A split in Pulo leadership?

The recent appointment of Mr Kasturi Mahkota as the new president of Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) has now been challenged by the Pulo’s council of senior leaders.

          The council of Pulo senior leaders which was also known in its abbreviated name as DSPP (Dewan Syura Pimpinan PULO) has announced that Mr Kasturi’s appointment which was made in Pulo’s website on October 27 was not recognized by the council and it was a fake.

          The Pulo statement claimed that Mr Kasturi’s appointment was endorsed by the majority of the central committee.

          DSPP was established on October 8 and was headed by Mr Nur Abdurrahman, the president and Mr Lukman bin Lima, the deputy president.  Mr Nur took over as Pulo president after Mr Tunkubeeror Kortorneelor, the founder of the separatist movement, died of old age in Damascus, Syria, three years ago.

          In its statement, DSPP said it was an interim organization set up with an aim to bring together under one administration the various separatist groups which agreed to merge.

          It was pointed out that DSPP used the same Pulo symbol in its documents which was also used by Mr Kasturi but there was no mention of the Pulo’s website.

          Thai security in the Deep South played down Mr Kasturi’s appointment from the beginning by pointing out the mysterious disappearance of the other president, Mr Nur.  Thai security authorities also doubted that Pulo has any real influence over the RKK Coordinated insurgents responsible for most of the violent incidents in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

          However, the DSSP’s announcement challenging Mr Kasturi’s presidency indicated that there is a split in the Pulo’s leadership.