The government and southern separatist group Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu (BRN) have agreed to a halt of all violence during the holy month of Ramadan, according to the Peace Negotiations Secretariat.
A fourth round of face-to-face negotiations was held on Thursday and Frida in Kuala Lumpur and attended by Gen Wanlop Rugsanaoh, head of Thailand's Peace Dialogue Panel; Anas Abdulrahman of the BRN; and Abdul Rahim Noor, a facilitator from the Malaysian government.
The parties agreed on four main points. One is a formalisation of the general principles, which was signed by two international experts and has been completed through an exchange of letters of confirmation by both sides.
The parties also agreed to halt all violence during Ramadan, from April 3 to May 14, with the aim of allowing safe religious practice and instilling increased public confidence in the peace dialogue process.
"This agreement is to create a safe and prosperous atmosphere for the Patani community [and] to establish meaningful peace," it said.
Both parties also presented frameworks on political solutions, public consultations and reduction of violence.
Lastly, both parties appointed contact people for issues contained in the "General Principles" with as many as three people for each side.
The fourth peace dialogue followed a third round which took place mid-January. Face-to-face meetings were paused for almost two years after the previous round in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.