On the (Peace) Road Again: Pa(t)tani in New Conditions

A brainstorming session of activists working in Thailand’s Deep South was a venue to discuss and explore peace possibilities. Gen. Nakrob believed the discussion will move forward while a number of academics/rights activists passed on recommendations to the government. Meanwhile, civil society asked to have more participation and challenge society “what can you do?”

An article adapted from a public discussion of civil society on On the (Peace) Road Again: Pa(t)tani in New Conditions as part of the Communication, Conflicts and Peace Processes : Landscape of Knowledge from Asia and the Deep South of Thailand or CCPP. The discussion was held at 13.30 on 22 August 2014 at the Faculty of Communication Sciences Prince of Songkla University’s Pattani Campus. It was the first public discussion on peace process in the Deep South at the May 2014 coup. The forum was also an intriguing part of an effort for mobilization among the civil society movements. 

Discussants included Gen Nakrob Boonbuathong, Deputy Director-General of Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC)'s 5th Operations Coordination Centre, Ms. Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, a freelance researcher, Mr. Don Pathan, Patani Forum, Asst. Prof .Dr. Bussabong Chaijaroenwatana, Director of the Institute for Peace Studies, Prince of Songkla University, Ms. Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Director of the Cross Cultural Foundaiton (CrCF),  and Mr. Romadon Panjor, Editor of Deep South Watch (DSW) with Ms. Thapanee Eadsrichai, news anchor of Channel 3 as the moderator with a large crowd of attendants. 

Gen. Nakrob Boonbuathong:

The new government will certainly press ahead with peace/peacefulness talk.

Gen. Nakrob Boonbuathong, Deputy Director-General of Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC)'s 5th Operations Coordination Centre, one of the participants in the previous peace talk, began by responding to the question from the moderator regarding “How Will the Pa(t)tani Peace Dialogue proceed?”

Gen. Nakrob replied by saying that given the current situation in the South, under the leadership of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the new administration led by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, an emphasis has been given to the South. It was mentioned specifically in the NCPO Announcements no. 98 and 96. In the NCPO Announcement no. 96, an emphasis was given to establishing a taskforce to resolve the conflict with a special committee founded to mobilize the issue.  Meanwhile, the NCPO Announcement no. 98 mentions a consolidated structure at the top and bottom tiers and places importance in resolving conflicts through dialogue.[1]

According to Gen. Nakrob, the incumbent situation is conducive to progress of work down South. It should give rise to more cohesive and concrete work without political interference. He believed that the new PM will certainly press ahead with the peace/happiness (Santipap/Santisuk) talk. The direction is quite clear and imminent. 

Gen. Nakrob further said that the dialogue started since the previous government was pivotally important given its pioneering nature, albeit the talks have been commenced amidst lots of instabilities. As to the structure of committee which would carry on the dialogue, a couple of meetings have been held to explore the model and format of further dialogue. Various models and lessons from places shall be reviewed and applied including those in Indonesia’s Aceh, the Philippines, Northern Ireland, etc. In addition, previous peace talks, in which he was a part of and initiated by the previous government will be reviewed and applied. Nevertheless, it will take more time for the new structure to get established. He can only tell roughly that some concrete process should be done by the end of the month. It is still premature to reach out and talk with those dissents. It will probably be some kind of high level talk to explore further model of cooperation.

“Let’s believe and have faith in the emerging talk between the new government and the BRN movement” said Gen. Nakrob.

Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat:

Six observations toward the previous peace process

Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, a freelance researcher and former editor of Deep South Journalism School, said that in the past year, after monitoring the official peace process and peace initiatives in other countries, she has six observations to make vis-à-vis the previous year’s peace process.

First, the peace talk between the government and the BRN in 2013 was the first official peace process. There had been talks with the movement before, but they were unofficial and closed from public. Thus, the peace process last year was crucially important. 

Second, in September 2013, the BRN movement has submitted a document laying out their five demands via the facilitator of the talk. Essentially, the document stated the “right to ownership” of BRN which can be interpreted as the right to self-government, but not secession. A question has arisen if the demands were truly written by the BRN? From what she has gathered from concerned people, the BRN had taken part in making the document, but certainly, they might not agree with the whole content of the document. 

