Peace Agreement of Hat Yai (1989)

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Peace Agreement of Hat Yai 1989
Agreement Between the Government of Malaysia and the Communist Party of Malaya to Terminate Hostilities
Signed2 December 1989
LocationHat Yai, Thailand
Signatories
Parties Malaysia  Thailand
Malayan Communist Party

The Peace Agreement of Hat Yai 1989 is a peace agreement which marks the end of the Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–89) on 2 December 1989. It was signed between the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) and both Malaysia and Thailand government at Lee Gardens Hotel in Hat Yai, Thailand.

Background

When the collapse of the Communism in Eastern Europe and the Berlin Wall falls, the MCP realised that they no longer had a place to seek sanctuary, and even in Peninsula Malaysia the MCP were fighting a losing battle. They had no choice but to lay down their arms and cease their armed struggle. The MCP then indicated they too wanted peace with Malaysia. The MCP tacitly accepted the call for peace, which was initiated by the Thai authorities in collaboration with Malaysia. Finally after 40 years five months and 26 days (since starting of Malayan Emergency from 16 June 1948 to 2 December 1989), the MCP laid down their arms at the signing ceremony of the peace agreement between the both government of Malaysia and Thailand and the MCP, at Lee Gardens Hotel in Hat Yai in southern Thailand on 2 December 1989.[1]

The peace accord did not require the MCP to surrender; it only required that the MCP cease their militant activities. With the signing of the Hat Yai peace agreement, the MCP agreed to disband their armed units and destroy all of their weapons. They also ‘pledged their loyalty’ to His Majesty the Yang di Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. This date marked the end of the MCP insurgency in Malaysia.

Peace Agreements

The Malaysian delegation representative:

The Thai delegation representative:

The MCP delegation representative:

Aftermath

After the signing of the 1989 peace agreement, the MCP was dissolved. The Communist Party of Malaya (CPM-ML), a splinter group of the MCP were resettled in a Friendship Village in South Thailand known as Chulaborn Village. Those CPM-ML members from Malaysia who wanted to return to Peninsula Malaysia had to fulfil several conditions set by the government of Malaysia before they could settle in the state of their choice.

Meanwhile, the former members of the MCP were resettled in four village known as Kampung Aman (Peace Village). A total of 330 former MCP members were allowed to return to Malaysia. Those MCP members who stayed in South Thailand became farmers, livestock breeders and traders. They were able to adapt to the new environment and interact with the local community.

References

  1. ^ Lt Col Mohd Azzam bin Hanif Ghows (Rtd) (2014). Reminiscence of Insurrections: Malaysia's Battle Against Terrorism 1960–1990. Kuala Lumpur: Wangsa Zam. p. 274-279. ISBN 978-967-11122-0-5.
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