Thailand, Rebel Group To Open Peace Talks March 28

[webfact]

Thailand, rebel group to open peace talks March 28

BANGKOK, March 14, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand and one of several rebel groups in the country's Muslim south will open peace negotiations in Malaysia on March 28 to try to end a bloody insurgency, a Thai official said Thursday.

Thailand and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) rebel group signed an agreement in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago, pledging to open talks on ending a nine-year revolt by a number of shadowy insurgent groups that has claimed more than 5,500 lives.

Paradorn Pattanatabut, the head of Thailand's National Security Council, said a preliminary meeting was held on March 5 on the "conditions" for the talks, but more substantive dialogue would begin with the one-day exchange on March 28.

"We will fly to Malaysia for the first talks with BRN and possible other representatives on March 28," Paradorn told AFP.

"We aim to focus on what we should do to decrease violence in the south."

Paradorn did specify the "possible other representatives" or give any further details on the planned talks hosted by Thailand's southern neighbour.

The BRN, whose Malay name means "National Revolutionary Front", is one of the larger groups blamed by Thailand for the violence, but it remains to be seen whether other rebel organisations will fall in line.

Analysts says the search for peace is complicated by the splintered nature of the insurgents, lack of concrete demands, and Thailand's difficulty in finding negotiating partners who actually control hardened fighters on the ground.

Several people have been killed in bomb attacks or shootings in the Muslim-majority Thai south since the March 5 agreement.

Malaysian officials had said earlier it was hoped that other groups would eventually join in the talks, but declined to comment on the coming meeting.

Many residents of Thailand's southernmost provinces are Muslim ethnic Malays who resent being governed by the Buddhist Thais. The region sees near-daily gun and bomb attacks by insurgents seeking greater autonomy, which Thailand rejects.

The initial agreement pledging to launch negotiations was signed in Kuala Lumpur on February 28, coinciding with a visit by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for annual talks with her counterpart, Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Malaysia already hosts negotiations between the Philippines and Muslim separatists in the south of that country, resulting in a landmark agreement in October aimed at burying a decades-long insurgency there.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-03-14

[ITMan]

It's best we give into violence with groups of people like this, who cannot democratically vote someone in to do the job for them...

[Pimay1]

I wonder if Thaksin will Skype into the meeting? Oh I forgot the real PM said he was not involved. But he said he was. Now I'm confused.

[chainarong]

Could they make that the 27th , I've got a flight to Dubai, to see the CEO on the 28th.

[VINCENT2012]

before was piece and love time with sex,drug and rock n'roll .

now its dont forget to pray,kill in the name of god and talk .....talk for what?

democracy has to defend itself .

radicalism has to be fight by another radicalism...religeous or not...it is insane to talk with people who kill in the name of a their god.

they are just killers and religion has nothing to do with that.

it is a pretext.

[Trouble]

Certainly there is no harm in talks. There is nothing to lose by having these talks and just maybe something will come of it. I am all for leaders talking. Maybe if Obama would just take up the invite by Kim Jung Un to call him there might just be a chance of something no matter how slight. No reason to complain about something if one is not willing to take a first step.

[waza]

I wonder if Thaksin will Skype into the meeting? Oh I forgot the real PM said he was not involved. But he said he was. Now I'm confused.

Your confused! so are the insurgents..............

Thai rebel group trusts Thaksin for peace initiative

FORMER Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra won much admiration from the separatist movement for his initiative that led to the peace process in the deep

South, according to a former member of the insurgent group that recently agreed to peace talks with Thai authorities.

"He was the first person to have the courage to talk with the BRN. This has made the world community aware that the Thai government acknowledges the existence of this movement," said the man, who prefers to be called "Hope". http://www.bt.com.bn/news-asia/2013/03/11/thai-rebel-group-trusts-thaksin-peace-initiative

[Robby nz]

Would imagine the BRN are getting funded for all these talks.

They wont be wanting to reach into their own pockets to travel to various places.

Nor will they want to be staying in doss houses when they see the Thai reps staying in 5 star hotels or resorts.

Must be quite a good wicket for them, much better than at home.

Could be the Malay Govt that's picking up the tab but then again...............................................