In talks aimed at ending the insurgency in southern Thailand, the Malaysian chief facilitator, Abdul Rahim Noor expressed confidence that the violence can be resolved via peace negotiations before Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad steps down in 17 months.
Mr Noor, an ex-Malaysian police chief who was appointed by Dr Mahathir in August last year to facilitate peace talks between the Thai government and Mara Patani, an umbrella body of insurgent groups, on Friday met with the new chief of the Thai negotiating team, Gen Udomchai Thammasaroraj to begin the official dialogue in relation to the peace process at the Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel.
Mara Patani consists of the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), the Gerakan Mujahedin Islam Patani (GMIP) and some members of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). After the meeting, Mr Noor spoke to the Thai media, saying he understood the southern unrest is a domestic issue for Thailand, but that Malaysia will try to help in whatever way possible to end the violence.
Mr Noor said he has already talked with both moderate and hardcore insurgent groups and personally believes that with the correct momentum, peace in the South will be achieved sooner rather than later. However, he admitted that there are still problems with some hardcore insurgent groups, such as the military wing of the BRN, as they have stayed away from the talks.
"The moderate groups are ready to start the peace process, but it's more difficult to talk with the hardcore ones. We've arranged meetings between their leaders and Thai officials twice. They ran away both times," he said.
Mr Noor said the Malaysian facilitator now has information about all insurgent groups and will try to persuade them to sit at the negotiating table as soon as possible.
"We know who is who and who the right ones are to contact. We even know where they are, but we do not want to pressure them to sit at the table as it could undermine peace efforts in the long run," he said.
When asked if he is confident that violence in the South can be resolved during the term of Dr Mahathir -- even though the military wing of the BRN which controls nearly all combatants on the ground and has the strongest military capacity still refuses to join the talks -- he replied "yes".
Udomchai Thammasaroraj, Thailand's peace dialogue panel head, said the Thai side was open to holding talks with "all dissident groups".
Gen Udomchai said he would first ask to talk with the BRN separately to gauge the group's attitude. After that, the Thai negotiating team will hold talks with Mara Patani.
Referring to Dr Mahathir's suggestion of the possibility of granting more autonomy to the far South, Gen Udomchai stressed that the Malaysian premier could mean some forms of "power decentralisation" or a "special administrative zone".
"It is certain that separation is out of the equation," said Gen Udomchai. "I believe the instigators of violence are well aware that separation is impossible," he said.
"Ways can be found in the talks, such as how power decentralisation might happen."
He believes the situation in the far South has improved as the insurgency has weakened.
"Their forces have been dealt with in terms of military operations and legal action and their aggression has eased," said Gen Udomchai.
"When they are unable to achieve independence, they will have to seek other options."