Third, it was the first time the BRN movement communicated with public via youtube. Prior to this, they had been operating underground and never made an attempt to communicate with public. But this time, it was an attempt to communicate their political stand to public describing their demands, expressing themselves as a political movement. She would like to see more movement toward such direction. Prof. Dr. Stein Tønnesson who has conducted a study and found that movements of the resisters worldwide have shifted away from armed struggle to non-lethal struggle. This might explain what is happening in Patani. 

Fourth, does the BRN have control over local forces? According to DSW, the beginning of Ramadan month in 2013 saw a sharp decrease in violent incidence, after the signing of peace deal and the commencement of the peace talk. But after the Ramadan last year, violence has rose up sharply. If we remember, banners were put up all over that the Siamese State has failed to keep its promise. If we looked at the situation too grossly, we might not notice a recession of violence, but in fact, it has actually reduced. But after the Thai state has resumed with harsh retaliation, they deemed it as a failure to keep promise. Thus, she wanted to see the resumption of the talk since it had helped to reduce violence. 

Fifth, regarding the third party, or Malaysia, which has helped to facilitate the talks, even though previously, the Thai government was ambivalent about the proposed talk trying to treat it as an internal matter. But since the Yingluck government has allowed the third party to kick in, we saw some glimmer of hope. It is a good approach to have an individual or an organization not directly involved with the conflict to act as a third party. Many asked if Malaysia could genuinely play a neutral role. This can be subject to debate. But having a third party is always important, and according to lessons from around the world, the two conflicting parties by themselves shall not be able to resolve the conflict. 

Sixth, at the beginning after the coup, the NCPO spokesperson said that the peace process could proceed only on the condition that self-government shall not be part of the agenda. But in her view, if such a condition is set forth early on, it would have made it not feasible to have any talk. We have to begin with creating mutual trust without any reservations, Thus, she wanted to ask Gen. Nakrob if it was true that such condition has been set forth by the government. 

Don Pathan:

Questioning if they are “the right guys” 

Don Pathan, a senior journalist and Director of Foreign Affairs of Patani Forum, built on the issue of peace talk that the previous talk was nothing new, but it happened at the official level. He presumed that in the beginning the military could not quite grasp it. It fell under direct command of the government of PM Yingluck. Asking if the military was happy with the talk, they probably were not happy. 

Previously, the military held only confidential talks with the movement, i.e., by having a talk in Egypt, Syria, Libya, etc. But the era was gone. In modern days, the militants conduct their simple life based on self-sufficiency like ordinary people. Some work as rubber taper, raising chicken, while planting bombs, then returned home. They had been having a good relationship with other fellow villagers. The question is with whom the grassroots villagers are siding? Even though they shun violence, but they also have no faith in the government. 

According to Don Pathan, he felt depressed when it was declared that the peace talk initiative was signed between the Thai government and BRN on 28 February 2013. How big the guy who was there (at the signing ceremony)? No one knew who Hussan Toyip was, prior to 28 February. “I am not saying that we have to talk with people who really have the commanding power. But I was questioning the credibility of the process”. And on social issues, how much concession would we be willing to negotiate? It was not just a matter between the Thai state and the movement, but with the Melayu people as well. 

He further said that even though the Thai state can completely overcome the BRN movement, but other new forces will arise if the same old narrative still remains the same. The narrative held on to by the villagers and the one created by the Thai state are completely different. He wanted to know how to deal with the issue. 

As to is Malaysia an honest broker or the “real mediator”? Are they sincere? He used to ask members of the movement regarding Malaysia and the answer was Malaysia could never be a real mediator since it also has stake in this. 

As for the decline of violence after the commencement of peace talk and during the Ramadan in 2013, he felt that after 28 February, during 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, and17 March, the incidence still took place. Though he did not monitor the statistics like DSW, but he was sure that violence continued unabated. 

