The National Thai Studies Centre is hosting another seminar on Thailand:

Untying the Gordian Knot? The Difficulties in Solving Southern Violence

Dr Chaiwat Satha-Anand
Venue: Sparke Helmore Law Theatre 1
Date: Monday 13 August, 2007 12:30-2.00

The Muslim-majority provinces of Southern Thailand are currently embroiled in one of Southeast Asia’s most violent conflicts. Incorporated into Thailand early last century, the area has been the centre of prolonged resistance for many years, and after two relatively peaceful decades, conflict has resumed. Over 2000 lives have been lost in the last three years, and violence has continued to escalate.

Dr Chaiwat from the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University is the Director of the Peace Information Center, Foundation for Democracy and Development Studies, and Senior Research Scholar with the Thailand Research Fund. A highly regarded expert in the areas of peace studies and nonviolent conflict resolution, he has published widely on such issues, and Islam in Thailand’s south. He was the principle writer for the June 2006 report by the independent National Reconciliation Commission, recommending policies to help overcome violence in the south.