Bangkok: Thailand is preparing to take a different approach to one of its longest running security conflicts, with the government looking beyond military measures and short term agreements in an effort to find a lasting political solution to the violence in the country's southern provinces.
The conflict has continued for more than two decades in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, three provinces where most of the population is Malay Muslim. More than 7,800 people have been killed since the latest major wave of violence began in 2004. The fighting has affected civilians, security personnel, government workers and local communities, while repeated attempts to establish a lasting peace have produced limited results.
Thailand's chief peace negotiator, Thanut Suvarnananda, now says the government needs to rethink the way it approaches negotiations with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, commonly known as the BRN, the main separatist movement involved in the conflict.
Instead of focusing mainly on what each side will receive in return for a reduction in violence, Bangkok wants to discuss the political issues that have helped keep the conflict alive. One of the central questions is whether the southern provinces could have a different form of local administration that gives communities greater control over their own affairs while remaining part of Thailand.
The proposal represents a sensitive change in Thailand's position. For many years, discussions about greater autonomy in the southern provinces were viewed with caution because of concerns that political decentralisation could eventually lead to demands for independence. The government has consistently defended Thailand's territorial unity.
However, there are growing signs that both sides understand that military pressure alone is unlikely to end the conflict.
The BRN has previously expressed support for a form of self government in the southern region. Its position has included demands for greater political participation, protection of Malay language and culture, and greater authority for local communities. The willingness of Bangkok to discuss governance could therefore create an opportunity for the two sides to address some of the deeper issues behind the violence.
At the same time, the road to peace remains difficult.
Recent violence has damaged confidence in the negotiating process. An attack in Narathiwat in July killed five security personnel and injured six civilians. The incident contributed to delays in plans to restart formal discussions.
Thai authorities have also made clear that violence cannot be used as a bargaining tool. The government wants negotiations to continue, but it does not want armed attacks to become a way of forcing political concessions.
There are also concerns about divisions within the BRN. Some representatives involved in negotiations appear to remain interested in dialogue, while other members of the movement have reportedly become frustrated with the slow pace of progress. This raises an important question about whether negotiators can guarantee that fighters on the ground will follow any future agreement.
Malaysia is expected to remain an important part of the peace process. Kuala Lumpur has helped facilitate negotiations between Thailand and the BRN since 2013 and has an important role because of its geographical and cultural links with the region.
Another possible part of the new approach is amnesty. Thai officials are considering measures such as pardons or reductions in sentences for some people accused of involvement in the insurgency. Such steps could help build trust, although they are likely to face legal and political challenges.
Thailand is also reviewing some of its security practices in the southern provinces. Checkpoints, searches and restrictions on communities can provide security benefits, but they can also create anger when residents feel that they are being treated as suspects rather than citizens. Reducing unnecessary restrictions while maintaining public safety could become an important part of the peace effort.
The government's challenge is to balance security with political reform. It must reassure the wider Thai public that national unity will remain protected while also convincing communities in the south that their concerns can be addressed through peaceful political channels.
For local residents who have lived with violence for years, the most important measure of progress will not be the language used during negotiations but whether attacks decrease and daily life becomes safer.
Thailand's latest initiative is therefore not yet a peace agreement. Formal negotiations still face uncertainty, and recent violence shows how fragile the process remains. But the decision to examine political grievances and possible forms of decentralisation could mark an important change in thinking.
After years of fighting, Bangkok and the BRN are again facing the same basic reality. Neither side has been able to achieve a decisive victory. The government cannot completely eliminate the insurgency through force, while the armed movement has failed to achieve its political goals through violence.
That leaves dialogue as the most realistic path forward. Whether this latest effort succeeds will depend on the willingness of both sides to make difficult compromises, rebuild trust and address the political concerns that have kept the conflict alive for generations.