PULO is not against General Akkanit Muensawat leading the peace talks
The Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) has issued a statement announcing its readiness to join the peace talks with the government and its acceptance of General Akkanit Muensawat as head of the government’s delegation for the talk.
Pulo’s statement which was posted on its website, puloinfo.net, on September 9 came shortly after a group of separatists who called themselves Patani Warriors and who also claimed to represent Pulo, BRN and BIPP separatist groups announced their objection to General Akkanit’s leading role in the peace talks process.
The statement, entitled "Who is Who in The Next Round of Talks", said that it was now time for the talks to be resumed openly and to discuss the leaders of the Thai and Malaysian delegations.
"We, the Pulo, has been waiting for years for the Thai government to appoint a legitimate representative to participate in the talks to demonstrate their genuine intention to participate in the peace process through a middle man," according to the statement.
"We have no objection about who to lead the delegation (the government). As far as General Akkanit is concerned, he has experience in peace talks since he was a major whereas Datuk Zamzamin (Malaysia’s facilitator Datuk Seri Ahmad Zamzamin) is most experienced in security affairs of Malaysia. Therefore, the head of the peace talks delegation can be anybody provided there are talks and the peace process can move on. For us, the most important thing is that the meeting agenda must be acceptable by all and they are the issues to be raised on the negotiating table," said Pulo.
The Pulo which issued this statement was led by Mr Gustury Mahkota who has been supportive of the peace talks with the government.
General Akkanit was earlier tipped to head the Thai delegation but latest report said that he might not be appointed.
There were other developments regarding peace talks. On September 10, National Security Council secretary-general Thawil Pliensri was in Malaysia to discuss with his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Mohammad Tajudine Abdul Wahab, about the resumption of peace talks and Malaysia’s role as the facilitator.
Upon his return home, Mr Thawil said that he would report to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha details of his discussion in Malaysia so that the matter could be followed up by the prime minister when he visits Malaysia next month.
General Prayuth will make Myanmar his first official visit since he assumed the premiership followed by the visit to Malaysia.
Mr Thawil reportedly told his Malaysian counterparty the forthcoming peace talks would not start from zero but would be the continuation of the last peace talks between Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr representing the government’s side and Mr Hassan Taib who represented the BRN
This means that the BRN’s five demands to the government still stands most lof which have been rejected by the government.
The five demands are: the talks should be between BRN representing the Patani people and the government; Malaysia’s status should be changed to a mediator instead of a facilitator; representatives of Asean, Organistion of Islamic Cooperation and non-government organizations should be allowed to witness the talks; recognition of the ownership right of Patani people of the Patani territory; and release of all political prisoners and Patani fighters.