BANGKOK: Rebels in Thailand’s Muslim-majority south called yesterday for the army to return to their bases over Ramadan in exchange for a ceasefire during the holy month, a condition swiftly rejected by the kingdom’s government.
More than 5,500 people have died in the near decade-long insurgency in Thailand’s south but optimism for peace has flickered recently after talks between authorities and some rebel groups including the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).
Near-daily attacks on security forces and civilians have continued despite a successful round of talks on June 14 which saw both sides agree to work towards curbing violence over Ramadan.
Listing its conditions for a ceasefire a BRN spokesman said the group would “stop” its operations for the holy month if Thailand meets demands including pulling security forces back from villages to their bases. The Thai army must leave “the villages and go back to their camps”, the BRN’s Hassan Taib said in a video, also calling for a suspension of “ambushes, road blocks or arrests” in Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani provinces which border Malaysia.
Thailand must announce its official response to the demands by July 3, he said. “From our side, the BRN will not only reduce but stop any (violent) action. This is to give respect to Muslims during Ramadan,” Taib added. Ramadan starts around the first week of July.
Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat told reporters the BRN’s demands were “impossible to implement” and accused Taib of insincerity “about making peace or stopping violence”.
His comments were echoed by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung who said “there was no way” the government would concede to pulling security forces back to their bases. AFP
