Govt to respond to BRN's demands soon

Thai authorities are expected to issue an official response to Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)’s latest demands in the next three or four days.
Paradorn Pattanatabutr, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), said yesterday that the seven demands, which were first announced in a YouTube clip on Monday, had finally arrived officially via Malaysia.
“I will discuss the demands with relevant officials,” he said.
Paradorn was speaking after he and Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), met Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung to discuss the demands.
BRN’s demands include the withdrawal of most of the troops from the southern region ahead of Ramadan, which will begin in the second week of July.
Paradorn said Thailand would send BRN a response via Malaysia in the next three or four days.
Azis Benhawan, chief adviser to SBPAC, said the group’s latest demands actually echoed the wishes of the local peoples. “Some locals have proposed similar ideas such as closing down entertainment venues [one of BRN’s demands], but nothing was done,” he said.
However, the group Envoy for Peace suggested that BRN prove that it will be able to stop the ongoing wave of violence in the deep South before pushing for its demands.
“If BRN can’t control the situation, then there is no need to discuss their demands,” Souriya D Tawanchai, the organisation’s chairperson, said yesterday.

HOPING FOR PEACEFUL RAMADAN
Souriya has been working to promote peace in Thailand’s southernmost region for a long time.
“Let’s create a peaceful Ramadan before both sides come together for frank talks. Both sides must be patient,” he advised.
He went on to say that BRN’s latest demands seem set to endanger the ongoing peace dialogue.
“Whether the Thai government responds to the demands, it depends very much on a joint agreement. So, the BRN should prove that it can stop the ongoing wave of violence in the deep South first,” Souriya said.
The government has already held three rounds of negotiations with BRN, yet to date, violence in the deep South continues unabated.
For instance, a bomb exploded in Yala’s Muang district yesterday morning, injuring two soldiers patrolling the road to Ban Tasa School.
Lt-General Surapon Puen-aiyaka, a former NSC chief, said peace talks were needed but warned that Thailand would not gain anything if it agreed to BRN’s demands without getting anything in return.
Surapon said he believed that BRN would not pull out of the peace dialogue even if the government paid no heed to its latest demands.