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| Southeast Asia |
| Thai PM says no autonomy for southern Muslims |
| 2007-02-24 |
| Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has ruled out giving autonomy to Muslim-dominated southern provinces wracked by a separatist insurgency, a news report said Saturday. Surayud said in an interview late Friday with Malaysia's national news agency, Bernama, that his government is trying to resolve grievances among southern Muslims through efforts such as reforming the justice system. Asked whether autonomy might be possible for the south, Surayud was quoted as saying: "No, not at the moment." The prime minister's comment on the issue of autonomy reflects Thailand's long-standing position, though his government has made more concessions than others in the past, such as calling for peace talks with rebels and the introduction of Islamic law in the three provinces. "I think what we are doing at the moment ... (is) to listen to their voices, place administrative power down to the district level and even at the provincial level. I think that creates a level ground for all Thais," Bernama quoted Surayud as saying. |
| Posted by:ryuge |