NSC:Violence in Thai far South will not affect peace talks with BRN

BANGKOK, March 19 (TNA) - The National Security Council (NSC) has insisted that continual violence in the Thai far South will not affect peace negotiations between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgent group, the first round of which is scheduled for March 28, 2013. NSC Secretary-General Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabut pointed out on Tuesday that no matter whether there is any peace negotiation or not, violence appears to continue in the Thai deep South because hard-core insurgents remain in the region. Lieutenant General Paradorn assessed if the March 28 talks could reach a degree of trust, signals could be sent to the hard-core insurgents and the situation in the troubled southern border Thai region should then improve. Lieutenant General Paradorn told journalists that the NSC will unveil the names of 15 BRN representatives who will show up at the March 28 talks after his discussion with the BRN and Malaysia. The NSC chief, meanwhile, proposed that the Thai government postpone amnesty and reconciliation bills, cautioning that there will be a development on a territorial case related to the Preah Vihear Temple between Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia at the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) next month and there may be, thus, demonstrations which can lead to misunderstanding, as disagreements remain on amnesty and reconciliation bills and can develop to conflicts and political issues. (TNA)