Anwar vows to facilitate peace talks in restive southern Thailand

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged to “do whatever is required” to facilitate a peaceful solution to a long-simmering insurgency in southern Thailand, during an official visit to Bangkok on Thursday (Feb 9).

More than 7,300 people have been killed since 2004 as a result of fighting between Thai forces and shadowy groups seeking independence for the predominantly Muslim and ethnically Malay provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani, as well as parts of Songkhla, which border Malaysia.

The areas were part of the Patani sultanate, which Thailand annexed in a 1909 treaty with Britain.

Anwar stressed that the insurgency was an internal issue for Thailand, but said Malaysia would do whatever it could to help find a peaceful solution to the conflict. This started with the appointment of Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, a former head of Malaysia’s armed forces, as a facilitator to the process.

“It is our duty as a good neighbour and family to do whatever is required and necessary to facilitate the process,” said Anwar, who was on a two-day visit to the kingdom.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said cooperation would help address the problems in the restive provinces, specifically greater economic development and improved connectivity between the two countries.

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The Barisan Revolusi Nasional, the main insurgent group involved in talks with the Thai government, did not comment when contacted by Reuters.

Since 2013, Malaysia has helped facilitate peace talks between the separatist groups and Thai government, but the process has been disrupted. The latest round of talks resumed last year after a two-year suspension due to the pandemic. REUTERS