BANGKOK, Sep 3 — The rise in violent incidents in southern Thailand is being viewed as a pressure tactic by separatist groups urging the government to resume stalled peace talks, said a security analyst.
Prince of Songkla University's Pattani campus political science senior lecturer Assoc Prof Ekkarin Tuansiri said the increase in attacks in Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala reflected dissatisfaction with the peace negotiation process between the government and representatives of separatist groups.
“Separatist groups are launching attacks to voice their demands…they want to send a message that the temporarily suspended peace talks must resume immediately to discuss core issues and achieve peace in southern Thailand,” he told Bernama.
On August 22, a series of arson attacks was reported across Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, targeting government buildings, convenience stores, shops, vehicles, and utility poles. The incidents left at least three people injured in Narathiwat.
Authorities said more than 50 incidents were reported across the three provinces over the weekend.
Narathiwat was placed under a curfew from 10.15pm on August 22 until 6am on August 23 following dozens of coordinated incidents across the province.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
His view was echoed by Deep South Watch director Assoc Prof Srisompob Jitpiromsri, who described the coordinated attacks as a signal for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's administration to resume peace talks immediately.
“They want to pressure the Thai government to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the conflict in southern Thailand,” he said.
On July 28, the National Intelligence Agency's director cum the Southern Border Provinces Peace Dialogue Panel's head Thanat Suwannanont announced the temporary suspension of peace talks scheduled to take place in Malaysia in September, following deadly attacks in Narathiwat.
Malaysia has facilitated the peace negotiation process since 2013 to end the protracted conflict in Thailand’s southern provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani, as well as parts of Songkhla.
Thailand appointed Thanat as head of its dialogue panel in May, while Malaysia appointed Datuk Mohd Rabin Basir as facilitator on July 1, 2024.
Statistics show that the cycle of violence in southern Thailand since 2004 has claimed more than 7,000 lives and injured over 13,000 people, including civilians, security personnel, and members of separatist groups.
