THE Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) acknowledges progress in the content of the Peace Dialogue Process with the Thai government, although the Comprehensive Joint Plan Towards Reconciliation (JCPP) has not yet been finalized.
BRN Technical Department spokesperson, Ustaz Khalid Abdullah, also explained that there was progress in reducing or temporarily halting violence during recent negotiations held in Kuala Lumpur.
“In terms of the progress or advancement of the negotiation process or technical negotiations in the tenth process… actually, at the beginning of the technical process, it was a process to prepare for the JCPP.
“Because the JCCP, we have two drafts. The first is our draft and the draft of the Peace Dialogue Panel of the Royal Thai Government (PEDP/RTG) side.
“Then between these two drafts, we strive to produce a single draft (main draft) or to produce one draft as a framework for the next process.
“So in the tenth process, we see a little progress in terms of the content of the process,” he said in a special interview with a Thailand Facebook page, last night (May 29, 2024).
Previously, the 10th Joint Technical Committee Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Peace Dialogue Process (JWG-PDP) for the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand between PEDP/RTG and BRN was held from May 19th to May 21st, 2024 in Kuala Lumpur.
PEDP/RTG was led by Lt Gen Pramote Promin, while the BRN panel was led by Dr. Nikmatullah bin Seri, according to a statement from the National Security Council of Malaysia, previously.
Further elaborating, Ustaz Khalid said that when the JCPP is ready (after merging the two drafts into one), there will be a signing ceremony between the two parties to confirm the JCPP framework.
“In this tenth negotiation, there is progress related to the reduction or temporary cessation of violence.
“We have not yet decided on this temporary cessation, whether it is for one month or two months or three months, and also… we can only describe that in this cessation (of violence) we have three stages.
“(Cessation) short-term, medium-term, and long-term. We depend on progress from one stage to another.
“To implement or implement reductions (in violence), this is where we want… for us when there is a reduction, this is where we will proceed simultaneously with public consultations (efforts to exchange thoughts and opinions),” he added.
According to Ustaz Khalid, the tenth negotiation achieved some progress compared to the seventh, eighth, and ninth negotiations before.
He said that in the negotiations, BRN also agreed to discuss the monitoring mechanism issue.
“So here we have agreed that there needs to be a monitoring team for both activities, both reducing violence and public consultations.
“So here we can reach an agreement, even though it is not agreed because it is agreed at a formal or major negotiation later, that is, we can agree to form a monitoring team consisting of Central Monitoring and field monitoring. Central Monitor and Field Monitor,” he further explained.
He said for the Central Monitor, it will consist of facilitator parties, BRN, and PEDP/RTG itself.
Ustaz Khalid also said that both parties also agreed to nominate two or three representatives from ASEAN countries to be in the Central Monitoring Team.
“Those who have been involved in the negotiation process from the beginning until today, we also invite two people to be part of the Central Monitoring Team.
“Then go to the Field Monitoring Team. So far, we have agreed that there are six people per region. Six people from Yala, six people from Pattani, six from Narathiwat, and Senggora (Songkhla) if I’m not mistaken, four people.
“So here we can see that the agreement on this progress is somewhat visible,” he said.
He also explained that the tenth discussion in Kuala Lumpur also reached an agreement to provide Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Monitoring Team.
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“But this ToR we don’t have content yet and haven’t touched yet, and we only agree to provide ToR. Maybe in the next meeting, we will provide ToR related to monitoring,” he said.
In this regard, he said BRN hopes to implement the cessation of violence activities and hold public consultations as soon as possible.
“Here we have also agreed that when there is a cessation of violence followed by public consultations.
The purpose of holding public consultations, according to him, is to communicate with the people in the field so that they can also participate in this peace process.
Ustaz Khalid said BRN proposed three forms of public consultation, namely unilateral consultations; joint public consultations between BRN and PEDP/RTG; and giving opportunities to CSOs and NGOs in the field to hold regular public consultations so that people can understand the peace process.
“So we have steps and have not been agreed upon between the two parties. Later, our agreement (is) during the big table negotiations later.
“We hope that the future process will be more normal as in processes that occur in other conflict areas in the world.
“So if there are no obstacles or obstacles, we will continue so that we can reach the peace that the local community really wants,” he said, ending the interview…
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