The Thai government, in power since September 2023, has taken a step towards restarting peace talks in the country’s troubled southern region.
This area, consisting of the three Muslim-majority provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, shares borders with Malaysia and has been plagued by conflicts for decades.
According to Asia News, a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin and the former commander of the Malaysian armed forces, General Zulkifli Zainal Abidin on Jan. 10 has marked a positive development in the direction of fostering peace and stability in the region.
General Zulkifli, who also acts as a mediator between the Thai government and the independent rebel coalition Barisan Nasional Revolusi, participated in what Deputy Prime Minister Somsak described as a dialogue “aimed at promoting better understanding between the Thai and Malaysian authorities involved in the peace negotiations.”
The Thai government, formed by an unprecedented alliance of “civilian” and pro-military parties, is now actively seeking to end the long-standing conflict in the southern provinces.
One proposed solution involves replacing the emergency decrees, which have been imposed harshly and often indiscriminately in sensitive areas of the provinces, with the application of the National Security Law.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak expressed confidence that this shift would lead to an improved atmosphere in the region, creating a more favorable environment for conflict resolution.
Despite the ongoing guerrilla warfare and repression that escalated in January 2004, the Thai government is determined to keep negotiations open.
The talks on Wednesday did not yield a specific timeline for the next steps, including potential involvement of Barisan.
However, both parties agreed to initiate necessary procedures in anticipation of an opportune time window, with February being mentioned as a potential starting point.
The conflict in the southern provinces, lingering since the end of World War II, has resulted in a devastating toll of 10 thousand victims over the last two decades.
While obstacles to a peaceful resolution remain, the government’s proactive approach signals a commitment to addressing the needs and interests at various levels.
A potential public consultation in February could pave the way for a political solution, offering hope to the region for an end to violence and repression that hinder its full development.
