Rebels threaten to quit Thai peace talks via video
10 Aug 2013 4:04 AM IST
Rebels in Thailand’s Muslim-majority south have threatened to quit peace talks with the government, as bloodshed during a Ramadan ceasefire dampened hopes of an end to years of fighting.
In a video posted on the YouTube website, three rebels wearing balaclavas and combat gear and holding automatic weapons said the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), one of several militant groups would withdraw from the talks.
‘The Thai occupiers have committed betrayal, violence, lied and slandered the Pattani people,’ one of them said, in the video posted Tuesday and confirmed by sources close to the talks Thursday. Pattani is one of several provinces in the south, where some 5,700 people have been killed since the insurgency flared in 2004. Rebels also use the word to refer to the whole deep south region.
Rounds of talks in Malaysia between Thai authorities and some rebel groups, including the BRN, had raised tentative hopes of peace. A ceasefire, supposed to last from July 10 to August 18 to mark the Islamic holy month, initially appeared to hold. But rebel attacks continued again after a few days.
In a video posted on the YouTube website, three rebels wearing balaclavas and combat gear and holding automatic weapons said the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), one of several militant groups would withdraw from the talks.
‘The Thai occupiers have committed betrayal, violence, lied and slandered the Pattani people,’ one of them said, in the video posted Tuesday and confirmed by sources close to the talks Thursday. Pattani is one of several provinces in the south, where some 5,700 people have been killed since the insurgency flared in 2004. Rebels also use the word to refer to the whole deep south region.
Rounds of talks in Malaysia between Thai authorities and some rebel groups, including the BRN, had raised tentative hopes of peace. A ceasefire, supposed to last from July 10 to August 18 to mark the Islamic holy month, initially appeared to hold. But rebel attacks continued again after a few days.
Next Story
