Thailand to offer "some form" of autonomy to the restive region, a proposal backed by Abhisit, who called it the "right approach".
Tensions have simmered in the troubled region, formerly an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate, since it was annexed in 1902 by mainly Buddhist Thailand. The current insurgency erupted in January 2004.
Thai army chief General Anupong Paojinda travelled to the region on Sunday to prepare security arrangements for the two leaders.
- AFP/ir
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