Positive signs of resumption of peace talks with the separatists

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha is due to visit Malaysia on December 1 and one of the key issues he is expected to discuss with his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak, is the peace talks between the Thai government and southern separatist groups with Malaysia acting as the facilitator. 

          Peace talks between the government headed by Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattthanabutr, former secretary-general of the National Security Council, and the Barisan Revolusi Nasionale led by Hassan Taib were abruptly suspended late last year after only three rounds of talks in Kuala Lumpur since the signing of an informal agreement of the peace process in February last year.

          Anti-government protests in Bangkok were the main cause of the collapse of the peace talks.  Of late, however, there were positive signs for possible resumption of the talks which resulted to the planned visit to Malaysia early December by General Prayut.

          It was earlier reported that Malaysia felt uncomfortable with the report about a retired army general being appointed as the chief of the Thai negotiating team.  Later on, Kuala Lumpur felt more relieved that the Thai side changed the chief negotiator and the confirmation from General Prayut that Malaysia would still play the role of the facilitator.

          Prime MinisterPrayut was reported to have said that he had to discuss with MrNajib first before deciding whom to head the Thai team.

          The NSC has recently proposed to General Prayut a new structure of the government’s peace talks negotiation body which is divided into three levels.

          The top level has a committee headed by the prime minister himself or one of his deputies and comprises permanent secretaries of the justice and foreign affairs, the NSC chief, the ISOC chief, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and the chief of the National Intelligence Agency.

          The second level is made up of the negotiating team expected to be headed by General AksaraKerdphol and comprises 10-12 representatives from security-related agencies such as ISOC, the army, NSC, foreign and justice ministries and the academia.

          The third level is made up of the field coordinating committee with the 4th Army Region’s ISOC as the key player.

          Meanwhile, there was an interesting development on the Malayside side – which was a White Paper report about security problem in Malaysia which was presented to the parliament by Prime Minister Najib.

          The White Paper pointed out at the threat of ISIS and other extreme Islamist groups toward Malaysia.  A report from the Malaysian police showed that about 100 were involved with various terrorist groups and 39 of them have been fighting in Syria with ISIS.

          Informed Thai security sources claimed that there are ISIS recruiting cell in Malaysia which recruits hardline Islamists to fight in Syria.  But the main common concern of security authorities in the region is these Islamists could rise up if and when ISIS wants to set a foothold in this region.

          Because of the threat posed by these extreme Islamists, the sources said that Malaysia’s attitude towards Thailand as far as the southern unrest is concerned has been more positive.

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Thanks : Photo from www.thaigov.go.th

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