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Thai Muslim insurgents on Army TV5 announce surpise halt to southern violence

BANGKOK: — Groups conducting the four-year-old Muslim separatist insurgency in Thailand’s deep South have pledged to stop the violence in the region from noon Thursday, according to a pre-recorded tape broadcast on Bangkok’s Army Channel 5 television station at noon Thursday.

The so-called Thailand United Southern Underground group announced on Thai national television that it would stop violence in Thai southern provinces and support peace.

Retired Army Gen. Chetta Thanajaro, leader of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana political party announced earlier that he will give a press conference at 2pm Thursday afternoon giving further details.

Gen. Chetta, a former defense minister, said the plan by insurgent groups to cease the violence which has occurred on an almost on a daily basis since January 2004 came after several rounds of “unofficial negotiations” aimed at ending the unrest, mainly in the three troubled southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

Whether the situation in the region would improve after a pledge by the insurgent groups must be seen in what actually happens, he said, adding that no conditions were given for the stop to the violence.

“There’s no political hidden agenda behind the plan,” Gen. Chetta said. “I will take the responsibility. This is considered a good sign and I’m confident the situation would improve compared to before.”

However, he said he would not guarantee that no bloodshed would erupt in future.

Over 3,500 persons have died in the ongoing violence since January 2004.

– MCOT/TNA 2008-07-17

Southern insurgents announce ceasefire

A group of southern insurgents who called themselves the underground movement for the southern border provinces announced ceasefire in the deep South Thursday.

The so-called All Underground Movement of the deep South went on Cahnnel 7 to make announcement.

Its spokesman spoke in the Malay dialect and another spokesman translated in Thai.

The group said the it saw that it was about time for the group to stop the insurgency as the group wanted to remain with Thailand instead of fighting for an independence.

– The Nation 2008-07-17

Chetta claims insurgents will end operations

Former defence minister Chetta Thanacharo said southern insurgents will stop their operations starting from noon Thursday in order to restore peace in the southern region.

He claimed he has engaged in a talk with their leaders, who vowed to stop their operations.

He said the statement was recorded on tape.

He also said he will hold a press conference on the matter again at 2pm.

– Bangkok Post 2008-07-17

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