BangkokPost-Apr 12
Peace could finally be given a chance in the strife-torn Deep South as the security authorities voiced confidence their latest round of negotiations may have reached a crucial turning point. It involved a “real deal” with the ranks of southern insurgents, according to Lt Gen Thira Daewa, secretary of the peace talks team. Authorities have spent the last two years trying to strike a peace deal with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) through four major rounds of talks facilitated by Malaysia.
There had been other peace talks that preceded them however, they involved the Mara Patani insurgent network of which the BRN is a member. The Mara Patani later ceased the talks leaving the BRN to engage alone in the peace process. The first talks over the past two years with the BRN started on March 20, 2020, at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic which forced subsequent discussions between Thai authorities and the BRN to be held remotely. Face-to-face negotiations did not resume until Jan 11-12 this year and were held again from March 2-3. The two sides set themselves an ambitious goal: to reduce all violent confrontations and attacks during the Muslim holy period of Ramadan from April 3 to May 14. That would create a meaningful starting point toward achieving a lasting peace in the southernmost region plagued by almost 20 years of insurgent unrest. Lt Gen Thira, also commander of the Fourth Region Army Corps, told the Bangkok Post the talks have reached a crucial juncture. Read more at: https://www.bangkokpost.com/
