TThai authorities and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hope that the initiative taken by the government and Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), aimed at cutting on violence in the deep South, will yield results from the first day of Ramadan.
Hopes of seeing calm in the predominantly Muslim region are a result of the latest talks between the authorities and the BRN, said National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabutr.
Malaysian authorities said the BRN called off their plan to hold a press conference on the peace initiative in Kuala Lumpur yesterday for reasons that were unclear, but Thai authorities believe the move to reduce violence is still on, he said.
OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu yesterday welcomed the initiative between the government and the Muslim group to engage in a ceasefire during the holy month.
Ihsanoglu was briefed on the initiative and other developments in the region during his meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday.
He encouraged both sides to abide by the principles of the "ceasefire" and expressed hope that it would lead to further peaceful developments and increased confidence-building measures towards the ultimate resolution of the conflict in the South. The OIC is ready to be a partner in the process so that peace, security, economic development and prosperity could be enjoyed by all peoples of southern Thailand, he said.
However, Paradorn said that if any violence were to occur during the period, investigation of the incidents would be conducted promptly and completed within 48 hours in order to ascertain which group was responsible.
The security measures for keeping peace and order during Ramadan will be based on the guidelines provided by of the Office of Sheikul Islam, he said.
Sheikhul Islam is known in Thai as Chularatchamontri, the holder of the office of top Islamic religious leader.
There are three small intensively operative groups in the region and the neighbouring country has nothing to do with them, Paradorn said.
Related agencies are discussing the BRN's demands and have sent the Thai guidelines for action to the BRN via the Malaysian facilitator, he added.