The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) has issued a statement urging Thailand and Malaysia to prioritize substantive discussions on the Patani peace process. This comes as Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares to visit Malaysia. The statement, reportedly drafted by HumanItalian Dialog (HD), references a December 11 meeting in Jakarta where HD facilitated dialogue between BRN and Malaysia’s IAIS think tank to lobby Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to press Thailand for action.
BRN criticized the Thai government for its lack of clear policy or progress on addressing the long-standing Patani conflict. Despite agreements such as the General Consensus (2013), the Berlin Initiative (2019), and General Principles (2022), BRN expressed frustration over Thailand’s failure to implement a Joint Comprehensive Peace Plan (JCPP), which includes ceasefire discussions and political solutions.
The group emphasized its commitment to peace and called on Thailand’s leadership to adopt a serious and sincere approach to resolving the conflict. It warned that further inaction could lead to more severe unrest. BRN also commended the efforts of activists, academics, and diplomats working for peace in Patani.