NSC confirms continual peace talks with BRN

BANGKOK, July 27 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the National Security Council (NSC), will carry on the ongoing peace process with representatives of insurgent groups in the Thai far South, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgency movement, despite continual violence in the troubled Thai deep South. NSC Secretary-General Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabutr announced the stance on Friday, acknowledging that the BRN is, however, trying to solve violent incidents in the Thai deep South, after its sub-insurgency movement bombed soldiers who were guarding local teachers earlier this week. Lieutenant General Paradorn told journalists that Thai authorities and the BRN are investigating the bombing attack, which killed two teachers in Narathiwat Province, quoting the BRN as stating that the bombing was not aimed at any teacher but the victims were unluckily passing by. The NSC chief said it was evident that other insurgent groups have been behind violent incidents in the deep South lately and Thai authorities and the BRN are gathering information, expected to be complete after the ongoing Muslim fast month of Ramadan. According to the NSC chief, there have been over 20 violent incidents during the first 17 days of Ramadan and the BRN was responsible for about 5-6 of them. The NSC secretary general noted that he will discuss the situation during Ramadan at the next round of peace negotiations with the BRN to evaluate how the BRN can keep its promise to relieve violence during the period. The NSC chief insisted that Malaysia is only the facilitator of the peace process, not the mediator. Meanwhile, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center, the NSC and the King Prajadhipok's Institute are explaining the peace process to people in the Thai far South to create proper understanding. (TNA)