Bring up your three demands to Malaysia, Thai PM tells BRN

The Thai government has told Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) to convey their three demands to Malaysia, which acts as the facilitator for the ongoing peace process.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said that any proposal which touched on the peace process must be brought up to the facilitator.

"They (BRN) must propose it through Malaysia as Malaysia is the facilitator of the talks. We cannot talk with any party in Thailand that is listed as an insurgent group, so they need to find a solution there," he told reporters, here, today.

BRN, which is seen by many as the most influential and capable militant group in southern Thailand had issued a rare statement yesterday, in which it outlined three key demands to ensure success in the peace talks.

Bangkok and Mara Patani (Patani Consultative Council), an umbrella body of several southern Thai groups excluding the BRN, has been engaging in a peace process to end the conflict, facilitated by Kuala Lumpur.

The first demand as stipulated by BRN is for the peace dialogue to be based on willingness of the two parties in the conflict and the partcipation of third parties as witnesses and observers.

The second demand is the appointment of a credible mediator, while the third demand is for the negotiation process be designed by the negotiating parties and agreed upon before commencing the peace talks.

On BRN's demand for participation from the international community in the peace process, Prayut dismissed it by saying that there was no need for their involvement.

"Why? Our country cannot resolve our problem? If they (international community) are involved (in the peace process), will they understand the problem?" he asked.

The parties involved in the negotiations said Prayut must trust the Thai government, which had given its commitment to end the violence.

Nearly two decades of conflict in Thailand's four southern provinces has inflicted more than 6,000 deaths. -- Bernama