Govt urged to respond to BRN's 'gamble'

THE PRE-CONDITION set by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) calling for the creation of a redefined “special administrative region” covering the three southernmost provinces is a matter that must be concluded quickly, according to an academic familiar with the violence in the deep South.

 

He warned that there are other insurgents who still want to pursue their separatist causes through violence, and may potentially rebel against BRN senior members who prefer the special region option as a way out.

 

Proposing the idea of the special administrative region with an added term “under the Thai Constitution”, the BRN has retracted its stance against security authorities, which should consider and heed this redefined condition, said Mathus Anuvatudom, of the Office of Peace and Governance, at King Prajadhipok’ Institute.

 

 “Adding the term ‘under the Thai Constitution’ to the special administrative region is a big gamble by BRN senior members, including chief BRN negotiator Taib Hassan. It may lead to the BRN disintegrating, because other groups of insurgents who still want [the three provinces] to break away [from Thailand] do exist and are ready to rebel against the BRN,” he explained.

 

“Strategically, the Thai military and security authorities need to support Hassan on the BRN’s redefined precondition by following it and four other preconditions gradually,” he said.

 

“It is important to show to all insurgent groups that an ongoing peace dialogue between Thai authorities and the BRN – with Hassan leading them – will be beneficial to them all. Otherwise new insurgent groups might emerge and rebel against the BRN – which would lead to a large-scale problem beyond the control of Thai authorities. Such problems emerged during the Ramadan truce, when attacks continued outside BRN’s authority.

 

 The BRN’s precondition of a special administrative body had not been clearly defined, prompting strong opposition by the military and anticipated rejection by Thai society dismayed by regular violence against civilians in the deep South. Until the BRN added its reference to the Constitution recently, Thai authorities seemed to have found a possible solution in models similar to those run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or Pattaya City.

 

 A special administrative region in a BMA format would not be possible in the near future because there are many legal procedures in its way. But the election of a Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) director is possible from candidates based in the deep South, to show the BRN that Thai authorities are sincere, Mathus suggested.

 

Progress could be made public through bilingual signs or directions posted at government offices, two sets of history books for study in schools, without any being touted as right or wrong. In terms of administration, a list of criteria on performances for public services – on medical or educational issues, or capacity of tax revenues or efficiency of tax collection, may follow – initially at local administrative bodies – and later for the entire special administrative region.