Nine Of 15 Delegate Members Attend Dialogue In Kuala Lumpur: Thai South Crisis

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS
Nine of 15 delegate members attend dialogue
THE NATION



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Only nine of the original 15 members of the Thai delegation turned up in Malaysia for a peace dialogue with insurgents' representatives yesterday. The dialogue is taking place at a police facility in Kuala Lumpur.

The delegation of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Coordinate (BRN), representing the insurgents, had also shrunk to just five, including Hassan Taib, chief of the BRN liaison office in Malaysia.

Details of the discussion were kept confidential, pending a statement from both sides.

The nine Thais included National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr and South Border Provinces Administrative Centre director Tawee Sondsong, as well as former members of the police, the Army and civilians. No explanations were given as to why the team had shrunk.

After arriving on Wednesday, the delegates held a meeting to work out what issues would be on the agenda. Paradorn said a late change in conditions for the number of attendees meant each side would include the same number of people at the talks, but did not say yesterday how many were present.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday responded to reports that insurgents had demanded the withdrawal of troops from the far South as a precondition for ending their armed struggle, saying such a move was possible. Paradorn has since denied that any such precondition was ever proposed, while Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung has blamed the media.

Prayuth said a bomb attack yesterday in Narathiwat, which killed three soldiers, was not connected to the peace dialogue. The next round of talks will take place in Indonesia next month, a source said.

-- The Nation 2013-03-29

[webfact]

Peace talks met with violence
Santhiti Kochitmate
The Nation

Narathiwat bomb kills 3 rangers

NARATHIWAT: -- Southern insurgents yesterday greeted the first day of the Kuala Lumpur peace talks between Thai officials and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) group with a show of force, killing three rangers and seriously wounding eight others with a bomb in Narathiwat's Joh I Rong district.

Rangers Pornchai Phongern, 21, and Sangkom Huanghung, 27, died at the scene and Peerachat Sri-namngern, 28, died in hospital.

Sergeant Montri Kraitep said he was leading the group of 12 rangers on patrol on a side street from Joh I Rong to Istear when an unknown number of insurgents detonated the improvised explosive device. He said he ordered his men to fire upon the insurgents to prevent them from approaching and massacring the whole team. An exchange of gunfire lasted about 10 minutes before the insurgents retreated. Montri added that he had called for reinforcements.

At the scene, there was a collapsed electrical pole and a 23-kilogram gas cylinder with a radio device attached. Bullet casings from AK-47 and M-16 assault rifles were also found.

Three suspects in the attack have been identified as Sukifri Suemae, Waehanman Ku Waekama and Mama Mudora-sae.

Suemae is a suspected bombmaker who was arrested seven years ago in Malaysia and recently released by Malaysian authorities for unknown reasons. Waekama is believed to be adept with war weapons and Mudora-sae is an RKK (Runda Kumpulan Kecil) leader based in Joh I Rong.

The attack was reportedly in retaliation for the extra-judicial killing of RKK member Abdulromaeng on Tuesday night. The group also took part in the attack on a marine base in Bacho district on February 13.

Lt-Colonel Issara Chantakrayom, deputy chief of the Ranger 48th Division, said a joint security force of 100 personnel searched houses near the explosion and detained four suspects. One suspect was a rubber farmer who police had detained and questioned earlier. He was released after officials came to believe he was not involved.

Meanwhile, security has been stepped up on the Thai-Malaysian border in Yala's Betong district.

District chief Suaprit Petkarn said he believed Betong was being targeted by insurgents. He instructed various security agencies to join forces and keep watch on business and tourism areas. Police and military personnel, including the para-military rangers, are taking turns in 24-hour patrols.

Suaprit said he had also instructed village heads to monitor their communities to prevent possible "symbolic attacks" as peace talks got under way.

Security has also been tightened at border checkpoints as well as in Songkhla's six districts. Motorists faced strict security at checkpoints on roads in Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, Hat Yai and Muang districts.

Plainclothes police officers manned both major and minor roads linking the three southern provinces after police were tipped off about possible bomb attacks.


-- The Nation 2013-03-29

[OzMick]

The DPM couldn't make it as he was in HK not meeting Thaksin.

