CHIANG MAI - The head of the National Security Council remains optimistic that talks with southern insurgents will continue despite his own uncertain future.
Islamic leaders and local residents stage a march on Saturday in Narathiwat against the ongoing violence in the South. (AFP Photo)
Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut said he expected meetings with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) to move to the next step from the confidence-building stage more quickly than some have expected.
"Of course, some experiences elsewhere took 50-60 years before trust could be built and the next step of negotiations could be launched. But we hope that is not the case for Thailand," he said at a forum in Chiang Mai on Saturday.
The third round of talks ended on June 13 with a promise from the BRN led by Hassan Taib to reduce violence in the southernmost provinces during the holy month of Ramadan in July. Thailand will consider five demands posed by the separatist group.
The exact date for the start of Ramadan has not been announced but it is expected to be on July 8 or 9.
Lt Gen Paradorn conceded that the BRN had asked about the status of his own position. The insurgent group told him it hoped for no change in the Thai delegation, he said.
The Central Administrative Court recently ordered the government to return the top NSC post to Thawil Pliensri, a previous Democrat appointee. The Pheu Thai government plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Administrative Court.
Lt Gen Paradorn said even a change would not derail attempts by the government to bring the BRN to the negotiating table.
"Whoever sits at the post will proceed with the government's policy of talking," he said.
"The talks are already guaranteed as part of the NSC's strategic plans. Even if the government changes, the peace dialogue could still continue and the next master plan could later acquire parliamentary endorsement."
The talks also had the full support of Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, he added.
Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre secretary-general, also rebutted notions that young Muslim groups opposed the peace talks and were behind the continuing attacks in the deep South.
"So far, we do not have empirical evidence that the youth have been involved in the incidents," he said.
"The youth do agree with the peace dialogue; perhaps their support is the highest in the past decade. Those involved in the attacks are actually the same groups with some kinds of warrants."
The Malaysian ambassador to Thailand, Nazirah Hussain, called for patience to end doubts about the meetings, which Malaysia has been facilitating.
"Optimism is still rare and I plead for all sides not to resort to false hope or raise too many doubts about the process," she said.