Official peace negotiations with southern insurgency movements could resume in June, Anusit Kunakorn, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said on Tuesday.
Anusit Kunakorn, secretary-general of the National Security Council
The next round of negotiations would involve many groups - including civilians with different opinons - and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wanted the talks to be inclusive to facilitate the restoration of peace to the far South, the NSC secretary-general said.
In response to a report that Malaysia was inviting six insurgency groups to the talks, Mr Anusit said he had no information on the matter. Malaysia always acted properly in its role as the facilitator of talks.
"The talks depend on the facilitator. Sometimes, they think one group has already attended the talks, so they will bring other groups to the negotiation table instead.
"We should not specify groups. All groups that have different stances and use violent means should enter into negotiations," Mr Anusit said.
At his meetings with local people in the far South he had learned they hoped to see peace in the near future.
Peace negotiations began unofficially during the tenure of former prime minister Surayud Chulanont and the Yingluck Shinawatra administration started to make the process official in 2013. The talks have been stalled since the end of Ms Yingluck's government.
