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SOUTH CRISIS
Two more groups to join peace talks this month: NSC
JEERAPONG PRASERTPONKRUNG,
SUPITCHA RATTANA,
NAKHARIN CHINNAVORNKOMON
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- TWO MORE GROUPS will join the peace dialogue initiated by Thai authorities to try to end unrest in the deep South.

Over the past several months representatives of Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) have held talks with Thai delegates to try to bring an end to years of violence and insurgency. However, National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabutr disclosed yesterday that two more groups would join the negotiation process.

"These groups are related to [violent] incidents in the deep South," he said.

Malaysia, which has served as facilitator in the peace dialogue, has informed Thailand that the next round of talks should be held during the third week of October.

"We should know the exact date within one week from now," Paradorn said. He added that relevant agencies were considering five demands made by the BRN.

Meanwhile, the Forward Command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 announced that the number of violent incidents in the southernmost provinces had dropped during the past year compared with a year earlier.

"But because bombs were used more, the casualties were around the same level," the forward command's spokesman Colonel Pramote Prom-in said.

Pramote said 67 per cent of violent incidents took place on roads in the deep South over the past year, and about a quarter (24 per cent) happened in community zones. The biggest group of victims comprised people - both Buddhist and Muslim - who have provided cooperation to officials.

"The second biggest group of victims is officials," he said.

During the past year, security officials clashed with people who instigated violence 37 times. The clashes led to the death of 45 instigators of attacks and the arrest of five others.

"During the past year, officials also successfully confiscated 215 guns along with ammunition and bomb-making equipment," Pramote said.

He added that his command expected to promote its re-education programme, under which suspects for allegedly non-serious offences would be allowed to return to normal lives.

"We expect to attract 2,000 suspects to the programme in the coming year," he said.

-- The Nation 2013-10-02