4th army chief underterred by MARA Patani’s statement

 

 

Fourth Army Region commander Lt-Gen Piyatwat Nakwanich has brushed aside MARA Patani’s comment that the Bring People Home project and the declaration of 14 districts in the Deep South as safety zones are not related to the peace dialogue process.

 

He said today (March 24) that he was not worried with MARA Patani’s statement, claiming that the Bring People Home project was the right course of action undertaken by the Fourth Army Region, but the project might cause dissatisfaction among some separatist groups because they are losing their support base.

 

Lt-Gen Piyawat insisted that the unilateral declaration of safety zones in 14 districts was not stage-managed, but was part of the military’s effort to try to resolve the unrest problem.  He also assured that there is no conflict between the fourth army region and the peace dialogue delegation as peace talk with the separatist groups is the government’s key policy.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/4th-army-chief-underterred-mara-patanis-statement/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-03-25

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

the project might cause dissatisfaction among some separatist groups because they are losing their support base.

 

That's not intuitive logic.

The insurgents lost separatists who left the country.

Having them return by whatever means or excuse makes them approachable to rejoin the insurgency. Such opportunity doesn't create dissatisfaction.

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

He also assured that there is no conflict between the fourth army region and the peace dialogue delegation as peace talk with the separatist groups is the government’s key policy.

As both are failing to peacefully resolve insurgent issues, there is no conflict between the two.

Hopefully, the next elected government (should it not be a pro-military government) will once again bypass the military in peace talks as did PM Yingluck, replace all military/pro-military Thai negotiators with civilian negotiators and allow independent foreign monitors cover the peace talks.