Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has offered to assist Thailand in finding a peaceful solution to the region’s long-running conflict.
During his official visit to Bangkok, Anwar stressed that the insurgency is a Thai domestic matter, but Malaysia will do all possible to help end the conflict peacefully.
Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed gratitude for Malaysia’s cooperation and noted that any aid provided by Malaysia will help address the difficulties in the restive areas. He stated that successful discussions will result in increased economic development and enhanced bilateral relations.
Fighting between Thai security forces and separatist organizations seeking independence for the largely Muslim and ethnically Malay provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani, and portions of Songkhla, which border Malaysia, has killed over 7,300 deaths since 2004.
An attempt to contact the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the primary rebel organization engaging in discussions with the Thai government, has so far yielded no answer, according to officials.
Malaysia has been sponsoring peace negotiations between separatist parties and the Thai government since 2013. After a two-year hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the most recent round of discussions started in 2022.
