Opponents of peace talks likely behind attacks: NSC

Speaking after the first round of dialogue was completed in Malaysia, Paradorn said this 20 per cent were “highly volatile” and “hardcore opponents of the peace efforts”. However, he added, the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Coordinate (BRN) representatives present at the talks in Kuala Lumpur had agreed to come to an “understanding” with the active insurgents. 

“Members of the BRN and the representatives account for most of the insurgents, but do not represent them unanimously,” he added.

There were two key issues brought up in the meeting – there must be “more justification for less violence” and the participants in future talks should comprise 15 people from all sides, with Malaysian authorities acting as the facilitator. The next session has been scheduled for April 29, though the venue has yet to be specified.

Three highly sensitive issues – Pattani being made a special administration zone, the withdrawal of troops from the deep South and the lifting of the emergency decree – were not on the agenda on Thursday, Paradorn said.

The Thursday meeting, held at a police-owned facility in Kuala Lumpur, lasted for 12 hours with six senior security officials, including Paradorn, representing Thai authorities and six people on BRN’s side. This is despite a previous agreement that there should be 15 representatives on either side. 

He said a key issue of lifting a large number of insurgents, or those facing arrest, from a national watch list had not been discussed, because it was a “highly sensitive issue” and would require time. Besides, he said, the six BRN members said they needed time to talk insurgents into reducing the violence and eventually ending their struggle. 

“The de-listing issue is both sensitive and complicated, technically in legal and operational terms, and emotionally in terms of justification. All relevant agencies need to discuss if there is a case of it becoming a precondition [as wanted by the insurgents],” he said.

Paradorn said the number of such people – 30,000 as cited by the media – was only in the thousands and was not on the agenda as of now. “This issue has not been mentioned at the meeting, and I don’t know how it has become viable as a precondition,” he added.

Paradorn met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for an hour at Government House to brief her on the meeting. The prime minister, who is busy with a parliamentary debate, has not spoken out about the dialogue but is believed to have told Paradorn in private to go ahead. 

In relation to sparing innocent civilians, Paradorn said one of the six BRN members said the attacks were never aimed at these “soft targets”, but security and government officials. “But in case of bomb attacks, shrapnel cannot choose victims, and they agree to take into consideration our request for zero use of bombs, especially in residential areas,” he added.