Government is ready to accept some of BRN’s demands
The government is likely to accept probably two of the five demands set by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist group in order to save the peace talk process.
A decision about the acceptance of the two demands will be made at the meeting of the policy and strategy committee to resolve the southern problem to be chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
A well-informed security source told Isranews agency that there was a likelihood that the government would accept two of the BRN’s five demands namely the demand that Malaysia’s status in brokering the peace talks be upgraded from a facilitator to a mediator and the demand for unconditional release of all suspected militants and supporters held in custody and the revocation of all arrest warrants.
The other three demands which have been rejected from the beginning are: peace talks must be observed by representatives from Asean, the Organisation of Islamic Conference and non-governmental organizations; government’s recognition of the BRN as a liberation movement and not a separatist movement; and the peace process must be talks between the Malayu Patani people represented by the BRN and the Siam state.
As for the unconditional release of suspected militants and their supporters, the source said that the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre had already arranged for the relocation of some 50 detainees from Bangkok’s prison to prisons in the deep South so that their relatives would be able to visit them more conveniently.
On top of that, state of emergency will soon be lifted in five out of 32 districts placed under emergency rule.
The source pointed out that Kuala Lumpur used to reject the mediator’s role and, hopefully, would do the same even if the Thai government agreed to this demand by the BRN.
As for the rest of the demands, the source said that the position of the Internal Security Operations Command vis-à-vis the demands was that they must not infringe on the Constitution and that the demands must not lead to territorial separation or the creation of a special administrative zone for the deep South.
Meanwhile Army Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha predicted that the separatists would continue using violence especially bomb attacks to put pressure on the government to bow to their demands. But despite the violence, he said that the peace talks should continue.
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Caption : Hassan Taib on YouTube