Thailand holds 'peace talks' with Muslim militants

Thailand said Thursday it was holding peace talks with some Muslim insurgent groups in its violence-wracked south, in a policy reversal which follows a recent surge in militant attacks. Informal talks are under way between the government agency in charge of the region -- the Southern Border Provinces Administration Center -- and several militant splinter groups, according to a deputy prime minister. "Don't call it negotiations... but there are talks to achieve peace which is a crucial government policy," Yutthasak Sasiprapa, who is in charge of national security, told reporters.

"The government has assigned the Southern Border Provinces Administration Center responsibility for the talks as they are well aware who to talk to."

The talks are with splinter groups from the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) -- one of a web of insurgent organisations believed to be behind attacks, he said.

"We talk with newly set up groups of young people which separated from the RKK," Yutthasak said, adding that up to 9,000 insurgents overall were estimated to be operating in the violence-hit southern provinces. (...)

Reality Check Thailand - Islam the Religion of Peace:

• Whitewashing the Thai Jihad

• Thailand: Jihadists demand all businesses close every Friday

• Tracking the Hezbollah Connection in Thailand

• Islam Reaches Critical Mass in Thailand

• Thailand: "We will kill, burn, and destroy all Buddhists: you will never be able to live in peace here”

• Thailand holds 'peace talks' with Muslim militants

• Jihad in Thailand: Muslim terrorists detonate car bomb in front of school, 5 police dead

• Muslims Behead a Young Buddhist Boy, Slaughter Others in Thailand

• Video: THAILAND: Muslims behead a 9-year-old boy (WARNING: Graphic Images)

• Thailand hunting Hezbollah operatives planning terror attacks against Jews, Israelis

• Suspect pleads not guilty to Thailand explosives charge

• Thailand: More beheadings in troubled Muslim south

• Thailand rebels recruiting from Islamic schools

• Egyptian Mufti: Shari'a Courts Must Be Established in Thailand

• No longer only Buddhist monks: militant Islam is penetrating Thailand

• Thailand: Car Bomb hits Restaurant in south, 42 injured

• Terrorism in Thailand: the Swedish connection

• Islamic jihadist accused of terror attack in Thailand: the Jews set me up

• Muslim terrorists target tourists in Thailand

• Thailand: Jihadists murder six Buddhist civilians by bombing their car and then raking it with gunfire

• Muslim militants in south Thailand growing stronger

• Eleven dead in Thai militant attacks

• Murders and bombing by Thai Islamists

• Muslim ‘Insurgents’ Attack Thailand School, 6 Year Old Shot in Stomach

• Fears in Thailand about war on Islamist guerrillas escalating

• Heavy security for prophet film protest in Bangkok

• Roadside bomb kills 4 soldiers in Thailand's south

• Using Islam to counter jihad in southern Thailand

• Islamic terrorists kill more Buddhists in Southern Thailand

• Teachers killed in restive southern Thailand