Southerners Press Govt For Special Zone

[Flashermac]

Muslims in the deep South are urging the Pheu Thai-led government to fulfil its campaign promise to turn the three southernmost provinces into a special administrative zone.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit told parliament during the government's policy address on Wednesday that his party had never actually floated the idea of establishing the so-called Nakhon Pattani or Pattani Metropolitan model. He said the idea had been initiated by Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former chairman of the Pheu Thai Party, and Yingluck Shinawatra repeated it during her election campaign in the deep South. [Translation: the election is over, so fark off.]

 

Mr Yongyuth said the government's policy on decentralisation had been drafted broadly and it was necessary for all stakeholders to discuss the topic and determine what type of special administration should be applied in the deep South.

 

Anantachai Thaiprathan, former member of the now-dissolved National Reconciliation Commission, said Ms Yingluck must make it clear that turning the restive South into a special administrative zone is a priority for her government.

 

"Nearly 5,000 people have been killed in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala in since violence flared up in 2004," he said. "Isn't the number of people killed enough evidence to adjust administration in the deep South?"

 

Mr Anantachai is also a member of a people's network which has drafted a decentralisation bill for a new local administration model in the deep South.

 

He said the bill arose from discussions between a small circle of people and members of the network about the situation in the deep South and how they can contribute to efforts to resolve the conflict.

 

Mr Anantachai cited Section 163 of the constitution which states that the public has a right to propose their own bills to parliament if they have the backing of at least 10,000 supporters.

 

He said he also wanted the Yingluck government to study this draft law and support it, as he believed it would be an effective tool to help quell violence in the deep South and help empower locals.

 

Somboon Ahmad Bualuang, peace advocate and chairman of the Puyut Tambon Administration Organisation in Pattani, said Ms Yingluck must study models of special local administrative areas in the country, mainly the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Pattaya in Chon Buri, to see which was the most relevant to the deep South.

 

"State officials, especially those in security agencies, must change their perceptions that turning the deep South into a special administrative zone will lead to the separation of a new state," said Mr Somboon. "In fact, this will help solve the violence problem."

 

Nimu Makajae, former chairman of the Yala Provincial Islamic Committee, said besides the special administration body, he wanted the government to be open to negotiations with insurgent groups to help bring peace to the region.

 

Mr Nimu disagreed with the government's idea to restructure the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre initiated by the Democrat-led administration, saying it should remain in operation until it is proven that it is no longer needed.

 

 

Bangkok Post