Yala, Thailand News

THE assertions may have been unsubstantiated, at least publicly, but foreign intelligence officers and diplomats in Bangkok during the 1980s held some common views on the separatist insurgency that had flared again then in southern Thailand.

The three people killed had volunteered to provide security for the official as he travelled in a pickup truck, he said.

Bangkok, Dec 17 Twin blasts set off by remote control and shooting by alleged rebels left at least four dead and 19 wounded in south Thailand, said the police.

It comes as no surprise that General Chavalit Yong-chaiyudh's proposal for a Nakhon Pattani - a model for a local administrative body to govern the three Muslim-predominant southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat - has been given the cold shoulder by the Democrat-led government.

NARATHIWAT : Traders are pinning their hopes that a visit to their province tomorrow by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will bolster business confidence in the violence-plagued South.

Malaysia is willing to send financial and banking experts to help Thailand set up an Islamic bank in the three provinces in the restive south for the benefit of the Muslim residents.

Bangkok/Brussels, 8 December 2009: If the Thai government is serious about curbing the deadly southern insurgency, it needs to pursue political solutions, including lifting draconian laws, exploring new governance arrangements and engaging in dialogues with Malay Muslim militants.

NARATHIWAT: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is on a historic visit to this restive southern Thai region, said there was hope yet for the people here to enjoy peace following measures taken by the Thai government to enforce law and order.

NARATHIWAT, Thailand: Five bombs wounded 14 security forces in Thailand's restive Muslim south on Wednesday as the Thai and Malaysian prime ministers visited the region in a bid to end the violence.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Narathiwat, southern Thailand today proved Malaysia's strong commitment to helping to resolve the conflict in the southern provinces.

Former Thai prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh recently ignited a furor when he proposed that the separatist campaign in his country s Muslim-majority southern provinces might be solved politically, with a form of self-rule. Thailand s ruling Democrat Party immediately called Chavalit s remarks traitorous.

By D. Arul Rajoo BANGKOK, Dec 7 -- Thailand is unable to hold direct talks with any separatist group fighting for independence in the three southern provinces because no one has come forward so far, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday.

The concept of making the restive lower South a special administration zone needs involvement of grassroots people.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will pen a new chapter in his country's relationship with Thailand during an upcoming visit.

By D.Arul Rajoo BANGKOK, Dec 3 -- Four years after hitting the lowest point in their otherwise excellent bilateral ties, Malaysia and Thailand are on the brink of an historic milestone as their top leaders meet in the kingdom on Tuesday.

" Thailand's former prime minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, recently ignited a furor when he proposed that the separatist campaign in his country's Muslim-majority southern provinces might be solved politically, with a form of self-rule. Thailand's ruling Democrat Party immediately called Chavalit's remarks "traitorous." But recent developments ...

HAT YAI : Former members of the Communist Party of Malaya have made an emotional appeal to Kuala Lumpur to allow their ageing leader Chin Peng and other members to return home.

With many provinces in the South getting hit with torrential rains, temperatures in the North are dipping very low that places like Chiang Mai's Doi Inthanon national park was covered in frost for the first time this year.

Flooding has halted the Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur train services as heavy rainfall continued in several southern provinces.

Since violence resurfaced in the deep South provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla six years ago, many state officials have asked for transfers to other provinces, causing severe staff shortages.