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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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Former Thai PM urges government to apologise BANGKOK, Oct 1 (AFP) A former Thai prime minister has urged the government to apologise for its role in the unrest that has flared in the Muslim south of the country as a way of resolving it, a report said on Saturday. The comments came as the Thai army's new chief was quoted as saying that the army would try a divide-and-rule strategy to win an "ideological battle" to end the violence. Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun, also a former Thai ambassador to the United Nations, now heads a body set up by the government to suggest ways to end the violence, which has claimed more than 960 lives since January 2004. "There has never been any expression of regret," the Nation newspaper quoted the head of the 30-member National Reconciliation Commission as saying at seminar in the southern city of Hat Yai. "The word 'sorry' is something people in the region would like to hear most." Analysts have recommended the prosecution of military officials over a siege at a mosque and the deaths of at least 85 protesters while in custody last year. They have also urged independent investigations into alleged disappearances in the south including that of Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, missing since March 2004. "There has to be an understanding as to what has happened, what brought about this problem, and how this has affected us," Anand reportedly said. "If we could achieve such an understanding, I am certain tension would lessen." General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who last month was appointed the first Muslim head of the mainly Buddhist country's army, meanwhile said his strategy involved befriending local villagers and trying to weaken insurgents' support. |
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