BANGKOK, Jan 27 – Thailand’s National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Anusit Kunakrn admitted that not much progress has been made regarding the next round of peace talks aimed at bringing peace to the restive southern Thai provinces.
He said Malaysia is working to arrange which group of insurgents should join in the next round of peace dialogue with Thai security authorities.
Malaysia has been facilitator of peace talks between Thai security authorities and insurgents since February 2013, when the NSC signed a historic dialogue with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional insurgent movement (BRN).
Mr Anusit said the Thai side led by Gen Aksara Kerdphol, chief negotiator for the talks, is working with Malaysia.
The Thai side is open for talks with any group so it now depends on the facilitator Malaysia as to whether to bring other group to join the peace dialogue.
More than 5,000 people have been killed since insurgency reignited in the region in 2004.
Three rounds of Malaysia-brokered peace talks have taken place since 2013 but talks were stalled in July.
