Political will needed to end southern Thai conflict - PM
10 Feb 2023 09:16pm
Anwar answering questions from the press, with him is Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minist Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
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He said in the bilateral meeting with his Thai counterpart, Prayuth Chan o-cha, there were positive signs on the efforts being taken to help establish peace in the region.
"The Malaysian and Thai governments have done what is necessary to create lasting peace in Southern Thailand.
"They (Thai government) are willing to collaborate and resolve the conflict. They invited us as facilitators and opened discussions with us. It is a positive sign,” he told Malaysian reporters here today at the end of his two-day visit to Thailand.
Malaysia is a facilitator for the peace dialogue process in ending decades of conflict in Southern Thailand.
Former chief of defence force Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin was appointed as the new Malaysian chief facilitator for the peace dialogue process effective Jan 1, 2023.
To a question, Anwar said Thailand and Malaysia had agreed that the latter should play a role as a 'facilitator' in the peace talks.
"The important thing is that we must have political determination to resolve it (the conflict in the south)," he said.
However, Anwar also acknowledged that the peace talks will take time and that the issues cannot be resolved through one or two meetings only.
"There needs to be various discussions at the army, police and intelligence and non-governmental organisations levels.
"If we can expedite the negotiations, (it will) show our seriousness (in resolving the issues in Southern Thailand).
Discussions were held between the government and insurgent groups since 2013 but the talks came to a grinding halt when the army took control in Thailand a year later.
Talks resumed without the involvement of the main parties, including Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).
General Wanlop Rugsanoah is heading the panel for the peace dialogue in the Southernmost provinces in Thailand (PEDP) - BERNAMA
