After 10 years of on-and-off dialogue, Thailand’s peace negotiators and representatives of the biggest separatist group in southern Thailand finally hope to be able to reach a peace agreement by the end of this year, according to the head of the Thai delegation.

 

Chatchai Bangchuad, deputy secretary general of the National Security Council, said the result of the latest session of peace dialogue hosted by Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on February 6-7 gave him confidence that peace is returning to the troubled region.

 

He confirmed in a recent interview with Thai PBS World that the Thai peace delegation and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) are committed to reaching a peace agreement by December 31 this year.  The timeframe is included in what is referred to as the final draft of a peace roadmap agreed upon by the two sides at the recent meeting.

 

The peace plan, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan towards Peace (JCPP), lays out three stages leading to a peace agreement. They include cessation of violence, followed by public consultations and political solutions.

 

Chatchai said he expected the Thai delegation and BRN to formally endorse the peace roadmap in March.

 

By Thepchai Yong

TOP Picture: Chief of Thai peace delegation Chatchai Bangchuad (left) with head of BRN delegation Anas Abdulrahman and Malaysian facilitator Gen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin during a press conference after the latest round of peace talks in Kuala Lumpur on February 6-7.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-02-17

 

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Never really understood this conflict, but as long as it stays in the South, I don't much care.

24 minutes ago, nausea said:

Never really understood this conflict, but as long as it stays in the South, I don't much care.

Never understood?

Typical case of an ethnic minority stranded on the wrong side if the border.

2 hours ago, VinnieK said:

Never understood?

Typical case of an ethnic minority stranded on the wrong side if the border.

Sounds a bit like Myanmar... 

 

Maybe not. Anyone that's not military seems to be the minority over there. 

3 hours ago, VinnieK said:

Typical case of an ethnic minority stranded on the wrong side if the border

That was not the typical case. 

Malay Muslims were a 95% majority indigenious people in a sovereign Kingdom of their own making. But Thailand crossed their border to subjugate that country and annexed it by force into the Kingdom of Siam/Thailand.

If a peace plan is agreed, specific milestones are achieved and final approval in a referendum solely by Malay Muslims, international recognition of such result should be highlighted as a success by the international community. Perhaps a Nobel Peace Prize?

Edited February 17, 20242 yr by Srikcir
Msp