Secret talks aimed at isolating insurgents
Written by changthai11 on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
SOUTHERN UNREST
Secret talks aimed at isolating insurgents
WASSANA NANUAM and ANUCHA CHAROENPO and AGENCIES
Secret negotiations in Indonesia with separatist sympathisers at the weekend were aimed at isolating the insurgents operating in the deep South, not at striking a deal with them, a Defence Ministry source insisted yesterday. The talks followed a strategy proposed by former prime minister Samak Sundaravej to handle external factors affecting the violent situation in the deep South.
”This [dialogue] is to cut the lifeline and support given to the militants in the South,” said the source.
The talks, mediated by Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the presidential palace in Bogor, involved five representatives from the deep South and negotiators from Bangkok.
Indonesia’s Secretary of State Hatta Radjasa said the five members of the separatist Pattani Malay Consultative Congress were led by Wahyuddin Mohammad, Antara news agency reported yesterday. The talks were inconclusive and will resume in November.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met the Thai Muslim delegates at the presidential palace yesterday. He had met the Thai team led by Gen Kwanchart Klaharn on Saturday.
”Do not say it was our initiative to play a role. This is the wish of the two parties as part of their efforts to end their conflict,” Mr Radjasa said.
”Indonesia is considered an experienced mediator and is the largest country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.”
The talks on Saturday and Sunday ”produced several points as reference for making a framework for their next meeting”, Antara reported.
”They had also signed notes on the meeting’s results,” it said.
The two sides resolved to meet again in Bogor, about 50km south of Jakarta, on Nov 1-2 and Nov 14.
The Defence Ministry source said that under Mr Samak’s directive, teams were sent to countries believed to be home to insurgent supporters, including Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East.
Gen Kwanchart, a former Fourth Army commander, was tasked with getting help from Indonesia.
Southern militants received training in Indonesia, particularly jungle survival and bomb making, the source said.
Gen Kwanchart would make no comment yesterday. ”I have no idea … I cannot talk now,” he said.
A source close to the general said he was surprised the news leaked and he felt he had been stabbed in the back.
Defence Ministry spokesman Lt-Gen Peerapong Manakij and army spokesman Col Acra Tiproch distanced the army from the talks in Indonesia, saying Gen Kwanchart had made a personal trip. The Fourth Army had no knowledge of Gen Kwanchart’s actions, Col Acra said.
Chidchanok Rahimmula, deputy dean of Prince of Songkla University’s faculty of political science, said the best way to end the violence is for the government to talk with all separatist groups involved.
