Appears to be positive news. Pete
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BANGKOK, Thailand - The Thai army chief who staged last month's coup said Thursday that he has agreed to hold talks with rebel leaders in the restive south, an abrupt policy change from the administration of the ousted prime minister.
Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, who led the bloodless coup against Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept. 19, said that officials from certain rebel factions had contacted a top army commander and requested talks.
"I have agreed to the talks," Sondhi said. "I stress that these will be talks not negotiations."
Thaksin's government, which came under harsh criticism for its strong-arm approach to the violence, had repeatedly declined to hold any talks with Muslim insurgents. That decision put Thaksin at odds with Sondhi, a Muslim who had urged a peaceful approach to ending the violence.
The ousted prime minister, who was also accused of widespread corruption and abuse of power, was widely detested in Thailand's three Muslim-majority provinces, where violence erupted in January 2004. Many moderate Muslims said that the conflict could never be resolved as long as he remained in power.
The government's heavy-handed response bred discontent in the army that was one of the factors driving the military coup of Sept. 19.
"They see that only talks can end the violence," Sondhi said of the rebels. "If they are seeking cooperation with us, that kind of approach is OK with me."
To many Thais, the coup was seen as offering an opening to resolve the conflict, which has killed more than 1,700 people.
