Challenges and Moving Forward of Conceptual Strike under Non-Violence Guidelines

 03 พ.ย. 2564 17:01 น. | อ่าน 2352
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Google+

On September 20th, 1963, the President John F. Kennedy, gave a speech in General Assembly of United Nations held at New York City, U.S.A., as follows:
“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowing eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.”1 – John F. Kennedy

This is the fact that we have to accept that “Permanent Peace Building Process” in this world, especially in the areas with long-term conflicts on thinking and belief, must be gradually and continuously performed with strong determination.

Peace Dialogue Process in Southern Border Provinces2

Similarly, Peace Dialogue Process in Southern Border Provinces also requires a period of time to change thinking, belief, and seek for balance between different belief and thinking in order to gain sustainable peace. Importantly, “Peace Dialogue Process in Southern Border Provinces” is considered as an important tool to solve the long-term problem on insurgency of southern border provinces.

The beginning of “Peace Dialogue Process in Southern Border Provinces” or “First Buttoning” was occurred in 2014 started from consulting with supreme agencies that are responsible for security policy of Thailand, i.e., Office of the National Security Council of Thailand and Malaysia. The obtained conclusion was that Office of the National Security Council of both countries would be used as the major communication channels.


1https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkunitednations1963.htm

2Sitthi Trakulwong, Major General, Peace Dialogue Process in Southern Border Provinces, Secretary Team of Peace Dialogue Process Working Group of Southern Border Provinces (Former Working Group), 2019.

Fom “First Buttoning” in 2014, insurgency movement, including BRN, PULO – P4, BIPP, PULO – DSPP, and GMIP, agreed to participate in Peace Dialogue Process in 2015.

From such Peace Dialogue Process, it represented that “attitude and standpoint” of each party were consistent, i.e.

Dissenters, i.e., Uztas Sukri Haree, said that “Pattani people and Malay people agree with peace building if Thai government is ready to negotiate with them.” Moreover, General Aksara Kerdpol concluded that “From previous lessons, we perceived that violence was unable to solve problems besides causing more violence.”

From consistent attitude and standpoint, it leads to safety zoning during Ramadan in 2015 helping to highly reduce statistics on insurgency and loss during such period significantly compared to the past 10 years.

Statistic on Insurgency in Southern Border Provinces During 2004 – 2018

Significant factor that will make people with different thinking to discuss for making peace building fall into place is “trust building”.

However, trust building requires a period of time and it cannot be built by using any document, speech, or discourse. On the other hand, trust must be built based on patience and open mind towards opinions and limitations of each party. Importantly, promises must be kept and actions must be performed. Therefore, to build trust, both parties mutually established TOR or Rules on Dialogue. Both parties mutually established the “Technical Working Group” to outline Rules on Dialogue. Finally, TOR that could be accepted by both parties was drafted leading to building of trust on each other.

After occurrence of TOR, the following action was discussion on “Safe Zone” that would make local people safe. Simultaneously, it would be safe for dissenters who participated in this discussion as well. The discussion also covered the use of development along with fairness on legal enforcement against all parties equally. In January 2018, both parties approved establishment of 5 safe zones including Sri Sakorn District in Narathiwat Province, Cho-airong District in Narathiwat Province, Raman District in Yala Province, and Sai Buri District in Pattani Province. Chao-airong District in Narathiwat Province was established as the pioneer safe zone. However, there was a political change in Malaysia making such agreement on safe zone suspended.

Unavoidable Challenges

The previous discussion could reduce insurgency and loss in local areas clearly and it could prove that conflict occurred in everywhere of the world could be ended by talking. However, this process requires a period of time to face with various challenges and anxiety, for example, making all directly and indirectly related persons think that Peace Dialogue Process is only a ceremony, discussion will lead to separatism, discussion will lead to status upgrading of dissenters, and many other dimensions of anxiety that will hinder Peace Dialogue Process.

Still Keep Walking under Challenges

Whatever obstacles and challenges they have to face, new working group led by General Wallop Raksanoh, the Head of Peace Dialogue Process Working Group for Peace of Southern Border Provinces, still strive to continue advancement of Peace Dialogue Process performed by the former working group by visiting southern border provinces during COVID-19 pandemic in order to meet and exchange opinions with various groups, for example, religious leader group, Representative Group of Intellectual Network Council of Southern Border Provinces, Student Association of Muslim Students in Overseas, Representative Group of Buddhist Network in Southern Border Provinces, and business man group. In addition, the working group also works with the working group on peace and local coordination group (SorLor.3) before evaluating all data obtained from all groups for the next discussion when COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand and Malaysia is better.

Comment
SOUTHDEEPOUTLOOK.com - Thailand South Deep News

An Internal Error Has Occurred.

Error: An Internal Error Has Occurred.