New Malaysian government will not affect southern peace process

BANGKOK, May 17 (TNA) -- The chief of Thai government representatives in the southern peace negotiation does not think the change of the Malaysian prime minister will have an impact on southern peace talks and a previous agreement to have Cho Airong district of Narathiwat as a safety zone. Gen Aksara Kerdpol, head of the Thai negotiation team, said the peace process was at the stage of building mutual trust and his negotiation team was encouraging all anti-government groups to stop violent attacks and support public safety in southern border provinces. Cho Airong was selected as a pilot safety zone but six anti-government groups had not announced their official agreement on Cho Airong because they still had safety concern, Gen Aksara said. He said that government authorities and representatives of religious organisations and people’s organisations in the far South would proceed with their measures for public safety as it was the first priority. “Although Malaysia which is the facilitator of the peace process is forming its new government, there will not be an impact on the establishment of the safety zone that both sides have agreed,” Gen Aksara said. He assured that his negotiation team was working against all forms of violence and illicit businesses and trying its best to achieve permanent southern peace. (TNA)