A self-described Muslim insurgent member in a restive Deep South of Thailand released a video clip online, pointing out the Thai state’s hypocrisy in solving the southern conflict and vowing to fight on for independence.
On Tuesday, 8 September 2015, BBC Thai Service, reported about a video clip that has been shared online of a man identified as Abdul Karim Khalib, a Muslim man who claimed to be a member of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), one of the insurgent groups in the restive southern border provinces.
Speaking in Malay with English subtitle, Abdul claimed in the video that he is sending a message from the Information Bureau of the BRN.
The self-proclaimed BRN member said that the Thai state has never been honest in trying to solve the prolonged conflict in the restive Deep South and cannot be trusted.
Abdul mentioned that the ultimate goal of the struggle of ‘Malayu (Malay) people in Patani’ against the Thai state is to achieve independence.
“Other countries know that ‘penjajah Siam’ (Thai imperialist) has never honor human dignity and rights to determine their own future,” BBC quoted Abdul as saying. “We Malayu Patani people can’t trust Siam (Thailand).”
Abdul also said in the video that currently Thailand is undergoing internal political changes where democracy and human rights have been suspended.
According to Abu Hafez Al-Hakim, a representative of Barisan Islam Perbersasan Patani (BIPP), one of the insurgent organisations in the Deep South represented in Majlis Syura Patani (MARA Patani), the umbrella organisation of insurgent groups comprising Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO), Gerakan Mujahidin Islam Patani (GMIP), and BIPP, the video does not show whether the speaker is pro or against the ongoing Southern Peace Talk.
Abu told BBC that the speaker in the video, Abdul, expressed doubts about the intention of the Thai authorities in the peace talk process and the fact that the Thai authorities have not answered to the five demands of the BRN.
Whether supporting or rejected the peace talk between the Thai state and MARA, some of the top leaders of the BRN are represented in MARA and the group is currently observing where the peace talk would lead, Abu told BBC.
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