Share your thoughts

Discussion 1 : 12/09/2012 at 06:36 PM

its a hard choice the goverment has to make with all insurgencies the goverment needs to seperate the hardline insurgents from the ones that can re habiltated which means reward for some and prison and worse for others if you punnish all the ones that give up then whats the incentive to give up they will keep on fighting two things need to occur for the goverment to eventually win 1) Turn the local population against the insurgents so they have no where to seek aid in the local populace 2) Give the right incentive for low level insurgents to give up its a difficult balance which time will tell as for comments on the inteligence from these people the hardline insurgents will be formed in the classic cell structure where they only know there imediate colleagues so if caught !!!!!

Discussion 2 : 12/09/2012 at 02:33 PM

This is a good news showing that - if the State can provide them amnesty, safety, political rights and better living conditions, as it happened already in the '80s with the communists insurgents – there’s a chance to reach a peaceful solution in the South. PM Yingluck will also chair an important meeting next week about the southern unrest and hopefully it will result in strategies for implementing inclusive and cooperative means. It’s time now to sit all together to reach a comprehensive solution through dialogue and peaceful methods, and the PM is the only person capable to let all the concerned parties share this goal.

Discussion 3 : 12/09/2012 at 01:29 PM

Fair justice is what everybody wants, and that is what they should get.....Disc 16 Spiceman ...well I can see that you also start to make up facts by yourself, the buddhist have always imposed their way on the south, else they would be speaking malay by now.

Discussion 4 : 12/09/2012 at 11:48 AM

WHAT????? Sound a bit fishy to me.

Discussion 5 : 12/09/2012 at 11:04 AM

They must first face the crimes they have committed before seeking for pardon !

Discussion 6 : 12/09/2012 at 10:43 AM

The intelligence from these 91 could be the end of the problems if the army plays their cards right.

Discussion 7 : 12/09/2012 at 10:18 AM

As the only long term solution is to have peace in the South this can be seen as good news and if it works out with the “first group” many more will likely follow, leaving at the end a small group of hard liners the Government should be able to deal with.

Discussion 8 : 12/09/2012 at 10:15 AM

A good place to start is to stop messing around with their Islamic way of lives by imposing our Buddhist way of life on them, which was the biggest mistake TS did, and the people of the Deep South are all paying for it until today!

Discussion 9 : 12/09/2012 at 10:08 AM

Sorry guys but you have to go in prison for a few yars ( maybe )some of them stole arm others probably cause the death of many people but now they just want to start a new life because their names where on the list and they had no chance to live their terrorist life in peace anymore .....so because you surrender we will forgive the years of terror and killing you did with your terrorist friends ....no way .Justice if any should not forgive the crime they did and for the memory of all the innocent Thai that died in that stupid war they should go to jail with NO BAIL......please respect the memory of those people who died for nothing and send them to jail

Discussion 10 : 12/09/2012 at 10:06 AM

Seems strange that they would give up when they are winning .

Discussion 11 : 12/09/2012 at 10:01 AM

Having been personally involved in the fight against Muslim terrorism in SouthEast Asia, Middle East and Africa, a word of warning. Do not trust these people! This tactic has been used many times in other parts of the world and 100% of the time the insurgents return to their ways. This is usally done after they have infiltrated the community and gained the trust of people, where they can commit an act of violence that kills even more innocent people.

Discussion 12 : 12/09/2012 at 09:50 AM

Terrorists have no love, ethics compassion or religion. Given an opportunity these men will switch side again for a better monetary deal.

Discussion 13 : 12/09/2012 at 09:41 AM

Tough situation for the government. If they let these guys off the hook, then other potential terrorists will think they can be terrorists as long as it is "fun", and when they get bored with it, they can just surrender and get a loan to start a new life without any punishment. If they throw these guys in jail, then other terrorists will know that there is no way out for them, so they might as well continue fighting no matter how poor the odds of winning are. Living in the forest is probably better than living in jail. If the government decides to be lenient with these guys, then I hope they at least trade this leniency with intelligence (info about all the other terrorists still hiding).

Discussion 14 : 12/09/2012 at 09:33 AM

A good sign quite similar to Acheh insurgents. There the insurgents were delusion with years of fighting and not gaining any traction but the turning point was the wanton killings of their own Muslim people by the hard cores militants. The Indonesian government sized the opportunity and called for a general amnesty if the insurgents would lay down their guns. The government also promised them that they will be autonomous and be in the main stream politics. All this is now history and Acheh after decades of fighting is developing well. There are some positive lessons here and certainly allowing them to take part in main stream politics through election would be a step in the right direction.

Discussion 15 : 12/09/2012 at 09:12 AM

Perhaps I am too cynical, but a big "defection" just after the government offers a change in strategy, is exactly what the Army would wish for so they can show they are winning and devolution is not necessary.

Discussion 16 : 12/09/2012 at 09:06 AM

Some forms of Amnesty Law may encourage more to give up their armed struggle.

Discussion 17 : 12/09/2012 at 08:38 AM

This is both good and bad news. The good news is the evidence that some insurgents desire to stop. They must be found a way to do so. Fortunately we have the precedent of Gen Prem treatment of communist insurgents to show the way this could be done. The bad news is that if you are a security or military person involved in the south - it might lead you to conclude that we are winning and adopt 'more of the same tactics' and not nurture the civil and community involvement in providing a real solution - not least to deny sanctuary to terrorists who live (and apparently get hospital treatment) in their communities

Discussion 18 : 12/09/2012 at 07:51 AM

Don't know the details, but news like this is always good news, hopefully more will join later on.

Discussion 19 : 12/09/2012 at 07:19 AM

"...the 91 were moderate separatists. Hard-core members of the group remain at large." They eventually live a dangerous life now.

Discussion 20 : 12/09/2012 at 06:35 AM

This is a great opportunity for peace in the South. Hopefully the government will follow up and capitalize on this event and show to others that it wants peace as well.

Discussion 21 : 12/09/2012 at 06:30 AM

They defect or they surrender? Funny above all they want safety for themselves and their families after years of making bombs that killed and maimed people.

Discussion 22 : 12/09/2012 at 06:17 AM

If you treat these people with respect, and don't judge them to harshly, quite possibly more will follow. These people want peace, what does the government want?

Discussion 23 : 12/09/2012 at 05:06 AM

"The letter said they believed the group's goals were too ambitious and its strategies were not achieving results." This uis a good start and now must be followed up so that the Southern violence will (finally) go the way of the previous communist insurgency.