BANGKOK:Thailand's National Security Council (NSC) on Friday (Jan 31) told a press briefing that the first round of resumed peace talks with Thailand's restive south's insurgency representatives were satisfactory.
Both sides showed mutual intention for peaceful solutions and agreement during the talks, said General Wallop Raksanoh, secretary-general of the NSC.
"The discussion between the two sides took place in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 20," said Wallop.
"My team met a delegation of the Islamic independence movement Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), led by Anas Abdulrahman."
Anas showed good intention for the peace talk, and expressed willingness to resolve issues and restore peace in Thailand's deep southern provinces, bordering Malaysia.
However, Wallop also said that the Jan. 20 talk did not include representatives from the MARA Pattani group, another separatist group also located in Thailand's deep south.
"For the first round, we wanted to talk with the most powerful group in the region, which is BRN. However, Thailand is open to opinions from all groups. So perhaps the second round of peace talk will include the MARA Pattani group," said Wallop.
A decades-old insurgency in the Muslim-majority southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat has claimed more than 6,500 lives since it escalated in 2004.
Talks between the Thai government and the insurgents began in 2013 under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra but was stalled after the military overthrew her government in 2014. - Xinhua/Asian News Network
Both sides showed mutual intention for peaceful solutions and agreement during the talks, said General Wallop Raksanoh, secretary-general of the NSC.
"The discussion between the two sides took place in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 20," said Wallop.
"My team met a delegation of the Islamic independence movement Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), led by Anas Abdulrahman."
Anas showed good intention for the peace talk, and expressed willingness to resolve issues and restore peace in Thailand's deep southern provinces, bordering Malaysia.
However, Wallop also said that the Jan. 20 talk did not include representatives from the MARA Pattani group, another separatist group also located in Thailand's deep south.
"For the first round, we wanted to talk with the most powerful group in the region, which is BRN. However, Thailand is open to opinions from all groups. So perhaps the second round of peace talk will include the MARA Pattani group," said Wallop.
A decades-old insurgency in the Muslim-majority southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat has claimed more than 6,500 lives since it escalated in 2004.
Talks between the Thai government and the insurgents began in 2013 under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra but was stalled after the military overthrew her government in 2014. - Xinhua/Asian News Network
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
