Civil participation in southern peace talks urged

23 Sept 02:26 Key points summarised by AI

Political analysts and civil society members advocate for greater participation from academics and local communities in southern Thailand's peace process, expressing doubts about the new government-appointed team's effectiveness.
Critics argue that local involvement is crucial for creating a sense of belonging, achieving breakthroughs, and ensuring sustainable peace, emphasizing that past security-centric approaches have failed.
Experts stress that sustainable peace requires not only security but also regional development and power decentralization to empower local populations and address broader issues.
Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to facilitating the ongoing peace negotiations between the Thai government and southern insurgent groups, a role it has played since 2013.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Yesterday 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.