Thai PM lets Army chief continue focus on southern unrest

BANGKOK, Oct 4 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Wednesday said he would leave the task of quelling the southern unrest in the hands of Army commander-in-chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) who has been fullly in charge of this mission since the last government appointed him to the task.

Setting the resolution of southern violence among the first priorities for the interim government's agenda, the prime minister said major new policies in relation to the issue will be determined when the new cabinet
is formed. He said he did not want to say in advance about the next moves in tackling the problem.

However, Gen. Sonthi, as both Army and CNS chief, will carry on overseeing the task since it is a national security issue, said the prime minister.

When asked if he believed the unrest in the Muslim-majority South will ease during his administration, Gen. Surayud said he could not say, but he had received telephone calls from several "pooyai" (senior figures) showing willingness to offer cooperation and contribution in solving the problem.

This indicated that cordial cooperation from varied sides will be likely to take place, he said.

Responding to the possibility of holding peace talks with insurgent leaders, the prime minister said the move is yet to be outlined pending the policy to be determined. "It's premature to talk about the matter," Gen. Surayud said, adding that further consultation and discussion is needed as it is not a matter for him to deal with alone.

TNA

I think that this is a very good move. Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin is first and foremost Thai but is also Moslem

The Government may hold peace talks with the insurgent leaders. Maybe a good move considering nothing else has worked in the south