BANGKOK, Nov 22 — Thailand’s National Security Council (NSC) chief today denied a report that the security agency has accepted the 5-point demands of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) militant group.
NSC Secretary-General Paradorn Pattanatabut said the report was groundless as there is no signed document between the parties and the BRN demands have not as yet been accepted.
Lt Gen Paradorn said the Thai government and the BRN have initially agreed on another meeting December 1-3 with other militant groups joining the peace dialogue.
The NSC chief also said that he telephoned the Malaysian dialogue facilitator about the proposed meeting. Therefore, the process is making headway as other groups with differing ideas will join the talks along with the BRN.
Meanwhile, Defence Ministry spokesman Surachat Chitchaeng told a weekly press briefing on the southern situation that the ongoing peace dialogue with the BRN could not effectively stop violence in Thailand’s southern border provinces.
Maj Gen Surachat concluded that the dialogue is going on while the violent attacks continue unabated.
“Such a situation causes frustrations among Thais but we have to be patient because we want to restore peace in the southern border region,” he said.
