The stalled peace talks designed to end more than two decades of violence in southern Thailand will resume in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, early next month, according to acting Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC) Chatchai Bangchuad.
Chatchai, who heads the Thai peace dialogue delegation, also expressed hope that the talks should pave the way for an initial peace roadmap to be formally endorsed.
Speaking to Thai PBS World, Chatchai said the dialogue is scheduled to take place on February 7-9 in Kuala Lumpur with Gen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, a former commander of the Malaysian armed forces, as facilitator.
Chatchai said the talks between the Thai delegation and representatives of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) will focus on the agenda and objectives for the peace dialogue based on the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan toward Peace (JCPP) which was adopted at the last meeting in February last year.
The peace dialogue, initiated during the Yingluck government in 2013, was stalled by changes of governments in Thailand following the general elections last May. In the last meeting, both sides agreed to have other armed groups operating on the southern border to participate in the peace process.
However, Chatchai said the meeting in Kuala Lumpur next month will be limited to only the Thai delegation and BRN, which is considered to be the biggest insurgency group.
“We hope to have the JCPP formally signed in March,” he said.
The peace plan focuses on three specific points that include cessation of violence, public consultation with all stake-holders, and a political solution. Chatchai said signing of the roadmap will represent significant progress in the peace process.
Chatchai said the Thai delegation is prepared to formally sign the peace plan while BRN has yet to take a formal stand.
Gen Zulkifli, who was appointed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to serve as the peace talk facilitator, has also expressed optimism that the peace process should produce “something concrete” this year.
While BRN has been insisting on independence for the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, it has yet to be more specific about what Gen Zulkifli called the “endgame” of the peace process.
Following the last peace talks he facilitated in Kuala Lumpur last February, Gen Zulkifli visited southern Thailand and said most of the people he talked to believed that they were beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.
“I am optimistic that the light is still there. And from my visit (to Bangkok) this week, I think the light is getting brighter,” he told Thai PBS World in an interview during his recent Bangkok visit.
Gen Zulkifli said Prime Minister Anwar is strongly committed to helping Thailand end the bloody conflicts in its south.
By Thepchai Yong
