Stop attacks, or stop talks

TThe government has faced calls and demands at home and abroad to describe the BRN as terrorists.

he bombing of a Big C Supercenter in Pattani on May 9 has perversely put the government on the back foot. The car bomb attack which wounded 59 innocent civilians has been condemned worldwide for its savagery. It also raised political questions without clear answers for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the regime. How the military proceeds in the coming days will probably determine whether there is even a slim chance of ending the southern violence. Quick thinking, staff training and instincts of half a generation of atrocities saved lives at the most popular commercial outlet in the deep South. Agents of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) attempted to slaughter a large number of civilians with a huge bomb in a pickup truck. They carried out a scheme to actually herd innocent women shoppers and children toward the bomb before it was detonated. Store security guards sent shoppers away from the truck, and casualties were kept to a minimum. So, first of all, the government has faced calls and demands at home and abroad to describe the BRN as terrorists. Certainly the evidence is clear. There is no real doubt that the Big C bombing was by the BRN. The group has confirmed to the media in the South and in Malaysia — where the BRN leadership shelters while hatching its plans — that it was responsible. According to a group sympathiser interviewed by Radio Free Asia, the BRN “believe violence is the path to independence”. The government, for better or worse, has decided yet again to go along with this. It has one, overwhelming reason never to call the BRN “terrorists”. Both Gen Prayut and army commander Chalermchai Sitthisat were clear about it. Labelling the BRN means taking the issue to the international community, including the United Nations. And the army, which is in complete charge of the low-intensity war in the South, wants no part of that. As Gen Chalermchai put it, obliquely, such a stance would have repercussions. The army and government are right to consider the strategic problem of officially labelling the BRN as the terrorists they always have been. But they should not help in whitewashing the group that resorts to violent means and kill civilians only to achieve its political goal. Worse, the prospect for peace is not very good given the rise to power of Doonloh Wae-mano (alias Abdullah Wan Mat Noor) who is known for his hardline stance in the BRN. Thai intelligence officers told the media earlier this year that they are well aware of this and keep a close watch on the insurgents’ movements. Mr Doonloh succeeded spiritual leader Sapae-ing Basor who died from complications of illnesses last year in Malaysia. The new leader of the highly secretive rebel group has resided in Malaysia’s Kelantan. It’s very likely the BRN under the new hardcore leader would not hesitate to use violent means to increase its leverage and gain more attention. If that is the case, ongoing violence carried out by the BRN would undermine the piece efforts between the Thai state and Mara Patani, the umbrella body representing separatist groups. Under such circumstances, the Thai team needs to review and adjust the process. In particular, the special team, sometimes referred to as the “forward command cabinet”, under the leadership of Deputy Defence Minister and former army chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr must act more decisively to fulfil its mission — to restore peace in this restive region and fulfil public expectations. The last word to the insurgents is: Stop the violence or the talks will not continue.