15.06.09 PM favours admin zone for South
Source: Bangkok Post
Self-rule is out, but room for shariah law
The government is exploring the idea of
proclaiming the South's three predominantly Muslim provinces a special
administrative zone as a solution to the region's unrest.
But even before the idea has been fully explored, Buddhist organisations yesterday came out in opposition.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said during his weekly
television talk show that turning Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat into a
special administrative zone would be acceptable to the government.
However, the proposal must be in line with the constitution.
He also warned that the proposed term "special administrative zone" must not create a misleading impression.
"The term could lead to confusion," he said. "Some even go so far as
to call it a self-rule area, which is not so," Mr Abhisit said.
"The primary requirement is that it [the special zone] must come under the constitution. Thailand is an indivisible kingdom."
The prime minister said some forms of special administration in
terms of the economic and financial management would be acceptable.
He said the application of certain Islamic shariah laws regarding
inheritance and other family affairs in the proposed area was possible,
although Islamic laws regarding criminal offences would not be
considered.
"But the issue of direct election of their own leaders is not certain," he said.
The prime minister said he had information of the existence of
insurgent groups but details of their structure as an organisation and
their line of command were sketchy.
The government would not negotiate with insurgents.
Mr Abhisit said insurgents had tried to "internationalise" the issue
of the southern conflict by trying to get other countries involved in
negotiations.
"We will solve our internal problems ourselves," he said.
The prime minister dismissed suggestions that his government had
focused too much on political issues and had ignored the southern
problem.
He stressed the need to ensure justice for local Muslims in the South who felt they were mistreated by state authorities.
He also said the government would continue to stick to an economic
and political approach to douse the southern flames of hatred.
He said the approach involved state authorities reaching out more to
local people to win their trust and to bring economic improvements to
the region.
Mr Abhisit has acknowledged that solving southern unrest was a tough
challenge but he said the government would not resort to extreme action
to deal with insurgents.
On the international front, the government was working to explain
the situation in the South to neighbouring countries such as Indonesia
and Malaysia and they have recognised that it is an internal issue, Mr
Abhisit said.
He also said he had told police to speed up the investigation of
last Monday's shooting at Al-Furqan mosque in Cho Airong district of
Narathiwat in which 10 people were killed and 12 injured.
Networks of monks and Buddhists have condemned the attacks on
Buddhist monks in Yala on Friday and called on the government to better
protect monks in the restive South from insurgent attacks.
One monk was killed and another wounded by suspected militants while
they were out collecting alms in a village in Muang district.
The groups include student organisations from two Buddhist
universities - Mahamakuta Rajavidyalaya and Maha Chulalongkorn
Rajavidyalaya.
They also voiced opposition to creating a special administrative
area, saying this could lead to the secession of the southern region.
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