ABOVE: A 2009 file photo showing Thai-Muslim school children walk past a soldier during a parade in Narathiwat province. Photo: Madaree Tohlala/AFP
How much good news can there be in one day?
On the same day that’s seen Thailand cure Ebola comes word that 15 years of intractable conflict in the south of Thailand will end within 15 months.
How’s that remotely possible, one might ask? Nucharee Rakrun and Abdulloh Benjakat write in the Bangkok Post the vow came from Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha on the occasion of his retirement from the armed forces.
“Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has vowed to end southern violence within one year, before Thailand enters the Asean Economic Community (AEC) to be created at the end of 2015.
(…)
He sought cooperation from all branches of the media, saying they should not use the term “movement” to describe those who carry out violent attacks in the far South. He said only a minority of individuals are involved.
Furthermore Prayuth said the government would engage in negotiations to broker peace, and that attempts to “kick-start the negotiations again” were “going well.”
