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Malaysia's Anwar Calls on Kuala Lumpur to Support Peace Efforts in
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Thai South
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1622DFD:A6F02AD83191E1603965501CC4C92D039574F7DCC14957C0 Malaysian Prime
Minister Abdullah Badawi is preparing to visit the Thai capital to
discuss cooperation on the issue





Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gestures as he
addresses at Foreign Correspondent Club in Bangkok, Thailand 06 Feb
2007Malaysia's former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, has called
on the Malaysian government for stronger efforts to help end militant
violence in neighboring Thailand.  Ron Corben reports for VOA from
Bangkok that Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is preparing to
visit the Thai capital to discuss cooperation on the issue.

Anwar Ibrahim says there is a need for predominately Muslim Malaysia
to become more active in seeking an end to Muslim-instigated violence
in Thailand's south.

"The need to impress on the Malaysian authorities - the Malaysian
government - the prime minister in particular - Abdullah Badawi - to
be more forceful in calling for all sections of the Muslims in the
[Thai] south, to give peace a chance, to support this peace process,"
Anwar said. 

As Anwar voiced his appeal Tuesday, Prime Minister Abdullah was
preparing to leave for Bangkok.  He and Thailand's military-installed
prime minister, Surayud Chulanont, are due to discuss ways to end the
violence in the region, which borders Malaysia.

Bangkok has previously accused Malaysia of giving refuge to militants
from Thailand's three largely Muslim border provinces.  Violence
there, which has claimed the lives of almost two-thousand people since
2004, is thought to be primarily the work of Muslim separatists.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a
military coup last September, was accused of making the situation
worse in the south through human-rights abuses and policy failures.

Mr. Surayud was named interim prime minister in Mr. Thaksin's place,
and he quickly apologized to Thailand's Muslims for abuses under Mr.
Thaksin.  He has visited the region several times to check on security
and welfare operations there, and returned from his most recent visit
on Sunday.

Anwar said the apology was only a first step towards peace.

"I commend General Surayud's initial statement, but that is just one
statement," Anwar said. "You have to follow up, to take measures which
would include Buddhist monks, civilian leaders and politicians as a
national effort - but be more serious."

Mr. Surayud has also appointed a new national police chief, Seriphisut
Themiyawej, who says ending the violence in the South will be one of
his top priorities.   

But Thai military intelligence reports, seen by VOA, indicate a recent
escalation in the bloodshed.  The reports note 186 separate attacks in
December, leading to the death or injury of 170 people. 


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