PM favours admin zone for South
Self-rule is out, but room for shariah law
- Published: 15/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
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.
About the author
- Writer: WASSANA NANUAM and WAEDAO HARAI
