The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) plans to talk with a youth group that allegedly called for a referendum on establishing an independent Muslim “Patani State” in the South.
Rear Adm Somkiat Ponprayoon, SBPAC secretary-general, said authorities are adamant about resolving the violent unrest in the region through dialogue.
The conflict has killed over 5,800 and injured 12,000 since 2004.
Rear Adm Somkiat said the SBPAC expects to meet the members of Pelajar Bangsa, or “national student movement”, in two weeks to listen to their opinions and see what it can do to promote a better understanding of the issue.
The group, which represents students from the three southernmost provinces, stirred controversy when simulating a public referendum, as part of a “Self-Determination and Patani Peace” seminar held at Prince of Songkla University’s Pattani…