Don Pathan ended by saying that if he is asked if the talk that had commenced on 28 February 2013 was good or bad, he would say it was good. Still, it failed to carry enough momentum and most importantly the persons who came to the negotiation, were they really the real leaderships? He still wanted to cast doubt over the issue. 

Asst. Prof. Bussabong Chaijaroenwatana:

Public participation in peace process

Asst. Prof. Dr. Bussabong Chaijaroenwatana, Director of the Institute for Peace Studies, Prince of Songkla University, discussed that politics are about hope. We are having a new PM and a new government, and people in Deep South could not deny that the issue of independence, peace talk and violence are related directly with national politics, though it looks like there is now some glimmer of hope. 

Asst. Prof.Dr. Bussabong further said that Gen. Nakrob has said that a plan is in the making, but she wanted to question if the plan would have been completely prepared somewhere else. Initially, it might be necessary for the plan to be made at the policy level. But now, local people have awakened. We cannot simply tell them to sleep for a while and wake up later. The Deep South now is teemed with an enthusiasm to know and there is an active network of movements. They are quite keen on the peace process. How can we harness their input as part of the peace process? Prior to having any roadmap set, can we get them involved in the process? Can we include their feedback and voice? They should have a role in creating the roadmap to make it reflect the needs of local people. 

The Director of the Institute for Peace Studies also said that knowledge is very important and help from the academics is indispensable. For example, after the new Constitution is drafted, how can we implement it? Ordinary people should be made aware of it and help to monitor and respond to the new situations. She agreed that the process has to be done swiftly and in unity, but participation is also important. She wanted to be sure that a good sign detected by Gen. Nakrob was also good as perceived by the locals. And we need knowledge. The officers at the operational level need to be informed. 

“On the path we are treading, we need to get adapted and prepared and it could be quite meaningful if civil society has got involved. It should not be left entirely with the policy makers. We need to invest in education and in a long run it will bear fruit” said Asst. Prof.Dr. Bussabong. 

She also proposed that a permanent taskforce for peace talk should be established as a special committee to deal with the special conditions. As for its composition, apart from those who share the same ideas, the committee should be composed of people holding different views.

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet:

Martial Law should be lifted to open up talking space

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Director of the Cross Cultural Foundation who has been working on human rights in the Deep South, proposed there should be no ending for a peace process. More attempts should be made to resurrect it. Don’t feel hopeless as yet. It is just like human rights work. 

According to Pornpen, there is a new condition under the old conditions, one of which is the imposition of Martial Law in the Deep South and Martial Law here is enforced differently from other places even though local people share the same culture. 

Martial Law has been imposed in the Deep South since the gun robbery incidence in January 2004, though it was once lifted momentarily. From her observation, violence in local area has rose up sharply after the 2006 coup when the Emergency Decree was imposed on top of Martial Law. Basically, the two laws were applicable at the same time in this area. Practically, it has impeded an effort to promote peace, particularly the issuance of arrest warrants. For a time, a number of arrest warrants have been issued so recklessly and without solid evidence. After some campaign, there was an attempt to curb it and then the number of arrest warrants has reduced. More evidence has been collected and the warrants have been issued correctly at the right persons. 

Pornpen said that the double use of security laws has made people lose faith in the effort to talk peace. Local people have no idea how to get involved and express their opinions. In fact, these people are so brave and are more open to talk. This has happened before the coup by the NCPO.

Pornpen further said that it seems democratic space is even more available now in the Deep South than other parts of the country where people have no idea what Martial Law is, but people in the Deep South know it well since they have been living with it for a long time. Right now, safeguard of rights in the Deep South is better protected compared to other regions whereby if a person is related, his or her relatives shall be informed and can make a visit to the person. But as Martial Law is declared countrywide, people in other regions have no idea when their relatives are arrested and whether or not they are allowed to visit them. 

“I want to say that we really need to have a new condition for the peace process. And what we need and have been demanding is a lift of Martial Law to pave the way for participation in peace building process making it conducive to more talks. Otherwise, people dare not speak out their demands. And their demands shall never be met. But to lift Martial Law just in the Deep South will make it look discriminatory. Therefore, it should be revoked countrywide. I hope it will be one among the first instructions made by the new PM” said Pornpen. 

