Prawit cool on 'BRN call' for outside observers to monitor peace talks
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DEPUTY Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday rejected a condition reportedly set by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) calling for "observers from other states" to attend any future peace talks.
“It’s impossible,” Prawit said briefly, when asked about the statement on Monday, attributed to BRN’s information department.
The BRN statement also said it would only join a peace process which was dignified and sincere in its pursuit of peace – not a peace process used as a form of political subterfuge to deceive and undermine the strategy of the Patani-Malay people.
National Security Council head General Thaweep Netniyom yesterday commented that there were elements within BRN who agreed with the talks and others who opted for violence. “Both might not be united even though they are in the same group,” Thaweep said.
But he affirmed that a peace dialogue would proceed continuously as it was deemed the best way to reduce violence in the region. He said peace talks between the Thai state and separatists would follow a previous framework and be facilitated by Malaysia.
He said Thailand was sincere in the peace process or it wouldn’t have started the talks.
Meanwhile, Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) spokesman Col Banpot Pulpian said yesterday an initial check had not been able to confirm the origin and accuracy of a four-page English-language statement posted online, attributed to the BRN’s information department.
He said the statement also had some inaccuracies, which might cause confusion in Thailand and other countries. He urged the people who issued such a statement to refrain from providing one-sided information and join the peace dialogue.
Despite Thailand’s commitment to restart the dialogue and General Aksara Kerdphol’s assignment to lead the Thai team – after the previous talks collapsed in 2013 when Thais couldn’t find legitimate partners with whom to negotiate – a date has yet to be set for the talks to resume.
The BRN statement made people wonder if peace talks could resume, despite previous positive signs, when a new umbrella group “Mara Patani”, representing several groups including elements of the BRN, met with Thai officials in Kuala Lumpur in August for exploratory talks.
In related news, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday postponed his October 16 visit to the deep South because several accompanying ministers – who would gather information and answer residents’ questions during the visit – would be busy with trips domestically or internationally.
Meanwhile, four policemen injured in a roadside bombing in Narathiwat’s Yi Ngor district on Monday were recovering, with two of them released home yesterday. Lieutenant Bundit Chuchat, who remains in hospital, said he still had good morale despite the attack and didn’t want to move out of the deep South for now.
He said he would be more careful while performing duties in the future to help keep peace and order.
