Pol. Col. Thawee Proposes Peace Decree for Southern Thailand
Pol. Col. Thawee Sorisong urges the government to issue a Peace Decree to establish permanent structures and engage locals in 22-year-old southern conflict talks.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Pol. Col. Thawee notes that Southern peace talks began openly in 2013, but personnel changes have been frequent.
- He proposes enacting a specific Peace Decree to build a permanent structure and empower local citizens.
- He urges addressing trust issues and hate-generating information operations as a main agenda item.
Pol. Col. Thawee Sorisong, leader of the Prachachat Party and advisor to the House Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights, has shared notable insights regarding the direction of the peace dialogue process in Thailand's deep south, a conflict that has persisted for 22 years. He suggested that it is high time for the state to seriously overhaul its structural approach.
Reviewing the dialogue process which officially began in 2013, Pol. Col. Thawee observed that while facilitators from Malaysia and the Thai negotiating team frequently change personnel, the opposing groups at the table remain the same, yet the situation on the ground fails to change.
This perspective highlights the limitations of informal or uninstitutionalized peace talks, which often rely heavily on specific individuals or administrations rather than established legal frameworks. Creating a formal legal mechanism aims to ensure continuity and prevent stagnation whenever political shifts occur.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Consequently, the Prachachat Party leader proposed that the government should consider enacting a dedicated Peace Decree, comparable to the Emergency Decree on Public Administration. This decree would establish a stable dialogue framework and create genuine spaces for public consultation, emphasizing that peace cannot be negotiated solely between armed factions without involving the local population as core stakeholders.
"When people holding guns talk to people holding guns, they cannot exclude the citizens. Everyone must be stakeholders; the public must be stakeholders."
Pol. Col. Thawee Sorisong
Another crucial issue raised is the deep distrust between the state and the public, particularly regarding information operations that fuel hatred, which have seen an alarming upward trend. Pol. Col. Thawee stressed that this matter must be elevated to a core agenda item at the peace negotiation table.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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