Peace talks with far South separatists will resume this month, National Security Council secretary-general Thawil Pliensri said yesterday.
He made the announcement after meeting deputy army chief Udomdej Seetabut, who is also in charge of policy implementation in the South, and agreeing to continue the talks which were shelved at the outbreak of political unrest last year.
Mr Thawil said he had also asked Malaysia for help in staging talks with different separatist groups.
The peace talks are expected to resume before the end of this month, said Mr Thawil, whose mandatory retirement is due next month.
Meanwhile, a suspect accused of being involved in a gun attack against an aide of former Bannang Sata police chief Sompien Eksomya was arrested yesterday in Yala’s Bannang Sata district, police said.
Pol Col Sukhon Sri A-roon, a Yala provincial police investigator, said Bonya Samon was apprehended at a house in Bannang Sata district. Mr Bonya, 31, a native of Pattani, was wanted in connection with the attempted murder of Pol Sub Lt Peerapol Taechilong on Sept 9, 2009. A warrant for his arrest was issued in April this year.
Pol Sub Lt Peerapol's boss, Pol Col Sompien, made headlines when he lodged a request in 2010 with then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asking to transferred to a safer post after 42 years of active service in the deep South. His request was ignored because he had no political backing. He was murdered a month later.
Two soldiers and two rangers were also wounded yesterday as their patrol vehicles came under fire from suspected separatists in Yala.