Thailand, Malaysia To Hold High-Level Southern Peace Talks In September

By Wilawan Watcharasakwet

BANGKOK, July 1 (Bernama) -- Thailand and Malaysia are expected to hold high-level peace talks on the situation in Thailand's southern border provinces in September, with both sides aiming to reach an agreement that could pave the way for a joint declaration.

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who serves as Political Adviser to the Thai Prime Minister and adviser to the government's Special Representative Delegation, said preliminary discussions are currently being conducted by a subcommittee behind closed doors.

“There are about two more subcommittee meetings to be held before the main committee convenes in Malaysia in September.

“If the main committee reaches an agreement, both sides may sign a joint document and issue a statement reflecting the agreed outcomes,” he told reporters at Government House on Wednesday.

Wan Muhamad Noor expressed optimism that the peace dialogue was progressing in a positive direction.

On the expected timeline for the peace process, he said the outcome of the September meeting would provide a clearer indication, adding that he anticipated considerably more progress than in previous rounds of talks.

Meanwhile, on Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's planned official visit to Malaysia on July 9-10, Wan Muhamad Noor said the visit was primarily aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation within ASEAN.

However, he said the security situation in Thailand's southern border provinces could also be discussed, although it is not expected to be the main agenda of the visit.

“We expect Thailand to ask Malaysia to continue expediting efforts towards achieving sustainable peace in the southern border region,” he said.

Responding to questions on the continued violence in the South, Wan Muhamad Noor said the authorities were still assessing the situation, noting that while violent incidents had occurred more frequently in recent weeks, the impact on human life had remained relatively limited.

Malaysia has long played the role of facilitator in the peace dialogue between the Thai government and insurgent groups operating in the country's southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla.

In May, Thailand appointed Thanat Suwannanont, who is also Director of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), as Thailand’s new chief negotiator for peace talks with the separatist group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).

Malaysia’s facilitator Mohd Rabin Basir, a former Director-General of the National Security Council, was appointed on July 1, 2024.

-- BERNAMA