[Ricardo]

As the advert for British Telecom used to say ... "It's good to talk", because it is at least a start.

[waza]

Only nine of the original 15 members of the Thai delegation turned up in Malaysia for a peace dialogue with insurgents' representatives yesterday. The dialogue is taking place at a police facility in Kuala Lumpur.

Unbelievable, the members of the Thai contingent wont even make a token effort to take this farce seriously.

[hellodolly]

So much for peace talks. No information given other than only 60% of the Thai delegation showed up and the insurgents were only represented by five groups down from I believe it was 9 groups. In the mean time 3 more rangers were killed in a bomb attack in Southern Thailand,

The next peace talks to be held in a month in Indonesia. Be interesting to see how many show up for that one.

Also will the insurgents celebrate it with more bombings.

Good to see that since Yingluck placed Chalerm in control of the whole thing every thing is moving along smoothly. That is for the insurgents.

[bigbamboo]

More booze for Mr C then. Cheers!

Edited March 29, 2013 by bigbamboo

[simple1]

In the front page of today's BKK Post says that the talks lasted 12 hours and a number of 'demands" were presented - by the way the original list of 9 (?) demands have been dismissed as misinformation.

Representing the separatist movements were BRN Coordinate, BRN Congress and PULO. Only three groups attending from the previous list of nine. The talking points included release of convicted insurgents, clear impending cases, revoking arrest warrants for suspects & revoke a blacklist of rebel suspects. Thailand agreed to discuss all points with relevant agencies, except the release of those already convicted. Both sides agreed the terms of reference for future negotiations.

The main representative of the insurgent groups admitted the obvious that those groups opposed to talks will likely continue the attacks.

It is claimed a joint statement will be released later today.

[chainarong]

While the bombs are going off, these delegates are talking peace in KL, so much for peace talks , the head honcho failed to show, so that tells me this is not important enough to bother with , this is the reason they have got them selves into this situation, sweep everything under the carpet and hope one day it will go away, news for Chalerm wake up fella , you are on their hit list , hope that makes you sleep well at night.

[GrantSmith]

hope that makes you sleep well at night.

I reckon he has zero problems sleeping at night... 'Ear' medicine et al...

But if you've ever seen his 'compound' you would know he is pretty safe...

[brianb1944]

In the front page of today's BKK Post says that the talks lasted 12 hours and a number of 'demands" were presented - by the way the original list of 9 (?) demands have been dismissed as misinformation.

Representing the separatist movements were BRN Coordinate, BRN Congress and PULO. Only three groups attending from the previous list of nine. The talking points included release of convicted insurgents, clear impending cases, revoking arrest warrants for suspects & revoke a blacklist of rebel suspects. Thailand agreed to discuss all points with relevant agencies, except the release of those already convicted. Both sides agreed the terms of reference for future negotiations.

The main representative of the insurgent groups admitted the obvious that those groups opposed to talks will likely continue the attacks.

It is claimed a joint statement will be released later today.

Isnt the BRN a puppet the gentleman from Dubai?

[Locationthailand]

This again clearly shows intent and importance from the delegation from both sides wanting to resolve the issue of the South. I wonder what pathetic excuse will be used this time?

[simple1]

In the front page of today's BKK Post says that the talks lasted 12 hours and a number of 'demands" were presented - by the way the original list of 9 (?) demands have been dismissed as misinformation.

Representing the separatist movements were BRN Coordinate, BRN Congress and PULO. Only three groups attending from the previous list of nine. The talking points included release of convicted insurgents, clear impending cases, revoking arrest warrants for suspects & revoke a blacklist of rebel suspects. Thailand agreed to discuss all points with relevant agencies, except the release of those already convicted. Both sides agreed the terms of reference for future negotiations.

The main representative of the insurgent groups admitted the obvious that those groups opposed to talks will likely continue the attacks.

It is claimed a joint statement will be released later today.

Isnt the BRN a puppet the gentleman from Dubai?

From media reports BRN say they respect Thaksin's efforts to facilitate talks. However Gen Prayuth, disagrees with Thaksin over the relevance of BRN saying they are "an old-guard outfit".

