South peace talks at crucial turn

Peace could finally be given a chance in the strife-torn Deep South as the security authorities voiced confidence their latest round of negotiations may have reached a crucial turning point. It involved a “real deal” with the ranks of southern insurgents, according to Lt Gen Thira Daewa, secretary of the peace talks team.

Authorities have spent the last two years trying to strike a peace deal with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) through four major rounds of talks facilitated by Malaysia.

There had been other peace talks that preceded them however, they involved the Mara Patani insurgent network of which the BRN is a member. The Mara Patani later ceased the talks leaving the BRN to engage alone in the peace process.

Ramadan ceasefire

The first talks over the past two years with the BRN started on March 20, 2020, at the onset of the Covid-19…