Most people living in the deep South support the government's efforts to hold formal peace talks with insurgent groups, a recent poll shows.
A total of 1,800 respondents from Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla took part in the poll conducted by Deep South Watch of Prince of Songkla University.
The poll was held prior to the peace talks that began on Thursday between a Thai delegation and the insurgent group representatives.
"Close to 70% of the respondents agreed with the peace talks and were confident in the move yet remained uncertain to some degree," said Srisomphop Jitphiromsri, director of Deep South Watch.
Public campaigns need to be stepped up to educate people about how the peace talks would benefit them, he said.
He said the public would be more supportive of the peace talks effort if they knew more about it.
National Security Council secretary-general Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut on Thursday led a six-member delegation for talks in Malaysia with six members of the BRN Coordinate, BRN Congress and Pattani United Liberation Organisation.
The first formal round of talks took place at an unidentified police camp in Kuala Lumpur.
Most poll respondents wanted the negotiators to help end the southern violence, he said.
They also want troops withdrawn from the far South, accelerated development there, and the lifting of the emergency decree which is currently invoked in parts of the region.
No clear agreements were reached at the talks, which may explain why violence has continued in the far South, Mr Srisomphop said.
The talks will resume next month. A reduction in attacks on civilians would be regarded as a positive sign, Mr Srisomphop said.
He said he would encourage the government's delegation to secure an initial agreement with the insurgent groups to end attacks on women, children, teachers, Buddhists and the other civilians.
The government should also encourage the insurgent groups to avoid carrying out their attacks in crowded areas, he said.