Insurgency representatives agree with safety zone

BANGKOK, Feb 16 – Representatives of insurgency movements in the deep South agree to declare one district as a safety zone, showing a positive step in their peace negotiation with the government. Gen Aksara Kerdpol, advisor to the prime minister and head of the government’s southern peace negotiation team, said that in the latest meeting of the peace negotiation process in Malaysia, both sides agreed to declare a district as a safety zone and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was informed of the development. A safe house would be set up as a coordination centre where all concerned parties could share views on security, life improvement and narcotic solutions, he said. Gen Aksara said that peace negotiation had continued in the past year and academics and social organisations had tried to convince local people not to support any violent movements in the far South. “The negotiation team will spend about 6 months from now to implement the safety zone and assess the implementation. We will see if all parties can apply peaceful solutions to ensure peace in the area. If it is successful, it can expand to other areas which will depend on future negotiations,” Gen Aksara said. (TNA)