PM pushes BRN peace talks despite car bombing

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today that peace talks with the southern separatist movement, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), will continue despite the latest car bomb explosion in front of a police station in Narathiwat on Tuesday night.

He also said that, during his recent visit to Malaysia, he had discussed with his Malaysian counterpart his government's intention to continue the peace talks with the BRN and had appointed Thanut Suvarnananda, director of the National Intelligence Agency, and Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, former House speaker, to head the government's team for the talks being facilitated by Malaysia.

Peace talks between the government and the BRN have been stalled since the middle of 2023.

Regarding last night's car bomb, which caused no injuries but extensively damaged a police vehicle, the prime minister stressed the importance of gathering intelligence on the movements of the insurgent groups operating in the restive region and implementing effective safety measures to protect the lives and property of the people there.

He said that the military has been entrusted with full authority to maintain peace and order in the three southernmost provinces.

CCTV footage from at or near the Tanyong police station at about 7.20pm last night shows that a car rigged with explosives arrived and stopped in front of the station.

The driver alighted from the car, ran towards a waiting motorcycle and fled the scene. Minutes later, the device exploded.

Police investigators reported today that the car used in the attack was a Mitsubishi Lancer, but the licence plate belonged to another car. A thorough check of the wreckage and the car's VIN showed that its owner has an outstanding arrest warrant.

The car was rigged with two improvised explosive devices, one weighing 4kg and the other about 15kg. Bomb specialists are now analysing the bomb's components and construction to determine whether the bomb maker is linked to other groups.