There is a striking similarity in this story to the peace talks between jihadists and the government of the Philippines, which recently fell apart and returned directly to calls for jihad. One cannot help but wonder, when aware of Islamic history and teachings regarding truces (hudna), whether this will truly lead to a lasting peace, or just buy time.
"Thailand: Govt and Muslims agree to end southern conflict," from AdnKronos International, September 22:
Bogr, West Java, 22 Sept. (AKI/Jakarta Post) - Indonesia-mediated peace talks between the Thai government and representatives of the Muslim community in southern Thailand concluded on Sunday with a commitment to ending years of conflict that have claimed 2,700 lives.
The two sides pledged to resume negotiations in November at the same location in Bogor, West Java, to find ways to meet the Muslim group's demands for justice, economic development and use of the Malay language in Thailand's three southernmost provinces - Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala - while maintaining Thailand's territorial integrity.
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said the second round of negotiations would take place on Nov.1 and 2, and the third round in mid-November.
"Both sides have agreed that the settlement should be conducted peacefully through dialogue forums, and should be in line with the Constitution of Thailand," Dino said at the State Palace.
The Thai government sent five negotiators, headed by Gen. Khwanchart Klahan, the supreme commander of the Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command (SBPPC), which oversees the country's southern provinces.
The country's southern Muslims were represented by leaders of the Pattani Malay Consultative Congress (PMCC), an umbrella organization of insurgent groups in southern Thailand.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla acted as the mediator during the closed meetings. University of Indonesia political expert Fachry Ali and Paramadina University political expert Anies Baswedan were also in attendance at the talks.
Other notables included the Vice President's political advisers, Johermansyah Johan and Farid Hussein, and Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand M. Hatta.
"We made substantial progress during the negotiations, with both sides expressing commitment to ending the conflicts," Fachry told The Jakarta Post after the talks, held at the Bogor Presidential Palace.
Anies described the talks as a solid basis for the next negotiations, with representatives from both sides appreciating and willing to listen to each other.
"This is just the first encounter, so they have to adjust and feel comfortable. However, many of the lingering issues have been tabled," he said.
Demands by Thai Muslims include the introduction of Islamic law and making ethnic Pattani Malay (Yawi) a working language in the region, as well as the improvement of the local economy and education system. [...]
Anies stressed that the PMCC adequately represented Thai Muslims because it included representatives from most insurgent groups....
These muslim spokespeople can't call off jihad.
this is one reason why:
Demands by Thai Muslims include the introduction of Islamic law...
If this is refused the muslims will be forced to break the truce. Who can blame them, they made a reasonable request and it is turned down.
It's not too complicated. Allah wants the whole ball of wax, and his submitters can't rest till they get it for him. Q 8:39 for example.
It's very obvious that opposition to Islam has not stopped, and all are not worshipping Allah in the world, so the jihad has no choice but to continue.
prediction: violence resumes in less than a week.
Negotiating with Muslims and Muslim terrorists is like negotiating with shifting sand. Thais may give away everything these terrorists want, but they won't have peace in southern Thailand. I guarantee that new demands will crop up soon after the currents ones are agreed upon. There is never an end to Muslim demands until their "leaders" are completely neutralized and border with Islamic Malaysia is sealed with an Israel type concrete barrier.
Notice that Muslim Indonesia was 'mediating' the talks (just as Muslim-dominated Malaysia 'mediated' the talks between the Catholic-majority Philippines, and the jihadists in the southern Philippines).
Muslims always side with Muslims against the kafir. How fair or even-handed or trustworthy do you think the Thais will find the Indonesians, in this dispute between Muslim residents of Thailand, and an Infidel Thai polity?
If you were a Thai negotiator - but knew what all the regulars at jihadwatch have learned about hudna, and the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, and 'war is deception', and lying to protect Islam, and the ban on lasting or genuine friendship or alliance with non-Muslims - would you trust the Indonesians?
For the benefit of new visitors, but especially of any English-speaking Thai person who may just possibly chance upon this discussion, or anyone who may have Thai friends and relatives and would like to share with them some sobering information, I will post Mr Hugh Fitzgerald's lapidary summary of the dismal prospects of any 'peace process' between non-Muslim polities and a Muslim state or (in this case) non-state entity.
It was originally written re. the Israel situation, but I have made a few trifling alterations to apply it to Thailand.
"Neither Thailand itself, nor many in the outside world, seem willing to comprehend that there is no solution to the Jihad.
"There is only the matter of remaining overwhelmingly -- and perceptibly -- more powerful, capable of wreaking great damage on those who would attack.
"No treaty with Infidel states, and Thailand is such a state, can conceivably be permanently honored by a Muslim signatory.
" Pacta sunt servanda [Agreements Must Be Kept] is a Western idea.
" In the Muslim world, treaties – if made with Infidels - are not to be obeyed, but to be violated, as soon as the Muslim side feels itself strong enough to press its advantage.
"The model for all time -- see Majid Khadduri, 'War and Peace in the Law of Islam' -- is Muhammad's Treaty with the Meccans in 628 A.D, the Treaty of Hudaybiyya."
- Hugh Fitzgerald, writing on Robert Spencer’s jihadwatch website, 15.8.2006.
More on the notorious Treaty of Hudaybiyya may be found in Mr Spencer's 'The Truth About Muhammad', pp. 137-139.
Mr Spencer's "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades" contains, on pages 79-81, a brief, lucid and factual discussion of the tactical use of deception by Muslims.
The sticking power of this agreement depends on what attitude prevails on the Malaysian side of Thailand's southern border. For a long time, both Thailand and Malaysia were quite solicitous over the status of the handful of Buddhist Southern Thai in the northern tier of Malaysian states and the much larger ethnic Malay Muslim minority in southern Thailand. However, inflamed Islamicist sentiment in the northern tier of Peninsular Malaysia could well doom these negotiations before they begin.
It should also be noted that Malaysian states such as Kedah and Kelatan were tributary to Thai rulers (first Ayyuthaya, later Chakkri) before agreeing to British protection during the 19th century.