The Thai negotiating team has asked Malaysia to find out which insurgency groups remain active in the far South as the government tries to revive stalled peace talks with all rebel factions, rather than favouring only some, a member of the team said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, left, and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak met Dec 1 in Kuala Lumpur to try to restart peace talks. (Photo courtesy of Government House photo)
Previously, peace efforts had been hindered by independent groups stirring violence without participating in the negotiations.
The source said the Thai team has asked Malaysia, which is hosting the dialogue, to contact three factions of the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) to join the talks - one led by Abdulrahman, another led by Gustury Magota and the other by Samsuding Khan.
In February 2013, the government of Yingluck Shinawatra initiated the first formal peace dialogue with a separatist group led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). The talks stalled last December in the wake of anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok.
On Dec 1, Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha and the Malaysian prime minister met in Kuala Lumpur and reached an agreement on pursuing fresh negotiations.
Having an inclusive dialogue was chief among their priorities.
Army adviser Aksara Kerdpol has been appointed as the chief Thai negotiator.
Gen Aksara said Tuesday he has now met Malaysian peace talks facilitator Ahmad Zamzamin for a second time. They first met during Gen Prayut's visit to Malaysia on Dec 1. Gen Aksara did not elaborate on the second meeting.
"Please let the work of the peace talks team be secret to prevent it from leading to violent incidents in the South. I do not want attacks to follow a report on the negotiations," he said.
Gen Aksara: Talks must be totally secret.
Gen Aksara said talks would start when everyone was prepared. He said the Thai side was always ready.
"Do not rush us. It must proceed step by step. Do not imagine results just after the negotiating team has been formed," Gen Aksara said.
The source on the negotiating team said its members would meet Malaysian authorities late this month. Informal, "secret" talks with insurgency groups will precede formal negotiations, which are expected to resume after January.
Meanwhile, two suspected militants were arrested Tuesday after the military and police laid siege to a house in Narathiwat province's Rangae district where Amran Ming, an alleged insurgent suspected of more than 10 criminal and security-related offences, was believed to be hiding.
Four suspected militants were inside when authorities arrived at the house in Ban Tradae in tambon Bango Sato on Monday night. They opened fire on officers when ordered to surrender, then fled into a nearby rubber plantation.
Authorities cordoned off the plantation and began clearing the area Tuesday morning, finding one suspect, identified as Baruwan Baka, hiding in bushes. He carried a 9mm pistol and ammunition.
Mr Baruwan told the authorities that Mr Amran and another suspect identified only as Asri had escaped with two M16 rifles.
Mr Baruwan is wanted for his alleged involvement in the 2007 murder of teacher Julin Pongkanmul at Gujing Luepa School in Rangae district of Narathiwat, police said.