The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) movement has officially submitted its seven demands for a Ramadan ceasefire to Thai and Malaysian authorities, the National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general revealed on Wednesday.
Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut said the BRN had sent a two-page document listing seven demands to be met by Thailand before the Malaysian group would order southern insurgents to stand down during the 30-day Ramadan fasting month, which begins July 9 or 10.
The official submission matched exactly demands issued on Tuesday in a YouTube video by BRN chief negotiator Hassan Taib.
The official documents were submitted in three languages - Thai, English and Malay - and were signed by Mr Taib, as peace talks delegation chief. Malaysia received a copy in its role as facilitator of talks between the BRN and Thailand.
Lt Gen Paradorn said Thai authorities would take three to four days to respond to Malaysia on how many points of the BRN’s seven conditions the Thai government could accept.
The Thai government has reacted negatively to the demands. Mr Taib said they must be accepted personally by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra by July 3.
Asked about the rejection of all seven proposals by Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat on Tuesday, Lt Gen Paradorn said the government wanted to insist that it would not accept any demands by the BRN that were not submitted through the Malaysian facilitator.
The group was also still translating a different set of five demands for overall peace, which it announced on YouTube on May 5, Lt Gen Paradorn said.
The five proposals include the release of all detainees in the South, recognise the BRN as an equal for the talks and as a "liberation movement'' and not a separatist group, to accept Malaysia as a mediator for the talks rather than just a facilitator and to allow outside groups to observe the peace process.
