BANGKOK: Thailand's government should change its tack and pursue dialogue with ethnic Malay rebels to find a political solution and end a deadly conflict in its Muslim south, a report said yesterday.

Almost six years since a separatist rebellion re-emerged in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces, the government has made no progress in tackling the insurgency and needs to urgently shift its approach, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said.

More than 3,700 people have been killed in the violence, according to independent monitors Deep South Watch.

"There are plenty of ideas about political solutions compatible with a Thai unitary state that should be more openly discussed," said Jim Della-Giacoma, ICG's Southeast Asia project director.

"If the government is serious about curbing the insurgency, it has to change course. This new direction could include dialogue."

The report said attempts to solve the problem with economic stimulus measures were futile and the government's $1.63 billion budget for development projects over three years could be counter-productive, creating scope for rampant corruption and eroding the state's legitimacy.

Analysts say the conflict is largely ethno-nationalist and despite frequent rumors of outside involvement, there is no evidence suggesting it is part of a wider jihadi movement.

Successive governments have insisted they will not enter into dialogue with the insurgents.

The release of the report coincides with a planned visit to Narathiwat by Abhisit and Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak, who is an advocate of decentralization for the region.

Reuters

(China Daily 12/09/2009 page11)