Malaysia welcomes Thai government's peace negotiation team

BANGKOK, December 2 (TNA) - The National Security Council (NSC) says that Malaysia welcomes the Thai government's peace negotiation team in the violence-plagued Thai far South, headed by the Royal Thai Army's Chief Advisor General Aksara Kerdpol. New NSC Secretary-General Anusit Nakornthap told journalists of the update on Tuesday, elaborating that during his one-day official visit to Malaysia on December 1, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha introduced to his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak the Thai government's peace negotiation team. Anusit acknowledged that Malaysia responded well and showed sincerity for Thailand and there was not a sign of anyone being unhappy with the Thai government's negotiation team. The NSC chief noted that it is the duty of the Malaysian facilitator to contact dissent groups, confirming that Thai authorities are ready and want to hold talks with all dissent groups to develop true peace in the southernmost Thai region. According to the NSC chief, the number of members in the Thai government's peace negotiation team has initially been set at 10 but it may increase or fall to suit the situation, while the schedule of the new-round peace negotiations between Thai authorities and insurgent groups will depend on Malaysia, the facilitator, of the peace negotiation process. The NSC chief stated that Thailand did not ask Malaysia to handle insurgents who fled from the Thai deep South into Malaysia, as Malaysia has already enforced its law. The NSC chief also opined that demonstrators against the Thai prime minister on December 1 had nothing to do with insurgency movements in the Thai far South. (TNA)