DEC 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is urging Thai Muslims in the lower South to cooperate with the government to end the violence that has claimed almost 4,000 lives in the past six years.
''The message is clear — the people of southern Thailand must be loyal to Thailand, must be loyal to the Thai constitution and must be loyal to the King of Thailand,'' Najib said yesterday after holding talks with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The meeting was held on the eve of their visit to Narathiwat to show Malaysian support for the Thai policy to end violence in the restive region.
The Thai and Malaysian prime ministers will travel to Narathiwat where their activities will include presiding over the official change in the name of the Second Bridge over the Kolok River to the Friendship Bridge.
The bridge links Narathiwat's Waeng district to Kelantan.
The Malaysian prime minister said the southern unrest was a chronic problem facing Thailand and he supported the Thai measures to tackle it.
''We understand it is going to be a lengthy process, but the Thai government under Prime Minister Abhisit has got specific plans to move forward in a positive and constructive manner, and it is incumbent on the people of southern Thailand to respond,'' Najib said.
The Malaysian premier confirmed his country would continue its cooperation with Thailand on economic and security issues, particularly efforts to deal with the matter of people holding dual nationality.
''Malaysia stands ready to be your partner but a partner who will respect that this is essentially a domestic problem for Thailand,'' he said.
Abhisit said Najib saw the southern unrest as a Thai problem. However, Malaysia was willing to help in providing information and intelligence.
He rejected the idea of his government holding talks with insurgent leaders in a bid to restore peace to the region.
An International Crisis Group report released yesterday suggests the government should hold talks with militant representatives to curb the insurgency.
Abhisit said the government was going in the right direction by carrying out policies to support the needs of local residents.
''We are saying that the voices we must listen to are the voices of the people, and if we respond to their needs, that's the way to make sure there is a lasting solution,'' he said.
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