Malaysian mediator determined to produce positive results, lead Thai negotiator says
National Security Council (NSC) deputy secretary-general Chatchai Bangchuad believes peace talks between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist movement will produce positive results now that a new talks facilitator has been appointed.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appointed Datuk Mohd Rabin Bin Basir, former director-general of Malaysia’s National Security Council, as the new peace talks facilitator on July 1, replacing the former facilitator Gen Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zulkiflei Mohd Zin.
Some reports say Gen Sri Zulkiflei was replaced because he was too strict, inflexible and not making much progress, while his term of office was going to end soon. Mr Mohd Rabin, meanwhile is directly under Mr Anwar’s command.
Mr Chatchai, who leads the government’s peace negotiation team, told the Bangkok Post that he had met Mr Mohd Rabin and discussed the plan for the upcoming peace talks with him.
He said the new facilitator shows determination to make the negotiations successful, adding that he is open-minded, flexible, and keen to make the talks productive.
Mr Mohd Rabin is recommending the Thai negotiation team interact with the BRN so the talks will truly bring about positive outcomes and peace.
Mr Chatchai also said he held a discussion with Maj Gen Pramote Prom-in, a deputy commander of the 4th Army and deputy director of Isoc’s Region 4 Forward Command, between July 21 and 23 in Malaysia.
He said the discussion was positive as the new peace talks facilitator has allowed Thailand’s negotiating team and the BRN to hold discussions in a more in-depth manner, with both parties having determined a clear framework for the Joint Comprehensive Plan towards Peace (JCPP), which is likely to lead to its approval in the near future.
Mr Chatchai said that the JCPP had previously been agreed upon by both parties during negotiations, but the BRN later announced that they opposed the plan.
“Therefore, we will first include what we can both agree on in the framework. As for matters which we still disagree on, they will be discussed later,” Mr Chatchai said.
‘No land separation’
When it comes to reports the JCPP will allow territorial separation to take place, Mr Chatchai said the talks between the negotiating team and the BRN are guided by the constitution, which says in Section 1 that “Thailand is one and an indivisible kingdom”.
“I have been working in the field of national security for over 30 years. There is no way I will allow territorial separation to happen,” Mr Chatchai said.
When asked if it would be a solution to give the three southernmost border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani special administrative area status like Bangkok and Pattaya, he suggested such a solution was not necessary as officials of local administrative organisations are mostly local Muslims.
Mr Chatchai was also asked why violence still takes place in the region, even though the negotiating team, led by different individuals over the years, has been holding peace talks with the BRN.
He responded it was because the BRN is not happy with the fact that military operations are still carried out, which sometimes leads to arrests and deaths. However, he stressed that such military operations are needed under the law.
In addition, Mr Chatchai responded to the question whether the BRN negotiators were the real representatives of the group.
He confirmed they were real as their identities were checked, and they were selected by the Malaysian government to join the peace dialogue.
Fruitful talks
Mr Chatchai also said that having Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his Malaysian counterpart Mr Anwar meeting frequently will benefit the peace talks, adding they will meet again tomorrow in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district, with Mr Srettha scheduled to cross the border into the Malaysian state of Kelantan to have lunch with Mr Anwar.
He said Mr Srettha had made the peace talks, visits to the southern region and discussions with his Malaysian counterpart about the matter a high priority.
As for Mr Mohd Rabin, Mr Chatchai said the fact he directly reports to the Malaysian prime minister will make things progress quicker than ever.