Time to rethink the peace talks process

Scarcely any people reject the peace talks between the government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group. But the way the government has been dealing with the separatist group may not be proper and this may cause negative consequences for the following reasons.

1. The peace talks which was untimely made public has inadvertently boosted the status of the BRN although this does not mean that the separatist group has to be lower in its status vis-à-vis the government. Untimely public disclosure of the peace talks will complicate the peace process because there has been intense pressure on both sides of the conflict to the extent that neither side is willing to take a step back despite the hard truth that the parties in the conflict have to be flexible and willing to compromise.

2. The BRN appears to be making use of every available channel to put forward their demands or conditions. This approach has weakened the peace talks process.

3. The open peace talks seem to have encouraged the separatist groups which disagree with the peace process to carry out more violent incidents targeting innocent civilians and security forces alike. In the meantime, the government has to respond in kind against the separatists.

4. It appears that the government was not so well prepared when the talks kicked off because it still was not in control of the situation in the deep South. Under such situation, the BRN might have quietly signaled separatists on the group to step up violence in order to increase the bargaining power of the BRN. But if the BRN is not capable of controlling the various separatist groups, the separatists who do not join the peace process may step up their activities to defy the process.

5. That Malaysia playing the role of being a facilitator may be a risk factor because some separatist groups have taken refuge in Malaysia with the full knowledge of Malaysian authorities. And if Malaysia is really sincere and really wants to help, it should have denied shelter to these separatists long time ago.

6. The government does not have adequate information about the various separatist groups and its security personnel are getting killed or wounded on almost daily baisis.

7. It is undeniable that the government and its team responsible for the peace talks are not well prepared for the talks be it strategically, tactically or concerning information.
As stated above, it is about time that the government gives the peace talks process a rethink and to assess the situation with the help of accurate information.

Despite the signing of the peace talks process in Kuala Lumpur on March 28, violence continued unabated in the deep South. During the 53-day period wince March 28, there have been seven motorcycle bombings, one car bomb attack, 16 roadside bombings resulting to one boy and 22 government officials killed and over 115 civilians and officials wounded. The death toll included some high-profile figures namely Yala deputy governor Issara Thongthawat and his deputy, Chavalit Chairuek and Pol Lt-Col Chakkrit wongprommet, deputy superintendent of Rueso district police

A wounded non-commissioned army officer said from his hospital bed that he didn’t believe the peace talks would end the violence, noting that more violent incidents took place after the signing of the peace process.

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Caption : Thai government's delegation attend the first round of peace talk in Kuala Lumpur.