BANGKOK: The rise in violent incidents in southern Thailand is being viewed as a pressure tactic by separatist groups urging the government to resume stalled peace talks, a security analyst said.
Senior Lecturer in Political Science at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus, Associate Professor Ekkarin Tuansiri, said the increase in attacks in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala reflected dissatisfaction with the peace negotiation process between the government and representatives of separatist groups.
"Separatist groups are launching attacks to voice their demands… They want to send a message that the temporarily suspended peace talks must resume immediately to discuss core issues and achieve peace in southern Thailand,” he said.
On Aug 22, a series of arson attacks was reported across Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, targeting government buildings, convenience stores, shops, vehicles and utility poles. The incidents left at least three people injured in Narathiwat.
Authorities said more than 50 incidents were reported across the three provinces over the weekend.
Narathiwat was placed under a curfew from 10.15 pm on Aug 22 until 6 am on Aug 23 following dozens of coordinated incidents across the province.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
His view was echoed by Deep South Watch director Associate Professor Dr Srisompob Jitpiromsri, who described the series of coordinated attacks as a signal for the administration of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to resume peace talks immediately.
"They want to pressure the Thai government to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the conflict in southern Thailand,” he said.
On July 28, the Director of Thailand’s National Intelligence Agency and head of the Southern Border Provinces Peace Dialogue Panel, Thanat Suwannanont, announced the temporary suspension of peace talks scheduled to take place in Malaysia in September, following deadly attacks in Narathiwat.
Malaysia has served as the facilitator of the peace negotiation process since 2013, to end the protracted conflict in Thailand’s southern provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani, as well as parts of Songkhla.
Thailand appointed Thanat as head of its dialogue panel in May, while Malaysia appointed Datuk Mohd Rabin Basir as facilitator on July 1, 2024.
Statistics show that the cycle of violence in southern Thailand since 2004 has claimed more than 7,000 lives and injured over 13,000 people, including civilians, security personnel and members of separatist groups. - Bernama
