Pattani - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont made an emotional plea to the residents of the Muslimmajority region and publicly apologized for the death of at least 85 people who had taken part in the Tak Bai demonstrators two years ago.

[See The Tak Bai and Kru Se's Report]

"I came here to apologize to you on behalf of the previous government and on behalf of this government. What had happened in the past was mostly the fault of the state," Surayudh told a packroom of about 1,000 local residents from all walks of life in this Muslim majority region who came to greet him.

"We must look for ways to work together. I came here today to extend my hand to you and to tell you that I was wrong. I came to apologize," said Surayudh who was greeted by a big round of applause for what was billed as a long over due apology.    

In his first visit to the Malay-speaking in his capacity as the prime minister, Surayud stressed the need for reconciliation and "to move forward as a nation."

He told the audience that he was one of the people who went against the hardline policy of the Thaksin government but failed to change the administration's mindset.

"I tried to counter their policy but I had failed," Surayudh said.

A well known cleric and rector of Yala Islamic College, Ismail Lutphi Japakiya, hailed the statement as "one of the most important key that will lead to the solving of the problem in the region."

"I hope the God that he will have the strength to follow through with his effort to reconcile the nation," Lutphi said.

Family members of the Tak Bai victims were said to have wept.

Tuan Bukharee Tokkubaha, a senior imam in Pattani's Muang district, said Surayud's statement "brought tear my eyes".

"It really moved me. I had goose bump all over," Bukharee said. "Today he has won so much hearts and minds of the Malay Muslims. I don't know what the future holds but this is definitely a good starting point," he added.

Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Pattani, Waeduramae Mahmingji, said the apology was "first step towards reconciliation."

A leading academic form Prince of Songkhla University in Pattani, Worawit Baru, said the apology was long over due but nevertheless, better late than never.

"I couldn't understand why it has taken so long for the political establishment to apologize for the atrocities even though the civil servants were indicating that it was acceptable. But I have to give this government credit for doing so," he said.

A Mor 5 student, Saadah Thalawi, 16, described Surayud as a "brave man for apologizing". "I thought he was very sincere," she added.

Abdulaziz Yanya, the leader of the traditional pondok association in the three southernmost provinces, said Suraudh's message was a complete reverse compared to the previous administration.

"The former prime minister (Thaksin Shinawatra) was just too harsh," Abdulaziz said.

Nidir Waba, a leading cleric who was recently appointed as an advisor to the Surayud, said he was also touched by Surayudh's emotional plea.

"Where can you find a man like this?" Nidir asked.

Of the 85 death, at least 78 Tak Bai demonstrators had died from suffocation after security officials stacked them one on top of another on the back of military trucks.

The tragedy drew a storm of criticism and condemnation from the international community, especially the Islamic world.

But the yesterday meeting was billed by the locals and officials here as a major breakthrough. Surayud delayed his departure and stayed on for three more hours to listen to complaints from the residents in what became a townhall meeting with the prime minister.

Many praised his message of reconciliation, while others pointed to more specific issues, such as unemployment, lack of proper health facility at the tambon level, as well as the need to strengthen the local economy and uplift the livelihood of the local residents.

Surayud, an exarmy commander who was appointed the interim prime minister on October 1 following a coup, urged the local community to give the reestablished Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) and help him purge corrupted officials.      He also reached out students and the younger generation, telling them to seize the day and make the most out of their lives.

"Forty years ago when I was your age, I, too, makes mistake. But you have your whole life ahead of you," he said.

In reaching out the religious community, Surayud vowed to strengthen the institution of Islamic court, known as Sharia, and promised to work with the cleric in building more competent Islamic judges.

by Don Pathan

The Nation