PATTANI – The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the most prominent separatist movement in Thailand’s Deep South, has called on the Thai government to resume peace talks under the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan Towards Peace (JCPP), citing the deteriorating situation in the region.

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In a statement released via social media on Friday, the BRN admitted responsibility for a recent surge in violence across the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and parts of Songkhla. The group attributed the unrest to what it described as the government’s continued reluctance to return to the negotiating table since the suspension of formal peace efforts early last year.

The BRN emphasized that it remains the legitimate representative of all insurgent factions in the region and asserted that its negotiation teams have full authority to engage in meaningful dialogue. Previous talks were held in Malaysia, which has served as an official facilitator for the conflict resolution process.

Criticizing the government led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the BRN accused Thai leadership of lacking both the political will and strategic vision to address the conflict. The group claimed that the administration has shown no sincere effort to improve conditions for the residents of the Deep South, where decades of unrest have claimed thousands of lives.

The BRN separatist movement in Thailand’s deep South issued a statement via social media on Friday, urging the Thai government to resume peace talks with them, within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan Towards Peace (JCPP).

The movement also confessed to being behind… pic.twitter.com/XF7vPNMLFo

— Thai PBS World (@ThaiPBSWorld) June 7, 2025

The stalled peace process, according to the statement, reflects the government’s disregard for the suffering of local communities, who continue to live under the shadow of daily violence and insecurity.

Adding to tensions, threatening leaflets have appeared in villages and mosques across Yala and Narathiwat. The leaflets target Muslim government employees, particularly defence volunteers, labeling them as traitors to the so-called Patani state and warning that betrayal is punishable by death.

Security sources say these volunteers pose a significant challenge to insurgent operations due to their intimate knowledge of the region’s complex terrain, including forested and agricultural areas often used as insurgent strongholds.

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Thai authorities have yet to issue an official response to the BRN’s latest call for dialogue, but the rising threat level and targeted intimidation tactics underscore the urgent need for renewed efforts to find a peaceful resolution.

-Thailand News (TN)