PM's adviser deprecates South peace strategy

PM's adviser deprecates South peace strategy

The National Security Council (NSC) has started peace negotiations with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgent group, but violent incidents continue to plague the three southern border provinces. Thawil Pliensri, former NSC secretary-general and currently an adviser to the prime minister, told Bangkok Post reporters PRADIT RUANGDIT and PATSARA JIKKHAM that authorities should focus peace restoration efforts on local people and real insurgent leaders.

Taking flak

A police investigator examines the ceiling of the house of Najmuddin Uma, an adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung on far South problems. Attackers firedM-79 grenades at the house in Narathiwat’s Rangae district at 2am yesterday. WAEDAOHARAI

What do you think of the BRN peace talks?

I support negotiations. Security organisations have always conducted them at policymaker and official levels, but they were not made public. What is being done now however is different from the past. I disagree with it and see weak points, risks and dangers. I believe that secret and small-scale talks are likelier to succeed, pose fewer risks and gradually reduce losses.

If negotiations begin with small-scale talks, officials will have time to test whether the other side really has an influence on local insurgents and there will not be complications, confusion and high expectations. If they fail, damage can be limited and there will be easy exits because they are secret.

What are the weak points, risks and dangers?

The BRN Coordinate with which we signed the peace-talks deal has not enough clout to justify the signing.

Thawil: Focuses on locals, not rebels

The BRN does not represent the more than 2 million local people. On the contrary, the BRN creates fear and is largely responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people and injuring about 10,000 others. The BRN exploits feelings about the Malay race, religion, history and the numerous mistakes our officials committed in the past.

Since Malaysia is mediating the peace negotiations, the problem in the three southern border provinces may not be an internal issue any more. This obviously risks national security if there is a situation where other countries or international organisations can get involved. Peace negotiations are not a miracle cure that can solve southern problems right away.

Negotiations are only part of the solution that must actually focus on the 2 million local people. Do not forget to work for them and bear in mind that they still live in danger. We must improve their lives and give them the chance to participate in society. Do not focus on insurgents as they are separate from local people. That part of the country will not be lost if the people are with us.

What can make the negotiations successful?

There were negotiations in the past and some people who came to talk had no influence over local insurgents but only wanted to make their own presence felt. We must talk to local insurgents who are of the new generation, have been trained in and experienced warfare overseas. We must talk to these people who are really active in the region.

There are many insurgent groups but we give weight to the BRN. The groups that disagree with the negotiations are still conducting violence and the people are suffering.

Support is essential and is being provided by this government.

Also, all state organisations must be united and adopt the same stance before negotiations. They comprise the NSC, the Foreign Ministry, the National Intelligence Agency, the Internal Security Operations Command, the Justice Ministry and the armed forces.

Did they talk with each other before the signing? Actually the signing occurred first, and other agencies were informed later. This can create a weaker position in negotiations. We have seen that insurgents have made demands about prosecutions and arrest warrants but army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has dismissed them. This reflects disunity on our side. Such an issue rattles the confidence of negotiators.

Besides, negotiations should have begun with small working groups. Elsewhere, high-ranking officials never take action right away. The prime minister and the NSC must prepare exit strategies because no one can guarantee the ongoing negotiation process will be successful. This is a risk.

Do you have any recommendations for the negotiators?

We must be professional and be careful about disclosing information on topics that have not been decided.

Lt Gen Paradorn [Pattanatabut, the present NSC secretary-general and a Thai negotiator] revealed everything that was discussed before and caused arguments and created expectations among the public. We must know what can be disclosed or can not.

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