NSC chief denies ceasefire breached

The authorities yesterday rejected the claim by a separatist group that Thai security forces have breached a ceasefire agreement during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

National Security Council (NSC) secretarygeneral Lt General Paradorn Pattanathabutr yesterday said Thailand has not violated the agreement made with Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). He said the killing of a suspected insurgent in Narathiwat was part of an operation that followed a militant attack on soldiers.

Paradorn’s remarks came after news reports that BRN negotiator Hassan Taib filed a complaint letter to Ahmad Zamzamin bin Hashim, former director of Malaysia's External Intelligence Organisation who mediated talks between both sides. The letter said Thailand’s alleged infringement forced the BRN to launch counterattacks.

Paradorn said he has not yet received a protest letter from BRN but has been initially informed by the Malaysian official regarding the letter.

Fourth Army Area commander Lt Gen Sakol Chuentrakoon said yesterday that soldiers in the deep South have only carried out safety patrols during the past 10 days of Ramadan without using force.  

“We admit that we have doubt regarding violent incidents over the past 10 days of the Ramadan month. Many doubts… But the doubt must be answered,” said Sakol, who is also director of the Fourth Region of the Internal Security Command Operation (Isoc).

Although he hasn’t seen the formal protest letter issue by BRN himself yet, Sakol insisted that soldiers have used nonviolent means to maintain peace during this period. The letter of protest by BRN was submitted to Dato Seri Ahmad Zamzamin, the Malaysian counterpart who facilitates the peace negotiation. Hassan accused Thai military of violating the ceasefire agreement during the month of Ramadan, however.  He said from Malaysia that although BRN were ceasing all shootings, people who face with criminal charges continued to be killed in the period, resulting in lack of confidence about the ceasefire agreement.

Government data shows that there have been 19 incident of violence between July 10 to 17 and the authorities are looking into the cause.

Colonel Pramote Promin, spokesperson for Isoc’s advance command in the Fourth Army Area, insisted that most violence during the month of Ramadan so far were related to drugs and personal issues that not the use of force by the army and security officers.

Pramote cited the killing of Mayahali Ali, a former separatist who has since switched side and retrained. He said Ali had been helpful to the authorities and was likely killed to place blame and discredit the authorities. “We expressed our condolences to relatives of those who have been killed and would like to explain that officers’ actions were in line with plans for emerging incidents and that they acted within the legal framework and under the principle of human rights,” he said.   

Paradorn reasserted  that Thailand had not violated the agreement following Friday’s killing of RKK leader Masupian Mama in Narathiwat. He explained that the killing occurred as both sides were exchanging gunfire. The security officials had no choice but to protect themselves.

“The approach of security operations searching for those who have outstanding arrest warrants has to continue and this was already informed to the BRN leaders during the previous negotiations,” Paradorn said.

Meanwhile, Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam yesterday warned that the Thai government might suffer a setback following BRN protest alleging Thailand’s violation of the ceasefire. He said the BRN could use this opportunity to relaunch violent attacks in the restive region.