By Suchada Tupchai
The situation in the South has seen little respite over
the past weeks. Most recently two Thai marines were viciously attacked.
Second Lt Vinai Nardbutr and Petty Officer 1st Class Khumtorn Tong-iad were
held hostage by Tanyonglimo residents in Narathiwat and brutally killed by
a group of people. The affair has deeply saddened Thai people throughout
the country. There appears to be no end to the increasing violence there.
One thing is clear and that is people of all religious
persuasions in the South, and the government itself, see the need to
negotiate a truce and put an end to the violence. The foreign media is now
carrying extensive reports on the violence and the length of time it is
taking to quell the unrest. Indeed, residents and government officers in
the South believe that the current situation will only provide an
opportunity for those pulling the strings from the shadows to push deeper
underground.
Its time to review our thoughts on the entire picture
and, as a nation, search not only for the base reasons behind the events
but look for better ways on how to avoid further bloodshed from such
violence.
The loss of the two Thai marines is a signal that the
government’s respective departments must now make an earnest effort in
resolving the conflict in a compassionate, peaceful and legal manner.
Negotiations must be undertaken face to face with community leaders and
residents and those who have broken the law must be brought to justice, in
a way that itself is transparent and just.
It is not just the peace that is being lost. It is not only the lives of
police and military officers, that are being lost, but most unfortunately
also the lives of innocent people caught in the crossfire.
