Talks between the Thai government and representatives of the BRN insurgency group active in the far South will begin in two weeks, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Thursday.
The Malaysian premier was speaking in Kuala Lumpur after talks with visiting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
National Security Council (NSC) chief Paradorn Pattanatabut also confirmed talks between Thailand and factions within the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist movement will begin in two weeks.
- See also: Text of agreement
Malaysia would facilitate the meeting by bringing BRN representatives to talks at a location in Thailand, he said in a telephone interview from Kuala Lumpur.
"Malaysia will arrange for a meeting every two weeks from now, for me or my team to talk with BRN representatives at all levels to listen to their opinions and demands," he said.
The NSC secretary-general signed documents with Hassan Taib, chief of the BRN liaison office in Malaysia, on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, paving the way for dialogue with the BRN .
The signing has been generally welcomed. Academic and Muslim representatives in Thailand agreed the agreement is a big step forward, but said much more still has to be done before the problem in the far South can be settled. The violence would not end immediately.
Thanet Aphornsuvan (Photo by Somchai Laopaisarntaksin)
Thanet Aphornsuvan, dean of the Pridi Banomyong International College's Asean Studies Programme, said although the agreement was a rushed and less than transparent deal, it should still be considered a historic breakthrough.
The Thai state, said Mr Thanet, should have had made a similarly courageous but difficult decision long before now and announced that negotiation was the way out of this historical legacy in the far South.
"Peace dialogue is the way to diffuse political violence and this government has the mandate and has done its homework in launching the first step," said Mr Thanet, whose book "Rebellion in Southern Thailand: Contending Histories" has been well-read internationally.
But he cautioned that the Thai state needs to steer the next direction firmly, without quarreling among the various agencies. The signing would not lead right away to peace and an end to the violence.
On the other side, the insurgent movement was not unified and discussing a modality that they could compromise or agree with would eventually destroy their militant strength, Mr Thanet noted.
"I wonder if the movements, particularly the political wings, have prepared for this, whether they are efficient enough to manage certain administrative tasks in the future," he said.
The "general consensus document to launch a dialogue process for peace in the southern border provinces of Thailand" was signed by Lt Gen Paradorn, and Mr Hassan on behalf of the BRN in Malaysia on Thursday morning in Kuala Lumpur.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, Chulalongkorn University associate professor of political science, said the hush-rush deal, with no checks or balances from the Foreign Ministry, was a dangerous move.
"Talks have occurred all along, somehow, somewhere, but any agreement signed should have been weighed more carefully so as not to undermine the bargaining chips and dignity of the Thai state," said Mr Panitan, a former deputy secretary-general to former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The merits of the deal would certainly go to the ruling governments of the two countries, particularly in light of the forthcoming election in Malaysia, he said.
Panitan Wattanayagorn (AFP Photo)
Mr Panitan said Malaysia might have to pressure the insurgents to show up in Thailand. The real results on the ground would be apparent in the next few days - whether the younger generation of the militant RKK, a separate group, would show their defiance to the older and non-commanding figures being courted to the negotiating table.
"If things turn sour, Malaysia could twist our arms, saying peace is spoiled because Thailand did not agree with its proposed deals that the court has to release this and that person, guaranteeing safety and security of the insurgents, and giving them autonomy, etc. After all, Malaysia is a stakeholder here, it is part of the conflict; it's risky that we are dealing with them like this," said Mr Panitan.
Abdulrahman Abdulsamad, one of the newly appointed Wadah group advisers to Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, said the accord was a big step toward peace, but the violence would not stop immediately.
"Israel and Palestine have peace agreements but the violence is always on and off. What is needed after the peace talks should include better education, better justice and decentralisation, so that the local people feel they have an ownership stake in the affairs imposed upon them," said Mr Abdulrahman, who is chairman of the newly set up Confederation of Islamic Councils in five southern provinces.
He said the people on the ground have now debated what they expect, such as a People's Council so they can discuss their affairs in their own dialect.
Somchai Homlaor, a member of the Law Reform Committee, said talking was better than killing but details of who, what, when, where and why in the agreement should be shared openly.
"This is not a deal involving the government's affairs, but the whole nation's, therefore the authorities concerned should expedite the process in a discreet and accountable manner," said Mr Somchai.
Somchai Homlaor (File Photo)
Mr Somchai said Malaysia should have shown sincerity in addressing several other transnational border problems such as drug trafficking and smuggling as well.
Artef Sohko, coordinator of the Pattani Academy for Peace and Development, also lauded the Malaysian cooperation, but noted that sustainability of the negotiation process undertaken by the Thai state was rather more important.
"There are some progressive minds in the bureaucracy but there is no continuity in those sound initiatives. Also, the mandate and scope of talks should be clearly identified," said Mr Artef.
He agreed with Mr Somchai that negotiations were the most effective tool in addressing the southern problem, and should be coupled with a common learning process involving the general Thai public as well.
"That those who think differently and are usually portrayed as bandits or criminals have become the party to talks with Thai authorities might be a shock for Thai society in general," he said.
"Therefore, this peace talks process needs to also be under the auspices of the rest of Thailand, not just the three southernmost provinces," the Pattani activist said.
Mr Somchai added that in light of underlying political moves the Thai state should seriously take into account how best to engage and open space for discussions and include the aspirations of civil society as well.
"Eventually, those who think differently from the Thai state, the separatists for example, will be talking in public rather than taking up guns and resorting to violence to raise their demands," said Mr Somchai.
Paradorn Pattanatabut of the Thai National Security Council shakes hands with Hassan Taib of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist group. (Reuters Photo)