The Thai government's negotiation representative stated that a statement issued by the separatist organization Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), during technical talks in Kuala Lumpur, could jeopardize the progress of the Southern Thailand peace negotiations.
According to the Bangkok Post on the 6th, Thanat, head of Thailand's National Intelligence Agency and newly appointed chief negotiator, made a statement on the 5th criticizing BRN's comments.
This tripartite dialogue, involving Thailand, the BRN, and Malaysia as the facilitator, took place on July 4th. Thanat said that the statement interfered with the negotiations and also reflected divisions within the BRN leadership.
In its statement, the BRN praised Malaysia's role as facilitator, called for increased involvement of Western countries in the peace process, and raised topics such as environmental and resource management. Regarding this, Thanat said the BRN's appeal for more international actors to get involved was clearly intended to increase pressure on Thailand and force Thai authorities to accept more of the organization's demands.
He added that the Thai government would not issue a public response to this, emphasizing that all negotiation processes should be conducted through official channels.
BRN: Negotiations Progressing Slowly
According to the New Straits Times, the BRN reiterated its commitment to the peace process and argued that the recent escalation of violent conflicts reflects slow progress in talks, rather than their refusal to engage in dialogue.
Meanwhile, the BRN Peace Talk Secretariat stated that the violent incidents in Southern Thailand highlight the failure to achieve progress in this long-standing conflict.
The organization claims that its armed struggle, ongoing since 2004, is mainly targeted at Thai security forces, government-backed armed groups, and projects they believe harm the interests of the Malay Muslim community in southern Thailand, stressing that its actions are in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The BRN urged civilians to stay away from conflict zones and expressed gratitude to Malaysia for its role as facilitator, but also emphasized that broader community support is needed to drive the peace process forward.