Southern peace negotiator hopeful but cautious about talks outcome

The upcoming round of peace talks with representatives of armed groups in southern Thailand will focus on measures to reduce violence, paving the way for “safety zones” in the region, according to Thai chief peace negotiator Thanut Suvarnananda.

He cautioned against having high expectations of the outcome of the dialogue, given the series of attacks in the three southernmost provinces in recent weeks.

He said his counterparts in the talks, scheduled for late September in Malaysia, will be the same delegates representing the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) who took part in previous rounds of dialogue.

Thanut also acknowledged that many people are skeptical about the benefits of peace talks following continuing violence in the region.

“I know a lot of people are against the peace talks, given the losses we have suffered, but I need to say that, even in the middle of a war, talks are necessary. If we want to see long-term peace, there needs to be dialogue,” Thanut, who is also the outgoing director of the National Intelligence Agency, told Thai PBS in an interview.

Attacks raise questions

Insurgents believed to be members of the BRN’s armed wing attacked a security checkpoint in Narathiwat in late July, killing five paramilitary rangers.

Thanut said the killing of the five rangers led him to question why the BRN would launch an attack just as both sides were moving towards an end to violence. He said he had asked the group for an explanation but received only partial answers, with the BRN stressing that it remained ready for talks while cautioning Thailand not to underestimate it.

Asked whether the BRN representatives in the peace dialogue have control over operatives on the ground, Thanut said they have a “limited mandate”.

“I can’t say that they have control. I would say that they can coordinate with the operatives. Like myself, they also have a limited mandate,” he said.

On August 22, coordinated attacks were launched at dozens of locations in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani. Thanut said BRN representatives told him the attacks were in response to what they regarded as disparaging remarks made about the armed groups by Thai authorities.

Safety zones under consideration

Thanut said the Thai side is considering a proposal to establish “safety zones” in the southern border provinces, within which both sides would refrain from violence. The zones could potentially cover all 37 districts.

He said the proposal would first have to be discussed among Thai authorities, including the military. The discussions would cover possible adjustments to troop deployments and security operations before the proposal could be taken to the peace talks.

He said a related “sandbox” plan, involving security arrangements in selected districts, is also being considered. The Thai side will have to determine whether the proposal can be incorporated into the peace talks.

Thanut said reducing checkpoints and other security measures could also be considered because they sometimes disrupt residents’ daily lives, particularly during festivals. Any such changes, however, would first have to be worked out among Thai authorities.

Local voices in the peace process

Thanut said he had consulted people in the southern border provinces as part of preparations for the peace talks, with residents telling him they wanted to see an end to violence and greater safety in their daily lives.

He said people wanted to see their quality of life improve, including through better economic opportunities, while children and young people should be able to stay in school, complete their education and find jobs.

The drug problem was another major concern raised during his consultations.

Thanut said the views of local people would be brought into the peace talks, stressing that residents should have a greater say because they are directly affected by violence and insecurity.

He also said he had considered bringing local people to the negotiating table in the future so they could tell the BRN directly how the violence affects them and what changes they want to see in the group’s approach to its struggle.

Malaysia remains key facilitator

Thanut said Malaysia remains an essential facilitator of the southern peace dialogue and that its role is still necessary to bring the Thai side and the BRN to the negotiating table.

He said the talks should continue to be held in Malaysia, with the Malaysian side facilitating the process.

He acknowledged concerns that Malaysia has interests in the conflict and that some insurgents have sought refuge there, but said historical and cultural links across the border made Malaysia’s involvement important.

He urged people to view Malaysia’s position with understanding, saying it could be difficult for Malaysia to arrest and hand over suspects who are Malay people or Thai nationals of Malay descent who speak Malay.

“Look at Malaysia with sympathy,” he said, noting that the people involved could be Malays who speak the Malay language and have historical and cultural ties across the border.

He said Thailand should also consider whether there is sufficient evidence for Malaysia to hand suspects over to Thai authorities and whether those suspects would be properly treated.

Asked about the lack of a new Malaysian facilitator following the end of the previous facilitator’s term, Thanut said the delay was an internal matter for Malaysia.

He noted that Malaysia had already indicated that it would appoint a replacement and that he expected a new facilitator to be named soon.

Thanut pointed out that Malaysia also covers the travel expenses of the BRN delegation attending the talks.

Talks can be slowed by translation

Thanut said formal negotiations could take considerably longer than informal discussions because of the need to translate between Thai, English and Malay.

He said discussions could involve Thai being translated into English and then into Malay by the Malaysian side, with the process reversed when the BRN side responded.

As a result, a discussion could take roughly three times as long as a direct conversation in a single language.

Indonesia and foreign NGOs

Thanut said Indonesia could potentially play a role in the peace process because it has considerable experience in peace negotiations and has produced prominent peace negotiators in the past.

He said some senior figures had already approached or contacted Indonesian counterparts about possible involvement, but suggested Indonesia might be more useful as a supporter or “conductor” rather than another formal player at the negotiating table.

Thanut also credited foreign non-governmental organisations with helping to sustain the peace process over the years.

He said foreign NGOs had played a constructive role in supporting the BRN’s negotiating approach, including by advising the group on which issues to raise during the talks.

No secession issue on negotiating table

Thanut sought to reassure those concerned on the Thai side that the peace talks would not lead to the separation of the southern border provinces from Thailand, saying there had been no discussions over secession or independence in the two rounds of talks he had attended.

“There is definitely no talk of secession at the negotiating table. There is no demand for independence or separation from Thailand,” he said.