As for public participation, the state must provide spaces in which people can participate, particularly those who have been victimized. Human rights violation should be one of the agendas during the talks. Without it, those who have suffered from the mayhem caused by either side of the conflict shall gain nothing from the new condition. 

Romadon Panjor:

The core issues, the middle ground and the future of Pa(t)tani

Romadon Panjor, Editor of DSW, began by informing Pornpen that it is almost infeasible to have Martial Law lifted in the Deep South. It is still far from being practical. If we get to talk with Gen. Nakrob, his friends and brothers in arms, we would get to know why the Army cannot let go of Martial Law. 

As for peace talk, Romadon said that the signing on 28 February 2013 was like a political bomb; it shed light on society as to which issues are at the heart of the conflict. Previously, we tended to focus on criminal aspects of the situation. We take for granted the idea that the violence is part of the struggle for independence. No plausible explanation has been made to link it with political struggle and what they are really fighting for. 

“When I was a reporter, I got to talk with the villagers. They tended to take some reservation and declined to say exactly what the local people really wanted. But with the commencement of the peace talk and as the BRN has come out to public space by making their statement via youtube, it helped us to know what they really wanted. The peace process has cast light on them making them visible and meanwhile both the government and the army acknowledged their existence” said Romadon.

The DSW staff member also explained that as an organizer of the event the term Pa(t)tani is put in bracket to raise a question as to which are really the core issues of the conflict? On one hand, some groups want to make it a double ‘t’, while others want to make it just a single ‘t’. But if we put the ‘t’ in bracket, it would make it possible for a dialogue to proceed. The thing is not yet settled and more talk is needed. Symbolically, the organizers want to reiterate that in order to transcend the conflict, we need to define clearly what are the core issues? Where are we at? Once we have positioned ourselves clearly, what would be our strategies to resolve the conflict? 

According to Romadon, as for the meaning of peace process, he would like to add that everything proposed thus far is part of the process. Peace work is multi-tiered. At the top level, the leaderships have their own role, whereas at other levels including those sitting in this room, people sitting in the middle ground, we all have a different role. Meanwhile, people at the base level also have their own unique role to play. 

As for the signing of the peace deal to initiate the talk, he deemed that the significance of the 28 February 2013 event was it convinced us that this process would not just concern the talk held in Kuala Lumpur only, but it would be a dialogue about the future of Patani. It would not be passive human rights work. But since after the 22 May 2014 coup, local people are left baffled with regard to the future of the Thai government. Community radio has been shut down. The situation has got really confused and as a result, a number of civil society has put their activism on hold. 

He added that the sending of a signal to press ahead with the peace process by both sides is a positive move. When we negotiate with our adversaries, it is important that we make sure that they are the real persons to talk to. In the same vein, the movement would ask us if we are really the persons they should talk to. If the question can be asked back and forth, the process can continue and will be meaningful. As to the demand to the government to open up space for participation by Ajahn Bussabong, we need to send the same message to the movement. We need to situate both parties in the same space asking them to be responsible and to make our voices heard. 

“Until now, the middle ground has expanded through what Ajahn Srisompob Jitpiromsri calls “an object of discourse” which has been thrown back and forth through media at different levels and through different platforms. Whether or not we agree with the dialogue, it must continue. And we cannot keep the dialogue secret. It used to happen like that unintentionally. We need to step up the issues at talk concerning the future of Patani. Five years ago, self-government might be something not discussable, but now we should be able to talk about it. The demands made by Haji Sulong are still relevant. We need to enliven them in the debate. But it is up to the NCPO, how sincere they are to allow local people to discuss the issues” said in the end by Romadon.

Gen. Nakrob responded to questions:

The dialogue process must proceed, but the military operation is still needed.

After the first round of discussion, Gen. Nakrob Boonbuathong added that conflicts are everywhere in the world as long as differences still exist. It depends on how the state manages them. Historically, we need to explore as to why it has happened as such, why did the state have to do such thing? The consolidation of power has some history. It depends on how the state has managed the situation. 

