KUALA LUMPUR: The Thai government and Muslim rebels have agreed to try to curb violence during Ramadan, a Malaysian official said yesterday, marking a new step towards ending nearly a decade of conflict. An insurgency in the Muslim-dominated region has claimed more than 5,700 lives since 2004 but talks between the Thai authorities and some rebel groups including the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) have brought tentative hopes of peace.
Malaysia is acting as a facilitator for the negotiations. But despite several rounds of talks since March, attacks in the region have occurred almost daily. Mediator Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim said that both parties had “reached a common understanding to work towards a violence-free Ramadan”. Under the “Ramadan Peace Initiative”, Thai security forces would avoid “aggressive actions” while the BRN would not engage in “armed attack, bombing and ambush” against Thai troops and the public, he said. The deal is for 40 days from July 10 to August 18 and will cover the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla.
AFP
