ID :
492287
Tue, 05/15/2018 - 12:48
Auther :

No change in policy for peace talks in Thai Far South

BANGKOK, May 15 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees national security, has affirmed that there will be no policy change for peace talks in the country's troubled Far South due to a change in the Malaysian government, the facilitator of the peace process. Insisting on the intact policy, General Prawit, who is also Defence Minister, told journalists on Tuesday that new rounds of peace negotiations between representatives of the Thai government and those of insurgent groups in the Thai Deep South have been postponed until the new Malaysian government takes office, following last week's new general election in the neighboring country. General Prawit noted that the new Malaysian government will send a team of officials to visit Thailand to discuss on an agreed schedule of a new round of peace talks in the southernmost Thai region. "I believe Kuala Lumpur's notification on the postponement of a new round of peace talks in the Far South should not affect areas under Thailand's mandate, as the policy on the peace process is in accordance with the international principle and remains intact despite the change in the Malaysian government", stressed the Thai deputy premier. In response to a question on whether the change in the Malaysian government and prime minister would affect the Thai government's plan on declaring Joh Ai Rong District in Narathiwat Province in the Thai Far South a "safe zone", the deputy premier said a final decision would be announced after a discussion with the new Malaysian government. (TNA)

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