Working groups set up to study BRN’s demands
The Barisan Revolusi Nasional’s 4th demand for the recognition of the territorial ownership right of the Malayu Patani people was found to be most worthy of further discussions by the government’s panel tasked with finding a resolution to the southern unrest problem.
The 4th demand is among a list of five earlier proposed by the BRN to the government as a condition for the continuation of the peace talks.
The panel led by Deputy Prime minister in charge of security affairs Pracha Promnok met at the Government House on Saturday August 17 to discuss the BRN’s five demands. The panel agreed that the 4th demand was important and worthy of further discussions with the separatist group because it concerns with the future of the troubled region.
The other four demands include: Malaysia’s role should be upgraded from a facilitator to a mediator; the BRN should be recognized as a "liberator" and not a separatist movement and BRN should be recognized as the legitimate representative of the Malayu Patani people in the ongoing peace talks; Asean and the Organisation of Islamic Conference should be allowed to witness the peace talks process and unconditional release of all suspects held in custody on security-related charges and revocation of all arrest warrants.
National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabut said that the BRN’s 4th demand is unclear and needs further interpretation by the Council of State just like the issue of special administration zone for the deep South.
He said that people in the region and outside the region should be allowed to share their views on the matters – special administration zone for the deep South and the recognition of territorial ownership right of Malayu Patani people – because they are important issues that concern a lot of people.
As for the next round of peace talks with the separatist group, Lt-Gen Paradorn said that Malaysia had already been notified by the Thai government of its readiness to resume talks with the BRN. He added that three working groups had been set to assist Pracha’s panel.
The three groups include: one group in charge of development is led by Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan; the second one in charge of justice affairs is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana and the third for security affairs is led by Deputy Defence Minister Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa.
Meanwhile, security forces have been looking for more suspects involved in the killing of four policemen in Rueso district of Narathiwat on Friday August 16.
Four suspects have so far been arrested under suspicion of involvement in the fatal attack which reportedly involved several assailants. The four policemen were travelling in a pick-up truck when it came under an ambush by the assailants believed to be militants.
The pick-up plunged into a roadside ditch, then the assailants approached the hapless policemen and shot them at point-blank range. Then they escaped with their four M16 assault rifles and pistols.
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Caption : The panel led by Deputy Prime minister in charge of security affairs Pracha Promnok met at the Government House on Saturday August 17 to discuss the BRN’s five demands.
Thanks : Photo by The Nation newspaper