An area in the border province of Narathiwat could be designated a “safety zone” free of insurgent violence in a joint effort by Thai authorities and southern separatists to restart peace talks.
Negotiations between the government and southern insurgents were expected to start again with the Muslim fighters' agreement to the imposition of a violence-free zone to prove that they could be trusted and keep their promises.
A security source said on Monday that some area of Narathiwat was likely to be announced as such a zone.
Lt Gen Nakrob Boonbuathong, secretary-general of the Thai negotiation team, said on Monday that, in unofficial talks in Malaysia on Nov 11-12, Thai negotiators proposed that Mara Patani, the southern insurgency umbrella organisation participating in the peace process, choose an area for the pilot programme.
Lt Gen Nakrob Boonbuathong
Lt Gen Nakrob said that Mara Patani had yet to prove that groups under its umbrella were united, because violent incidents continued in the region and its lead negotiator recently was replaced.
However, Mara Patani continues to include six established insurgency groups, he said, referring to the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), three factions of the Patani Liberation Organisation (Pulo), the Gerakan Mujahideen Islam Patani (GMIP) and the Barisan Islam Pembebasan Patani (BIPP).
Apart from the selection of a trust-building safety zone, the Thai negotiation team proposed in the Nov 11-12 meeting that Mara Patani nominate areas for development and the government would offer pardons, parole and alternative justice actions.
Mara Pattani came back with three previous proposals: government recognition of the peace process as a national priority, immunity for fugitive insurgents, and the recognition of Mara Patani.
Lt Gen Nakrob also said that the peace negotiation was likely to begin officially after the New Year.