Thursday, May 19, 2005

Injustices Created Muslim Thai Unrest: ICG

The Thai government failure to address injustices and open a genuine dialogue with Muslim leaders in the south is the real reason behind unrest in the country, an influential think-tank said, as Thailand is urged to give more power to its Muslims. The International Crisis Group (ICG) further warned Wednesday. The group said the violence, which has killed nearly 700 people since January last year, was being driven by local grievances and there was no evidence yet of external involvement. “But if this situation is left to fester, it could attract jihadists from outside Thailand,”. Thaksin vowed Thursday, February 17, to crush what he termed “separatist revolt” in the south within four years, saying his government would cut off aid to villages who help the “separatists”. Commenting on the problem, Anand Panyarachun, chairman of a new national reconciliation commission, said Thailand must consider allowing its alienated ethnic Malay Muslim minority to have greater say in managing their own communities if it is to resolve century-old tensions in the troubled south. “We have to think about the need for the people in the area to govern themselves,” Anand, a highly respected former Thai prime minister, told the Financial Times.

2 Comments:

At May 19, 2005 6:34 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't believe any Muslim has ever been at fault for anything. Curious...

 
At May 19, 2005 6:58 PM, Blogger Crusader Rabbit said...

Apparently the main 'injustice' is not allowing the muslim minority to run the entire country.

For the sake of the Thai people I hope their government continues that policy.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home