Responding to the question whether Martial Law in the Deep South can be lifted, Gen. Nakrob explained that conflicts in the South shall not be ended by military operation. However more militarization, the problems will not end. There has to be work on other aspects including the education, economy, etc. As for the peace talk, asking if the security agencies agree, I would say that I agree. Using arms will not end the problems. We’ve got to talk. But from the perspective of the military, there are some chances to take. After all military operation is still needed. Nevertheless, we have seen some progress. Since we walk this line and if we fail to deliver, people would criticize us. Therefore, when we walk we need to make it smooth, step by step. Previously, there have been different governments and the process was staggering. And the lack of stability has contributed to work at the local level. 

Gen. Nakrob also responded to the question by Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat regarding if the issue of independence can be discussed. Since I have been involved in the talk for a long time, any dialogue has steps to make. There has to be a roadmap. It depends on which demands are there, and which step is being taken. Are we ready to discuss the issue as yet? Were we ready to discuss the issue on 28 February 2013? I can tell that we were certainly not ready. How much do we trust each other? How much do we know each other? People who can talk must have developed some mutual trust. But since the signing has been made, we have to explore how we will proceed. The main problem in the past was political interference. Politically, the government seemed to have rushed the process simply because they wanted to jump on the bandwagon of ASEAN Economic Cooperation. But it is impossible, the process takes time. 

As to question whether they were the real persons to talk to, Gen. Nakrob said that Hassan Toyip was the Head of Foreign Affairs of BRN. I can guarantee that we talked to the right person. If he signed an agreement with us today, I would say we hit the right target. But it is not there yet. It could not develop that fast, but there had been pressure from political power. It was not ready locally. If a peace deal is signed now, who would be held liable if someone gets killed, and their relatives would not accept this. But whether Hassan Toyip can command the local perpetrators, Hassan has not come to Thailand for a long time. He cannot control anything here. The new generations in the movement are quite independent. 

Gen. Nakrob further said that local people split into three groups. One group agrees with peace talk, second group looks ambivalent, and the third group does not agree. But after the peace talk has collapsed, I know that people in second group have joined with the third group. But if it is clear that we will press ahead (with the peace talk), the second group will come back. 

Gen. Nakrob reiterated that peace process must begin from the first step to build trust. We got to have a roadmap as a benchmark. From the first step of trust building, we can proceed to ratification, but prior to signing anything, we need to listen to opinions. 

“National agenda or the government agenda?” and other questions from the participants 

The floor was then opened for participants to throw their questions in. Mr. Hara Shintaro, lecturer of Malay Studies at Prince of Songkla University Pattani Campus, asked the panelists on two points. First, is peace talk in the South accepted as a national agenda, or is it simply a government agenda? If it is really treated as a national agenda, how can we make it really a national agenda and that it would not be just a tool used by the government? Second, a question has been raised if the government has negotiated with the right person/group. I would then like to ask which Constitution has been referred to during the talk. Previous Constitutions provide that Thailand is a unitary state and is inseparable. Since we have had several Constitutions, when we say we live under the Constitution, which Constitution are we referring to? This should be made clear when the negotiation is taking place. 

Mr. Tuweadaneeya Tuweameangea, Director of the Academy of Patani Raya for Peace and Development (LEMPAR), raised a question as to which were the reasons that have stalled the negotiation with the BRN? He presumed that it was due to political situation in Bangkok. Or was it because the Thai state has failed to meet the five demands made by the BRN? Or was it because the BRN has intentionally made the demands that Thai state would never be able to meet? 

Tuweadaneeya also asked the panelist about the core issues of Patani, which are the core issues from the perspective of the security agencies? Among the three identities, nationality, religion and Patani’s history, which is the most forceful factor that has prompted people to rise up? 

Then, Mr. Panpipit Pipitphan, a lecturer from the Faculty of Political Science, Prince of Songkla University’s Pattani Campus, shared his idea that that a number of people attended the event today shows how thirsty local people are for a space to talk. Today, we have got to see different roles of people involved with the peace process and we have asked questions to them. I have one observation that the previous government has committed itself to the peace process, but what about this new government, will it commit itself to the process? I would also like to ask if they are the right to person to make the negotiation. 

