The Bangkok workshop, which explored devolution and democracy, was attended by policymakers, residents of the deep South and researchers.

It was organised by Mahidol University's Research Centre for Peace-Building and Sweden's International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Participants urged the government and the public to learn how to listen to the needs and aspirations of the Thai-Malay Muslims in the South, so that violence could be reduced in the restive region.

"Devolution will be useful for the area and reduce conflict," said Niraman Sulaiman, a native of Pattani province and a member of the newly created National Legislative Assembly committee considering the plight of Thai-Malay workers in Malaysia.

"The government must be sincere and yield to whatever it can. Right now, the government is still being Janus-faced [two-faced], and there's a stark contrast between what it says and how it acts."

Udom Patnawong, another Pattani native but a Buddhist and former district chief, said, "There are only a handful of bad people, but the government is not really listening to the locals, so the problem is growing."

Chulalongkorn University political scientist Chantana Banphasirichote said the crucial challenge for Thais was to overcome the narrowly defined notion of nationalism.

"Nationalism has no place in devolution. We must transcend nationalism," said Chantana.

Jost Link, a Bangkok-based development consultant and researcher of the southern issue, said while various parties' analyses of the current crisis, which has claimed nearly 2,000 lives, was well done, there was no willingness and sincerity to implement policies in effective ways.

"Thai society has to see the South as culture enrichment. We have to find a new definition of Thainess. Thainess can't just be Buddhist and speak central Thai. There should be room for accommodating all kinds of ethnic groups and cultures," said Jost.

Recent research cited by Vanchai Vatanasapt of the Office for Peace and Governance at King Prajadhipok's Institute insisted that people in the South wanted to participate in solving problems.

They also wished to see a devolution of power to local government and at least one Thai-Malay Muslim minister in the Cabinet.

Three conflicts similar to the southern crisis - in Indonesia's Aceh and West Papua provinces and the Philippines' Mindanao province - were also discussed at the workshop.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

 The Nation