The US Agency for International Development (USAid) yesterday announced a five-year programme for Thailand worth $30 million (Bt9.74 billion) that will help promote conflict resolution and reconciliation in the country, including the restive South where more than 4,000 people have died from insurgency-related incidents since January 2004.
Of the $30 million, about $15.5 million will be spent on grants for civic groups working to promote reconciliation efforts or looking to strengthen their capacity in providing the checks and balances for political process and public policy.
However, the programme will not support political parties or political factions, US ambassador to Thailand, Eric G John, was quoted as saying.
Besides civic groups, the programme also aims to work closely with independent agencies, such as the Election Commission, National Human Rights Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, to strengthen their ability to carry out constitutionally mandated duties.
The programme will be implemented in partnership with Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) - a US-based firm specialising in development and governance.
Meanwhile, American officials said they are aware of the government's concerns that the programme could come across as a form of interference in Thailand's domestic affairs.
However, USAid's regional mission director, Olivier Carduner, said the Thai government would be consulted regularly as it has been over the past two years while the programme was being conceived.
USAid's senior governance and vulnerable population officer, Michael Bak, said the programme was looking to reach out to a wide range of stakeholders, ranging from community leaders and student groups to clerics and religious leaders.
As for the sticky issue of reconciliation, the programme is seeking to strengthen grassroots initiatives that address the cause and consequences of the conflict and aims to build trust within communities and between citizens and the state.
USAid said their support for conflict management and reconciliation in the deep South addresses long-standing concerns within the local community and improves their ability to participate in the Thai political system, its institutions of governance and judiciary.
According to community leaders and government officials, there is a huge trust gap between the Malay-speaking community in the deep South and the Thai state.
