MALAYSIA: First round of peace talks between the Thai government and Muslim rebels ends with both sides agreeing on the importance of a reduction in violence in Thailand's south

Record ID: 349679

  • Title: MALAYSIA: First round of peace talks between the Thai government and Muslim rebels ends with both sides agreeing on the importance of a reduction in violence in Thailand's south
  • Date: 29th March 2013
  • Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (MARCH 28, 2013) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING DOWN ROAD EXTERIOR OF HOTEL WHERE THAI GOVERNMENT DELEGATES ARE STAYING VARIOUS REPORTERS WORKING CARS DRIVING UP TO HOTEL THAI NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY-GENERAL, PARADORN PATTANATHABUTR GETTING OUT OF CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY-GENERAL, PARADORN PATTANATHABUTR
  • Embargoed: 13th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Malaysia
  • Country: Malaysia
  • Topics: Crime,Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3JZAUDCX5OD20YBEICRJ2S2KH
  • Story Text: The Thai government and a major Muslim rebel group committed to reduce violence on the restive southern border as the two sides concluded their first formal talks in Malaysia on Thursday (March 28).
    The dialogue brokered by Malaysia was attended by five officials from Thai government and three representatives from Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) led by Hassan Taib, its head of liaison office in Malaysia, and two members from insurgent group Patani United Liberation Organisation (PULO).
    Thailand's National Security Council chief who led the Thai government delegation said both sides had acknowledged the importance of reducing violence but measures to do so had yet to be specified.

    "We both acknowledge the importance of reducing violence but they have to be clear with us about their aims and what they can do to achieve that. There are many groups involved, so now they have to go back and discuss that," said Paradorn Pattanathabutr.
    Thai officials who took part in more than twelve hours of talks said representatives of the Muslim rebel groups were "open and frank" about their views, although it remains unclear what the rebel groups want. Some say they are seeking autonomy or self-rule.

    "This is the first ever that we hear from the BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional) that reflects all the views. And the feeling, the sentiment, of the people in the south frankly, we are so delighted that they are very open and they are very frank to us," said Nipat Thonglek, deputy permanent secretary of Thai Defence Ministry.
    At least 27 people have died in the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat since an agreement was reached to pursue talks on February 28.
    Some analysts are pessimistic about the peace talks and say the BRN has little control over the fighters.
    The military, which has 60,000 troops stationed in the south, has been lukewarm about the talks and some generals have dismissed the insurgency as more criminal than political.
    Just before Thursday's talks began, suspected Muslim rebels killed three military rangers in a roadside bomb attack in southern Thailand.
    But Nipat said such incidents would not derail the ongoing talks.

    "We understand the situation in the south, the militants in the south still operating. The peace dialogue is ongoing. We do this, I mean, in parallel with the military operation. We cannot neglect the people, we cannot neglect the security of people in the south. Our military, our police force must perform their duty twenty-four hours a day," said Nipat.
    More than 5,300 have died since January 2004 when the insurgency resurfaced after simmering for decades.
    Both sides are due to meet again on April 29.
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