Next-round NSC-BRN peace talks expected in Oct

BANGKOK, September 24 (TNA) - The next round of peace talks between the Thai government, through the National Security Council (NSC), and representatives of insurgent groups in the Thai far South, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgency movement, is expected next month. NSC Secretary-General Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabutr told journalists on Tuesday that its next-round peace talks with the BRN-led insurgent side should happen in the 3rd week of October. Lieutenant General Paradorn said he expects agenda of the next-round peace talks will include the BRN's five demands, the Thai government’s demand for reduced violence in the Thai deep South and a review of violent incidents during the recent Ramadan fasting month of Muslims. According to the NSC chief, security authorities concerned, academics and civic groups are considering the BRN's demands. Meanwhile, Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha revealed that he has brought the BRN's five demands to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) for consideration, insisting that security authorities concerned prioritize national interest. The army chief dismissed the BRN's 4th demand for three southernmost Thai provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, as well as four districts of adjacent Songkhla province to become a special administrative area, pointing out that Thailand's administrative system has already been in good place, with only Bangkok and the eastern Pattaya City being established as special administrative areas because their populations and incomes are huge. The Thai army chief explained that the proposed southern border areas do not have enough incomes to be independent and still need a large amount of financial support from the central government's budget. The Thai army chief noted that most of local people disagree with the proposed special administrative zone, after they were briefed on the idea. (TNA)