Lifting decree merits thought

EDITORIAL

Published: 27 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The defection of 93 former Islamic militants who were brought before the media at the Narathiwat provincial Islamic office on Sept 11 might have been seen as a photo-op for Lt Gen Udomchai Thammasarorach, commander of the 4th Army Region, to showcase his achievement in convincing the group to stop their armed struggle and turn over a new leaf.

But the event nonetheless represented a small but significant step forward in the government's attempts to restore peace and order in the restive deep South through non-military means.

It is quite encouraging that the government has, of late, escalated efforts aimed at convincing more militants and their sympathisers to turn themselves in. Among the steps being mulled include an amendment to Section 21 of the Internal Security Act to introduce a re-education programme for defectors in lieu of criminal prosecution; a gradual lifting of the emergency decree in areas considered as safe or free of violent incidents perpetrated by militants; and possible revocation of arrest warrants issued under the decree.

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surfdawg
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Discussion 2 : 27 Sep 2012 at 11.002
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This editorial is a prime example that the Thais do not understand that Islamic Militants cannot be dealt with using diplomacy. If this was the case then why has this insurgency gone on for so long? As someone who has been involved in the on-going militant insugencies, in the Midddle East and Asia, diplomancy has not worked in either area and will not work in this case either. The Islamic militants don't want to live with us unless we change our lives to suit there beliefs.
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khunbj
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Discussion 1 : 27 Sep 2012 at 10.591
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While I agree with the conclusion, then this will also mean that the military cannot longer do the work in their way, so additional police is required.
The way in which police generally go about arrests, which as can be seen in the media daily, seem to be first to wait for issuing an arrest warrant and after that is done, then police waits until the suspect either contact them in order negotiate his surrender or maybe in the end is so exhausted that he gives himself up to the police. Rarely the police are active in arresting people, this has to change , new attitude will be required if the emergency decree should be removed.....And concerning house searches then if a warrant is required then the judicial system must be available around the clock to issue one, else police will just be wasting it's time and it will be even easier for the bad guys to go about their business.
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Lifting decree merits thought | Bangkok Post: opinion