Split in Pulo could hurt peace process with Thai government
Play
An ongoing secret peace talk may be facing more obstacles now that one of long standing Malay Muslim separatist groups that has been working tih the National Security Council (NSC) has split up resulting in more splinter groups.
The NSC has been secretly dealing with the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) since 2006 after the then Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont issued an executive order asking all relevant agencies to look for non-military solutions to the conflict in the deep South where nearly 5,000 people have been died since January 2004 due to insurgency related violence.
The group was under the leadership of Noor Abdulrahman, also known as Abe Kamae, and vice president, Kasturi Mahkota, who doubled as the group's foreign affairs chief.
As of late October 2011, Abae Kamae and Kasturi went on their own separate way. No explanation was really given as to why the two parted.
The Nation
