Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu (Photo: Malay Mail)KualaLumpur (VNA) – Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu on November20 arrived in Thailand on a two-day visit in an attempt to address crisis insouthern Thailand.
Thedefence minister said the two countries are looking for the best way to settle theconflict in southern Thailand and the issue is among the topics for discussionsin the talks with his Thai counterpart, General Prawit Wongsuwon, and the meetingwith Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Whathappens in southern Thailand affects both nations, so the two sides must findthe best solution to the issue through negotiations, defence diplomacy andvarious other means, he said.
Malaysiais the intermediary for the ongoing peace talksbetween the Thai government and Mara Patani which acts for separatistgroups in the South. Residents in southern Thailand have family ties withMalaysians, especially those living in the border states of Perlis, Kedah andKelantan.
Since 2004, armed conflict in the four provinces in southernThailand has claimed more than 7,000 lives, according to Deep South Watch (DSW)which monitors it.
In addition to the southern Thai conflict, Sabu and Prawit discussed efforts to further boost the bilateral defence ties.
Earlier, shortly after arriving in Bangkok, Sabu visited thecountry’s Counter Terrorist Operations Centre (CTOC) belonging to the RoyalThai Army. The Malaysian Armed Forces had close relations with their Thai counterpartsas well as the armed forces of ASEAN countries in the effort to counterterrorism and cyber-warfare. –VNA
VNA
