Crisis In Thai South: Malaysian Poll May Delay Peace Dialogue

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CRISIS IN THE SOUTH
Malaysian poll may delay peace dialogue: NSC
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The April 29 peace talks with Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) may have to be rescheduled because Malaysia will be holding snap elections at the time, a top official said.

Paradorn Patanathabutr, secretary general of the National Security Council (NSC), said yesterday that any change in date should not be attributed to the recent surge of violence in the South, as the process was still at the confidence-building stage and had not been disrupted by recent insurgent activities.

He said there was a strong possibility that other rebel groups might be included in the peace process given that the BRN had promised to invite other groups.

If the violence gets worse, the future of the dialogue could be in the balance.

The BRN leadership is responsible for reasoning with and reining in the militants on the ground, he said.

There are no apparent changes in separatist tactics, he said, adding that state officials were still the prime targets and attacks were launched as and when opportunity arose.

"We will signal to the BRN that if the situation does not improve, it might have an impact on our talks in the future," Paradorn said.

Despite the Thai-BRN peace talks kicking off late last month, several bloody incidents continued taking place over the past few weeks.

On Friday, a bomb attack in Yala's Bannang Sata district killed the province's deputy governor Isara Thongthawat and senior provincial official Chavalit Chaireuk, and left their driver seriously injured.

Early yesterday, two attackers on a motorcycle lobbed an M79 grenade at the Narathiwat home of former MP Nujmudeen Uma, who is now serving as an adviser to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in matters related to the South. Nujmudeen was not at home at the time of the attack - which was the second aimed at him in less than 24 hours.

The grenade missed the target and hit an adjacent house, injuring homeowner Sulaiman Samae, 33.

The first attack on Monday morning only damaged the property.

After the first attack, the four-time MP told police that insurgents were opposed to the ongoing peace dialogue, hence they were likely behind the M79 grenade attack.

Prasit Meksuwan, who chairs the Civil Society Council of Southernmost Thailand, said the violence had possibly been stepped up in a bid to disrupt the peace talks.

"However, we believe peace negotiations are the best way out," he said. His council and 70 other civic organisations in the deep South will gather today to show their support.

Meanwhile, Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday that Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung would be visiting the deep South after Songkran in order to follow up on the situation and exchange information. He did not reveal the exact dates though.

Chalerm has been criticised for refusing to supervise South security issues in person even though the attacks have been stepped up.


-- The Nation 2013-04-10

[seajae]

Chalerm cant help it if they dont have his favourite ear medicine in the south, its a long way for him to go without some sort of compensation, especially when he could become a target, poor bugger