Peace talk has slim chance of success?
The ongoing peace talk between the government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional has a slim chance of success because the rebels were forced into the peace process against their will by the Malaysian government, said former deputy interior minister and ex-senator Den Tohmeena.
The 79-year old veteran politician joined a chorus of increasing number of people who are doubtful that the peace process will work in light of continuing violence allegedly perpetrated by Muslim militants.
Mr Den whose father, Hajji Sulong, who was regarded as spiritual leader of the Malay Muslims in the three southernmost provinces became a victim of forced disappearance back in 1954 told Isra news agency that it has never been the intention of the BRN to hold talks with the government because their objective is for the independence of their homeland called Patani.
Moreover, he noted that the BRN was also considered by the government as a bandit group, not a liberation movement that they claimed to be.
As for the five demands proposed by the BRN through YouTube social media, Mr Den said that the demands were intended to test the sincerity of the government towards the peace process. He added that violence would continue as the talks went on because violence is a means to increase their bargaining power.
The ex-senator the BRN leaders who have been taking refuge in Malaysia might move to Indonesia if more pressure was applied upon them by Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunai Pasook of Human Rights Watch shared Mr Den’s view that there is a slim chance of the peace talks to be successful because the BRN itself was fragmented and divided into different groups each of which are independent.
Mr Hassan Taib, head of the BRN’s negotiating team, might be just a "messenger", said Mr Sunai.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a former militant told Isra news agency that the peace talk process would not end the current wave of violence in the deep South. While admitting that Hassan Taib used to be a key member of BRN, he said he doubted the former still holds any clout in the separatist movement these days.
Confirming Mr Den’s view that the BRN has no intention whatsoever to hold peace talks with the government, the ex-rebel noted that it was highly unlikely that the BRN would enter into an agreement with the government within the framework of the Thai Constitution.
He also dismissed as unlikely that there would be less violent incidents during the fasting month of Ramadan as agreed by the two parties. Instead, he believes that violence will be stepped up because the rebels believe that waging jihad during Ramadan would bring about more merits.
The militants, said the ex-rebel, will continue to wage war against the government as long as possible in order to demonstrate to the international community that the government is incapable of safeguarding the Thai citizens and their properties.
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Caption : Den Tohmeena