2 weeks ago
Thailand Seeks Political Path to End Southern Insurgency
Thailand’s southern provinces have experienced fighting for many years.
The conflict involves the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, or BRN, which seeks independence for three provinces.
More than 7,800 people have died since the latest fighting began in 2004.
Thailand’s new chief negotiator wants to restart peace talks.
He says the talks should discuss how the region is governed, not just whether attacks stop.
Thailand is considering amnesties and other legal measures for some suspected insurgents.
The government also says security practices that upset local communities should be reviewed.
However, a recent attack killed five security personnel and postponed planned discussions.
Some experts say the peace process will require Thailand to make meaningful political concessions.
Thailand plans to revive peace efforts in its Muslim-majority southern provinces after years of stalled negotiations.
Chief negotiator Thanut Suvarnananda said governance and possible self-administration should be discussed alongside security concerns.
The conflict has killed more than 7,800 people since the latest insurgency began in 2004.
A July attack in Narathiwat killed five security personnel and injured six civilians, delaying planned talks.
Possible measures include amnesties, pardons, sentence reductions and reviewing restrictive security practices.
- Who
- Thailand’s government, chief negotiator Thanut Suvarnananda and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional are central to the peace process.
- What
- Thailand is seeking a new approach to revive negotiations and address the political roots of the southern insurgency.
- Where
- The conflict is concentrated in Thailand’s southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
- When
- The latest report was published on August 19; the current insurgency began in 2004, and a major recent attack occurred in July.
- Why
- Thailand wants to address governance concerns and reduce violence after years of stalled talks and continuing attacks.
Political Dialogue and Governance Reform
Security Concerns and Insurgent Demands
How to address the conflict
Political Dialogue and Governance Reform
Thanut Suvarnananda says negotiations should focus on finding an appropriate form of governance and could involve decentralization or self-administration.
Security Concerns and Insurgent Demands
The BRN is fighting a guerrilla war to secure independence for Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, while some members reportedly no longer have confidence in the peace process.
Role of concessions
Political Dialogue and Governance Reform
Thai conflict specialist Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat says Bangkok must be prepared to make meaningful political concessions if talks are to succeed.
Security Concerns and Insurgent Demands
Thailand’s previous approach emphasized trading reductions in violence for concessions, but Thanut says this produced limited results and should not be repeated.
Security measures
Political Dialogue and Governance Reform
Thanut says village cordons, searches and checkpoints should be reviewed because they may increase resentment and fuel the insurgency.
Security Concerns and Insurgent Demands
Recent violence, including the attack that killed five security personnel, has complicated efforts to restart formal talks and prompted Thailand to postpone planned dialogue.
Key facts
- Conflict duration
- The latest round of insurgency began in 2004.
- Reported death toll
- More than 7,800 people have been killed since 2004.
- Main insurgent group
- The Barisan Revolusi Nasional, or BRN, is identified as the main group leading the insurgency.
- Peace-process facilitator
- Malaysia has facilitated talks since 2013.
- Recent attack
- A July attack in Narathiwat killed five security personnel and injured six civilians.
- Possible government measures
- Thailand is considering amnesties, pardons and sentence reductions for some suspected insurgents.
- Proposed policy shift
- Thailand wants to discuss decentralization, self-administration and other governance arrangements.
Quotes
Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat
Lecturer at Prince of Songkla University studying the conflict
“If they stop shooting, what does Thailand have to give them in return? We (cannot) fall into the same trap as the past 10-plus years.”
theprint.in
“It has to be prepared to make political concessions.”
theprint.in
Sources
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