The peace process to end the conflict in southern Thailand is stalled due to the lack of commitment, sincerity and strong political will from the Thai government, said the Patani Consultative Council (Mara Patani).

Its spokesperson, Abu Hafez Al-Hakim has thus called on international leaders and community to help find a political solution to end violence in southern Thailand.

He said the military approach adopted by the government thus far had failed to curb violent incidents and confrontations; in fact, the animosity and retaliation from the liberation movements escalated.

“The ongoing peace process that promises hope for the people has often stalled due to the lack of commitment, sincerity and strong political will.

“It is only through international involvement and support, a true political outcome can be achieved for a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Pattani,” he said in an open letter.

The open letter is to eminent world leaders and organisations, including the prime ministers of Thailand and Malaysia, and secretaries-general of the United Nations, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Asean, Human Rights Commission, Geneva Call and Amnesty International.

Abu Hafez said the conflict in Patani was no longer a domestic issue of Thailand, but a regional one that needed international intervention.

“It is political in nature with historical root causes to be addressed. Hence, the approach for conflict resolution should be political, not by the use of force nor suppression.

“All draconian and unjust laws that affect the day-to-day lives of the people must be revoked immediately and unconditionally since now the elected government is in place. The people of Patani must be given the right to self-determination as guaranteed by the UN Charter,” he said.

To date, about 7,000 people had been killed in the conflict in four regions in southern Thailand - Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla - since it broke out in 2004.

On Feb 3, Mara Patani suspended the peace talks until the completion of the Thai general election on March 24, over the refusal of the Thai government negotiation panel chief, General Udomchai Thammasarorat to meet the negotiation panel of Mara Patani in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia had picked former Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Rahim Noor as its new facilitator to the peace process.

Meanwhile, in the open letter, Mara Patani also urged intervention from world leaders after a detainee, who is under the authority’s custody, suffered injuries during interrogation.

He said the 32-year-old man, who was nabbed by security personnel and taken to the Inkhayut Borihan Army Camp last Saturday for interrogation, was found unconscious in the bathroom of the interrogation centre, hours later on Sunday.

The man was rushed to Pattani Hospital and later found suffering acute cerebral oedema due to hypoxia, and his condition is critical.

“We are shocked and saddened by the latest incident in the deep south… We strongly condemn this inhumane act of cowardice, severe violation of human rights and gross negligence during the interrogation process.

“The world leaders must no longer stand passively watching these atrocities by the Thai military go unchecked and the perpetrators unpunished. This is to ensure similar unwanted tragedies could be avoided in future,” he said.

- Bernama