Heightened Violence In Thailand’s Deep South Exposes Separatist Divisions And Changes In Strategies – Analysis – Eurasia Review

Back in April this year, a forty day pause in violence was brokered by the Malaysian mediator in peace talks between the separatist umbrella group MARA Patani and the Thai military. However, this was broken very soon after coming into force with attacks that killed a villager and three bomb disposal squad police.

What made the break in the ceasefire even more surprising is that it came from elements within the Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO), which hasn’t been active since 2016 on the ground. According to PULO leader Kasturi Mahkota, the attacks took place because the PULO-MKP (Majlis Kepiminan Pertubuhan) faction was not included within the MARA Patani umbrella in peace talks with the Thai Government. 

There has also been friction between various groups under the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), when elements of the BRN engaged in direct talks with the Thai…