In far South peace talks, patience will be rewarded

In far South peace talks, patience will be rewarded

Despite the uncompromising stance of both the government delegates and Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) negotiators, the deep South peace talks are still on track.

A security officer in Pattani’s Nong Chik district removes a banner calling for peace, unity and a Pattani state. Similar banners were hung up at several locations in the district late in March ahead of the first round of peace talks. ABDULLOH BENJAKAT

The release on Sunday of a video clip on YouTube by the BRN, which condemned the Thai government as Penjajahan Siam (Siamese Imperialists) and mapped out the group's five-point demands, raised fears that the peace process was already faltering.

While the content was not a surprise, the Thai side was taken aback by the powerful manner with which it was presented, and the fact the video was released on the eve of Monday's meeting.

But the government team, led by National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut, showed its professionalism and goodwill by not calling a halt to the talks.

The government added two officers to its team, 4th Army Region chief of staff Maj Gen Charin Amornkaew, and an interpreter. The BRN, meanwhile, added Ahmad Benhavan, a leader of the BRN-Congress and Permudor youth groups. Lt Gen Paradorn said the most recent talks, which lasted eight hours, were stressful, with both sides insisting that the other must respond to its demands first.

Of the five demands by the BRN, the most contentious is a call for a blanket amnesty for all southern militants, and for Malaysia's role in the talks to be upgraded from "facilitator" to "mediator".

The BRN is also asking that the talks be attended by the "Pattani Melayu" people, led by the BRN; that the talks are witnessed by Asean members, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and other NGOs _ a demand which Malaysia, as facilitator, turned down; and that the BRN be recognised as a liberation movement rather than a separatist group.

The government, meanwhile, is demanding that the number of violent attacks in the far South be reduced to prove the BRN, represented by Hassan Taib, can control the insurgents.

"At times, both sides were like a 'rabbit standing on one leg'," a Thai delegate said, referring to a Thai proverb which means each side was persistently holding on to its demands.

"But we all know this [latest] negotiation could not decide everything," he added.

In particular, the government side rejected the demand for a blanket amnesty.

Maj Gen Charin said there were about 4,600 people wanted under various types of warrants or are already under detention, adding that various state agencies were involved in the procedure.

Instead, the government team suggested that about 200 detainees could be released after attending "re-education" training in military camps.

This was rejected outright by the BRN, which insisted its demand came from people "on the ground".

The BRN said it would meet with key young militants in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the Thai demand after the Malaysian general election on Sunday. "[After the election] we will be able to discuss more clearly how we will consider the Thai response," a BRN coordinator who requested anonymity said.

He noted the talks could move on only with equal footing and sincerity. "Of course, we realise the dilemma and difficulties for the Thai authorities, but this government should realise it has the power to produce a big leap forward to generate a more dignified and peaceful livelihood for the bangsa Patani," another core BRN member based in Pattani and Narathiwat said.

"Bangsa Patani" means "Patani nation" in Malay, referring to the insurgents' claim to a separate state comprising Thailand's four southernmost and Muslim-majority states of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla.

However, the government cannot make any decision without consulting other groups and weighing public sentiment.

At this stage, the wider Thai society _ not only Lt Gen Paradorn and his team _ must be patient and realise they cannot expect instant results from this complicated process.

Michael Montesano, a fellow with the Singapore-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said the talks offer both sides a chance to learn, so that over time a combination of security measures, political reform, and negotiations with the full range of relevant groups will allow Bangkok to properly address the southern violence.

"The idea, or fear, that these talks will bring domestic political gain to anyone in the short or medium term must be forgotten," Mr Montesano, a US citizen, said.

"The southern situation remains very bad; unacceptable for a country like Thailand and for the people living in the deep South.

"These talks, even if still in their early stages, are the best news relating to that situation in a long time."


Achara Ashayagachat is Senior News Reporter, Bangkok Post.

Achara Ashayagachat

Senior reporter on socio-political issues

Bangkok Post's senior reporter on socio-political issues.

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