No pressuring Thai junta on democracy
Malaysiakini.com
Nov 28, 2006

Malaysia will not pressure Thailand to return to democracy, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar reportedly said as junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin made a visit to Malaysia today.

Syed Hamid also told parliament that Malaysia did not support the Muslim insurgency raging in southern Thailand, despite close ethnic and religious ties between the people of the region and Muslim Malays.

Sonthi is due to hold talks with Malaysia's defence forces chief Anwar Mohamad Nor on the separatist movement that has left more than 1,600 dead and strained relations between the neighbours.

The New Straits Times quoted Syed Hamid as telling parliament that there were clear signs the new military-appointed government in Thailand was working to build strong relations with the public, particularly with Thais in the south.

"We encourage such dialogues with the public and support the government's efforts to reassure those in southern Thailand," the foreign minister said.

"It cannot be denied that due to ethnic and religious similarities, there will be close relations among those at the Malaysian-Thai border. Our government, however, has already made its stand," he said.

"We will not support the separatists who want their own province independent of the rest of Thailand."

Restrore democracy

Syed Hamid said the new Thai government had reassured the international community that it was only a temporary administration and that power would be returned to the people.

"It is our hope that Thailand will be restored as a democratic country, but we will not pressure the present government to do so," he said according to the daily.

The trip is the second overseas visit by Sonthi in two weeks. Last week he travelled to Pakistan to meet with President Pervez Musharraf, who himself seized power in a coup in 1999.

Malaysia was one of the first overseas trips made by military-appointed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont after he took office last month.
    
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