As I noted Tuesday, the acting prime minister installed by the Thai military coup is a Muslim—and this report confirms that it’s a relevant point, mostly ignored by Western media: Thailand’s Muslim coup leader could soothe Islamic unrest. (Hat tip: Hulugu.)

Yala, Thailand (ANTARA News) - Thailand’s southern Muslims, who widely despised ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, say they hope the Muslim general who overthrew him will follow through on his offer to hold peace talks with Islamic separatists.

“I hope that (General Sonthi Boonyaratglin) will be able to solve the problem in the south as he himself is Muslim and can reach out to villagers,” said Kordiya Mapae, 45, a Muslim worker in Yala province.

The three Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia have been plagued by separatist violence and other unrest since January 2004, and Thaksin’s decision to impose emergency rule there in 2005 was widely criticized.

“Thaksin was pretty much loathed among many in the south, as was evident in the dismal showing of his allies at the last general elections,” said Joseph Liow, an assistant professor at Singapore’s Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.

Sonthi, the first Muslim to head the Thai army, was previously tasked with resolving the bloody conflict that has claimed over 1,400 lives, and there is optimism that his conciliatory approach may now produce results.

“Sonthi has himself intimated that dialogue with the insurgents is necessary,” said Liow. “This was not a view that Thaksin and others in his security establishment shared.”