NSC:Hassan Taib remains as BRN negotiator

BANGKOK, August 9 (TNA) - Thailand's National Security Council (NSC) has insisted that "Hassan Taib" remains as the negotiator of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgency movement in ongoing peace talks between the NSC and representatives of insurgent groups in the Thai far South, led by the BRN. NSC Secretary General Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabutr made the affirmation on Friday, saying that at the moment, Hassan is not replaced. Lieutenant General Paradorn acknowledged that, in principle, Hassan can be replaced if the three parties involved, including the NSC, the BRN and Malaysia, the facilitator of the peace talks, have the consent and if the topics of the negotiations change, persons can be replaced for the sake of suitability. According to the NSC chief, if the BRN negotiator is to be replaced, Thailand, BRN and Malaysia, are to approve the replacement. The Thai NSC chief said that the peace talks need to, now, proceed under earlier agreed procedures and the topics, date, time and place for the next round of the talks will be set on August 18. Meanwhile, Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters a claim through a video clip that the BRN has terminated the peace negotiations has not been confirmed and Thailand's southern outpost of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) will verify the matter, while Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will convene a meeting of authorities concerned to discuss the issue next week. The NSC secretary general stressed that Thai authorities need to adhere to Thai laws and the peace negotiations should continue though concerned authorities need to consider the topics of the negotiations. (TNA)