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Peace Dialogue in Thailand’s Deep South: Prospects and Pitfalls

Organizer: ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute

Description:

The Deep South Watch’s records showed 21,328 incidents of violence in Thailand’s southernmost provinces from 2004 – 2021, with 7,314 deaths. Amidst continuing violence, peace dialogue has been convened off and on over the past ten years between the Thai government and Patani-Malay nationalist groups waging an armed campaign against Thai rule. Progress has been slow, but Bangkok and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Patani Melayu (BRN) have agreed on general principles for dialogue, and the BRN has issued recent statements affirming commitment to a political solution under the Thai constitution. At the same time, some in each camp question the wisdom and utility of these talks, complicating efforts to reach agreement. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has appointed a new facilitator for the dialogue, with consequences yet to be seen. Matt Wheeler shall unpack the complicated security situation in Thailand’s Deep South in a webinar on 31 January 2023, organized by the Thailand Studies Programme of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

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