BRN Indirectly Opens Up Possibility In Southern Thailand Peace Talks - Analyst

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, April 11 (Bernama) -- Yesterday's rare statement by Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), has indirectly opened up the possibility of the group's involvement in any future southern Thailand peace talks. A long-time analyst of the southern Thailand conflict, Dr Srisompob Jitpiromsiri said BRN, through its statement, had laid out its demand for participation in any future peace-making efforts. BRN has been seen by many as the most influential and capable militant group in southern Thailand, thus making its participation in the region's peace process, crucial. "Yesterday's (Monday) statement by BRN has opened up the opportunity for the talks to also involve the group. They need to persuade BRN, to make the peace talks more inclusive," he told Bernama Tuesday. BRN, in a rare statement yesterday, stressed that the current Patani Peace Dialogue should be represented by delegations that are mandated and authorised by the two negotiating parties and comply with international norms. The group also said that "the negotiating process should not be designed by any particular party other than the negotiating parties..." The Thai government and Mara Patani (Patani Consultative Council), an umbrella body of several southern Thailand independent groups excluding BRN, have been engaging in a peace process for nearly two years, facilitated by Malaysia. According to Srisompob, despite the rejection by BRN as evident in the statement, the current peace talks between the Thai government and Mara Patani should not be regarded as a total failure. "There are many positives from the current peace talks," said the political science lecturer at Prince of Songkla University in Pattani and one of the founders of non-governmental organisation, Deep South Watch. On the demand by BRN for a credible and impartial mediator in the peace process, he said other regional and international parties could complement Kuala Lumpur's role as the facilitator in the current peace process. Although BRN was calling for a mediator for the peace talks, the analyst said Malaysia's role in any southern Thailand peace talks was indispensible and critical for its success. "They cannot count Malaysia out as it is impossible to do that. They need Malaysia," he said. Srisompob cited ASEAN or any of its member countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation as among the international bodies that could play the role of mediator in the peace process, alongside Malaysia. Besides calling for a mediator, the militant group also demanded two other points, including that the peace dialogue be based on willingness of the two parties involved in the conflict. The third demand is for the negotiation process be designed by the negotiating parties and agreed upon before the start of the negotiation. More that 6,000 people had died in southern Thailand as a result of nearly two decades of armed conflict between Thailand's security forces and militant groups. -- BERNAMA