Muslim militants in Thai far South urged to cease violence

BANGKOK, October 7 (TNA) - Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha says that Muslim militants are to first reduce fatal violence in the Thai deep South for the sake of successful peace talks between the Thai government, through the National Security Council (NSC), and representatives of insurgent groups in the far South, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). In a press interview on Monday morning, before his departure from Bangkok for Yarang District in Pattani Province to attend a briefing on the updated violent situation at Sirindhorn Army Camp, General Prayuth acknowledged that local security officers have countered violent attacks stepped up recently by insurgents in the Thai deep South. General Prayuth insisted that more but cautious government offensives have been, thus, launched against suspected insurgents, stressing that the insurgent side is to solve the violent problem first if they want effective peace talks, as it is impossible to put pressure by demanding for a reduction of army personnel or using a special law in the troubled region. Asked what security officers could do, beside increasing military offensives, if the BRN was unable to reduce bloody violence in the southernmost Thai region, General Prayuth pointed out that peace talks only allow both parties to express their opinions, and that everybody living in Thailand is to respect the Thai laws. According to the Thai army chief, even Filipino and Indonesian military leaders have agreed with the Thai government on solving violence in the southern border region. The army commander-in-chief affirmed that the Thai government is sincere in solving violence in the Thai deep South and has listened to the BRN’s demands, but whether the Thai government will accept the demands is another matter. The Thai army chief's comments came as the new round of peace talks between the NSC and the BRN-led insurgent side was announced to be held on October 20 in Malaysia. (TNA)