Panpipit further shared that it looks like that government is too nervous, and Gen. Nakrob insisted that we still need to shore up (military operation), I would say there is no need to be nervous. We have been nervous for more than ten years. Let’s take a chance. There would not be much damage. I agree with Ajahn Shintaro that the peace talk should be treated as a national agenda, not just an agenda for the government. 

As for the idea of signing the peace deal in front of media, I think it is premature. In any peace talk process, there are five steps to make including trust, disarmament, laying down ideologies, laying the foundation, and charting the future. But the laying down of ideologies would not be accomplished if local people have no role in charting the future for themselves based on their common imagination. 

As for the question whether Malaysia is a sincere middleman or not, internationally, there is no need to talk about sincerity. What is at stake is mutual interest. 

Rosidah Pusu, a local journalist and the President of Deep South Women Overcoming Violence Network asked in the name of ordinary people of track three what will happen in the new path toward peace building, what would the people of track three have to get prepared? If we are defeated, how can we live? If we win, how will we proceed?

Gen. Nakrob responded to questions: If you don’t help, how can it become a national agenda?

In response to questions regarding the national agenda raised by Ajahn Shintaro, Gen. Nakrob said that when we had both the government and the opposition, they were just attacking each other. We all need to help, without that how can it become a national agenda?

As to which Constitution is referred to during the peace talk, Gen. Nakrob said the government does not specify which Constitution; it is written merely as a Constitution. And it does not matter since any Constitutions would provide that Thailand is a unitary state and is inseparable. 

As for the (decreasing) number of violent incidence during the Ramadan, I think the statistics were made up. No one knows if it was true. Ramadan is symbolic. The government has sent the data to OIC, it is part of the strategy. When I asked the BRN if they have done that, they denied and claimed that it was someone else. As for trust building, normally, this has to be done confidentially. Normally, ceasefire and disarmament are not the conditions which can be achieved at the beginning of the negotiation. 

Pornpen: Please give people a chance to participate in the peace talk

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Director of the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), added on public participation that right now people are left out from the process of peace talk, particularly about one million of women and local Buddhist Thais. Will they have a chance to express their opinions? What about people outside the region who have to bear the brunt from the situation? What about political prisoners? Some are on the run, some have been held in custody, some are issued with the warrants, some have been released from prison. How much space will we give to these people to participate? What about the roles of media inside and outside the area? Space should be provided. The Melayu radio should be allowed to operate, without which there will not be a new condition.

Romadon: Social force “what can you do?”

As the discussion drew to a close, Romadon Panjor said that he wants to challenge all of us in this room, not just Gen. Nakrob. It is crucially important to highlight the issue raised by Ajahn Bussabong that in the peace process, there are range of people involved and each has different roles. We don’t have to act the same. But what can we do? We have to ask ourselves what can we do? We should not just ask Gen. Nakrob and throw everything to Malaysia. 

The DSW staff member further said that the stalling of peace process last year has given us a chance to catch our breath and to review the peace process as a social transformation. It is not just about people laying down arms and talk. Lessons learned from other countries tell us that its achievement has to be measured from how people live their daily life; it cannot be measured just from the peace deal itself. 

As for the issue of national agenda, we cannot just bombard the question to Gen. Nakrob, but we have to press it to other people including all of us here. Peace process does not come about because it is declared by the PM. It depends on all of us. That Gen. Surayuth Chulanond dared to make an apology to people in the Deep South was because it was an act supported by the whole society. The question is what can each of us do? How can we make it a national agenda? Gen. Nakrob can be transferred somewhere when a new government comes in, but the social process must continue. 

He ended by emphasizing that the question raised by Tuweadaneeya Tuweameangea is crucially important. We need to learn from elsewhere how they have managed their situations? Ajahn Norbert Ropers (a senior researcher from CSCD) said that peace process is not a linear process and it can twist and turn, fire and then talk, talk and then fire. Therefore, it needs to be supported by social force and it depends on how we harness the social force.