General Aekkanit: A new strategy for southern problem is needed
The peace talks between the government and the separatist groups led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional has not collapsed but is temporarily suspended due to the current political conflict, according to General Aekkanit Muensawat.
The former chief of the Border Coordinating Centre who used to play a key role in mediating the peace talks between Malaysia and the outlawed Communist Party of Malaya several decades ago said that the separatist groups themselves also have their problems which has contributed to the suspension of the talks.
He disclosed that Malaysia recently invited key figures of three factions of Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) namely the Zamzudin Khan facton, the Gustouri faction and Kamae Yusoh faction for a discussion about their representation in the peace talks process with the government.
However, the discussion was inconclusive as the three factions all wanted to be the leader and represent the PULO in the peace talks, said General Akkanit, adding that the three also wanted the informal agreement between the government and the BRN be scrapped.
He also said that the BRN’s statement through the social media calling for the suspension of the peace talks unless its five demands are accepted by the Thai parliament was just a tactic to distract attention from its own internal problem.
BRN, according to the retired general, has its own internal problem and it also has been engaged in a conflict with the PULO over the leadership’s role in the peace talks.
With the peace talks temporarily suspended and with the separatist groups in conflict with one another, the Thai military has quietly maneuvered a new player to enter the fray.
The sudden emergence of Dr Wan Kadir, former president of Patani Bersatu Movement, has the rubber stamp of the military as evident in his public appearances in two forum, the last being the one held at the Rajabhat University’s Yala campus on December 24.
General Aekkanit who is close to Dr Wan Kadir said the former Bersatu leader is supportive of peace talks but disagrees with separatism.
Dr Surachart Bamrungsook, an expert on security strategy and a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s political science faculty, said that the new Thai government which will emerge after the election would have to come up with a new strategy to deal with the southern unrest problem.
He called the peace talks in Kuala Lumpur which has been facilitated by Malaysia as just a public relations stint.
He noted that peace talks to end a war of separatism in anywhere normally would take many years and were normally done secretly. "Why should we believe that one open peace talk could resolve the unrest problem immediately?" he said.
"An open peace talk is just a PR stuff and the result will be just a PR stuff," said Dr Surachart.
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Caption : General Aekkanit Muensawat