NCPO to resume South peace talks

NCPO to resume South peace talks

Two new bodies to be formed as part of revamped plan to deal with unrest

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is expected to set up an executive policy committee and a peace dialogue commission to pursue the peace talks with the southern separatists, a top security adviser has revealed.

The two new bodies is part of the NCPO's revamped plan of actions and strategies to deal with the unrest in the deep South.

The executive policy committee will be chaired by junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha in his capacity as prime minister, said Gen Akanit Muansawasdi, a National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member who was appointed adviser to the National Security Council (NSC) by the junta on Aug 15.

With the revamped strategies, Thailand will be better prepared to handle the issues raised during the peace process and peace talks, said Gen Akanit, who has been tipped as a candidate for the post of chief negotiator in the peace dialogue with the southern separatists.

The name of the new chief negotiator is expected to be announced after the government's plan for the deep South is approved, he said.

Gen Akanit said the peace process for the region is not only about the talks with separatist movements but also about rebuilding an environment that will be conducive for peace, stability and security.

He said the restructuring and streamlining of the southern operations —proposed by the NSC — will not conflict with the work of the coordinating committee on southernmost provinces headed by Gen Udomdet Sitabut, which is in charge of tackling the region's development, drugs, mafia and smuggling problems.

"The significant change in the government's strategies in handling the peace dialogue with the other side is giving a greater participatory role to civil society in designing a plan for the talks," said Gen Akanit. Malaysia will continue to act as the peace talks facilitator.

Gen Akanit said there will be no problem in expediting the strategies as the NCPO can approve them without having to wait for the government to be formed.

"We should have more unity in entering the peace dialogue but we wonder if our counterparts in the talks [the separatists] have settled their own differences before coming to the table," said Gen Akanit.

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has found it hard to resume the peace talks due to the increase in insurgent participants engaged in the negotiations. The junta has also been hindered in its peace efforts by several independent smaller groups or factions that stir violence in the far South but have not participated in any of the talks.

A former Pattani senator and current NLA member, Anusart Suwannamongkol, said he does not oppose the peace dialogue and hopes shortcuts are not taken to solve the problem. The framework must be clear.

"The trust and confidence of the negotiating parties and the public's acknowledgement of the process should be a prerequisite. No rush," said Mr Anusart.

Norbert Ropers, director of Berghof Peace Support, said he hopes the junta, the government and all actors involved in the southern unrest, including the militants, have the courage and wisdom to move the peace process forward. The issue should also be raised to a national agenda item.

Waeismaael Naesae, director of the People's College, said he supports the inclusion of peace talks on the national agenda.

The peace talks won't yield results if they are chaired by Gen Prayuth . What the talks need is an institutional recognition, such as by parliament. That would ensure the continuity of the process in the event of a change in leadership, he said.

Romadon Panjor, of Deep South Watch, said the peace talks initiated by the Yingluck government had paid off on the ground.

"It has enlivened the thinking and debates among the public on the future of our own region," said Mr Romadon.

The May 22 coup stalled what Ms Yingluck had started. A clear signal for talks from the military government will be an important step.

"Although the junta government has a legitimacy problem, it can create a positive factor for the success in the peace talks if it is sincere about it," he said.

The previous negotiations between the NSC and insurgent groups, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), started on Feb 28 last year but stalled in October after five rounds. 

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