BRN set new conditions for reduction of violence
The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group has demanded complete pullout of "outside" troops, paramailitary rangers and police from the troubled deep South as a condition for the rebels to ease violence during the Ramadan fasting month.
The withdrawal of security forces from Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and five districts of Songkhla was one of the conditions declared by Hassan Taib of the BRN in a message posted on the YouTube social media on Tuesday June 25. The other less significant conditions include a liquor sale ban in the region during the Ramadan, Muslims personnel in the security forces are allowed to take leave and no military operations during the fasting month.
In the video clip posted on YouTube, Hassan also branded the government "Siamese colonialist".
Hassan said that the BRN had decided to cease military operations during Ramadan and 10 more days after the fasting month provided that their conditions were accepted by the government, endorsed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and officially announced on July 3 ahead of the Ramadan.
The BRN representative warned that no more peace talks would be held unless the government accepted their conditions.
The BRN’s new demand has met with strong objection and anger from the Thai military top brass as well as Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung who is in charge of security affairs in the far South.
"”Unacceptable. It is too much," said Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwannatat. Army Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, meanwhile, said that he wonder the Thai public would accept the condition that security forces be pulled out of the far South which is part of the Thai territory and is under the Thai law.
However, the defence minister said that the door would remain open for peace talks.
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Caption : Hassan Taib on YouTube