March 20, 2008
Bangkok - Chulalongkorn University’s professor criticized the government has made little headway in easing the violence in southernmost provinces.
The government has failed to identify any wrongdoers for the southern unrest according to Srawut Aree, a professor of Muslim studies at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.
The death toll from the four-year insurgency has reached more than 3,000 so far.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will hold an emergency meeting with security officials on Friday to discuss the issue.
Surayud government invested all its efforts only to find the situation become worse despite an apology to Muslims for past abuses.
Samak on Tuesday vowed to put resolving the unrest atop his political agenda.
Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday confessed he had no idea how to solve the southern unrest. He will visit the south tomorrow, one day ahead of the Friday meeting on security.
A car bomb exploded outside the CS Pattani hotel which was considered a safe zone for visiting political and business leaders.
PM Samak already announced his government would not hold talks with the insurgents.
