In Thailand: Southern residents present their views on road map to peace The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center will entrust provincial Islamic committees in the southern border provinces with holding public discussions in their respective areas on peace dialogues. The decision came after the center had successfully organized several brainstorming sessions on the issue before the third round of dialogues between the National Security Council and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Coordinate, or BRN, scheduled for 13 June 2013. The Secretary-General of the Office of the National Security Council, Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabut, said that he had attended the brainstorming sessions to listen to recommendations made by many groups of people. Results of the sessions have been compiled to prepare a roadmap to peace. He said that the organizing of public forums would continue to open up opportunities for residents in the deep South to express their views and offer recommendations on the peace process. The peace roadmap will continue to accept more input and public participation. The provincial Islamic committees will be asked to send results of each public discussion to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center, which will work with Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus, Yala Rajabhat University, Princess of Naradhiwas University, and Yala Islamic University. Suggestions and recommendations gathered from the public discussions will be used to prepare the roadmap for a new round of peace dialogues with BRN and also for talks with other groups holding different views and ideologies to that of the state. Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Pattani Provincial Islamic Committee, Ahama Haji Dearamae, commended the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center for its move to open public forums for discussions on peace dialogues. He said that religious leaders urged all sides to join forces in peace-building in the southern border provinces. The Secretary to the Pattani Provincial Islamic Committee also stated that local residents called for ensuring justice, educational development, and the better quality of life and that the Government has also responded to the demand. He encouraged local Muslims to do good, especially during the month of Ramadan, which is a holy period. If everyone adopts proper religious principles, peace will be restored, he said. Members of civil society organizations stated that local residents wanted to participate in the peace dialogues and offer suggestions on the solving of local problems to responsible officials. They are opposed to all forms of violence. They quoted a research study that stated that local residents wanted the Government to help solve the problem of unemployment among young people most, followed by drug abuse and trafficking. They also called for ensuring justice and safety and security in the deep South.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:59:20 +0000
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