[laobali]

Only nine of the original 15 members of the Thai delegation turned up in Malaysia for a peace dialogue with insurgents' representatives yesterday. The dialogue is taking place at a police facility in Kuala Lumpur.

Unbelievable, the members of the Thai contingent wont even make a token effort to take this farce seriously.

Farces are not supposed to be taken seriously.

[waza]

In the front page of today's BKK Post says that the talks lasted 12 hours and a number of 'demands" were presented - by the way the original list of 9 (?) demands have been dismissed as misinformation.

Representing the separatist movements were BRN Coordinate, BRN Congress and PULO. Only three groups attending from the previous list of nine. The talking points included release of convicted insurgents, clear impending cases, revoking arrest warrants for suspects & revoke a blacklist of rebel suspects. Thailand agreed to discuss all points with relevant agencies, except the release of those already convicted. Both sides agreed the terms of reference for future negotiations.

The main representative of the insurgent groups admitted the obvious that those groups opposed to talks will likely continue the attacks.

It is claimed a joint statement will be released later today.

So the Government representative have agree to all the rebels points in principle except those convicted, but have received nothing except the promise of more terrorist acts. Another stunning success.

Edited March 29, 2013 by waza

[simple1]

In the front page of today's BKK Post says that the talks lasted 12 hours and a number of 'demands" were presented - by the way the original list of 9 (?) demands have been dismissed as misinformation.

Representing the separatist movements were BRN Coordinate, BRN Congress and PULO. Only three groups attending from the previous list of nine. The talking points included release of convicted insurgents, clear impending cases, revoking arrest warrants for suspects & revoke a blacklist of rebel suspects. Thailand agreed to discuss all points with relevant agencies, except the release of those already convicted. Both sides agreed the terms of reference for future negotiations.

The main representative of the insurgent groups admitted the obvious that those groups opposed to talks will likely continue the attacks.

It is claimed a joint statement will be released later today.

So the Government representative have agree to all the rebels points in principle except those convicted, but have received nothing except the promise of more terrorist acts. Another stunning success.

No, as I said "discuss" with relevant Thai government agencies, miles away from agreeing

[Thai at Heart]

How can 6 Thai government officials just decide not to pitch?

[webfact]

Minor progress in KL peace talks, sets April 29 for next meet
By English News

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 – Thailand and Muslim insurgents from the South have reached an agreement on a terms of reference (TOR) for their peace dialogue in the first round of peace talks in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Thai National Security Council (NSC) Secretary G|eneral Paradorn Pattanathabut said after the 12-hour meeting with core members of several southern Muslim factions that both parties exchanged opinions straightforwardly in moving toward resolution to the crisis in Thailand’s far South.

Both sides said they would report results of the talks to their respective superiors for further decision and set the next talks on April 29, he said.

Among the 15 Thai delegates attending the closed-door session, six were allowed to actively participate while the others were observers.

The insurgent participants, led by Hassan Taib, a liaison officer of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (National Revolutionary Front or BRN), represented different BRN factions. A key member of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) also attended the meeting though PULO leader Kasturi Mahkota earlier announced that his group would not be part of the talks.

Some Malaysian government representatives acting as facilitators were present in the trilingual dialogue in which Thai, English and Malay were spoken.

Lt Gen Paradorn said both sides agreed to alleviating violence and bringing peace to Thailand’s trouble-plagued far South.

“We did not pinpoint on specific areas and timeframe for peace and public order. The BRN representatives requested clarity and justice from the Thai authorities,” he said.

Regarding a report on BRN request to remove about 30,000 insurgent names from the Thai government’s blacklist, the NSC chief said the issue was not raised in the meeting as both sides agreed not to touch on sensitive details in the initial stage.

The controversial issue involves many legal factors and state agencies concerned, he said.

Lt Gen Paradorn said all BRN factions, including BRN Congress and BRN Coordinate, were represented in the dialogue, a sign of unity among themselves as well as the PULO group.

He said he will report on the progress of the talks to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-03-29

[notmyself]

How can 6 Thai government officials just decide not to pitch?

The only time I have failed to turn up for meetings is when I know it would be a waste of time being there. Perhaps the 6 feel the same.