LAST week’s bombing and shooting in Tak Bai, Narathiwat, southern Thailand, and the consequent tightened security, will have an adverse effect on locals on both sides of the border, a local think tank said.

Iman Research, which focuses on peace-building and sustainable development, said Malaysian security forces will also now increase their presence and security up north of the peninsula, and this will have an impact on the daily lives of Malaysians.

Its managing director, Altaf Deviyati, told The Malaysian Insight that the incident will also result in a delay in the peace negotiations that are supposed to resume next month.

“The recent bombing and shooting in Tak Bai were the first big and coordinated attack since the end of the Ramadan truce on May 14,” she said.

“The importance of this attack is the level of detail, coordination and planning that were put into it.

“For sure, this means the Thai military will increase presence and security in the south, affecting the daily life of the local community and will result in the delay of the peace negotiations.”

Currently, only Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) is involved in the peace negotiations with the Thai government.

BRN is an Islamist Patani independence movement in southern Thailand.

Other insurgent groups in southern Thailand include Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) and Gerakan Mujahidin Islam Patani.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pulo leader Kasturi Mahkota has been quoted as denying that his group was responsible for the attack.

Thai “deep south” encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces as well as four districts of Songkhla province in the country’s majority Muslim Malay southern border region.

On Thursday, three security officers were injured after the marine police station in Tak Bai was attacked by people with firearms and grenades.

In the attack, which began at 9.35pm, six attackers hurled grenades at the station and opened fire with automatic rifles.

Blasts were even heard in Pengkalan Kubor in Tumpat, Kelantan, located opposite Tak Bai across the border.

Several videos recorded by the public have since gone viral on social media, showing several men firing rounds.

The attack occurred just after a Ramadan ceasefire between BRN separatists and Thai security forces.

Push for a political solution

Altaf said it is possible the attack was assisted by other splinter groups who were unhappy about the peace negotiations.

“Or the other groups were upset that they are not included in the peace talks,” she said.

Meanwhile, Thai security forces have blamed “illegal trade operators” such as drug smugglers who have been “purged” to keep the peace talks going.

On how Malaysia could play a role in ensuring that the peace process continues , Altaf said the only way to achieve peace in the region is through negotiation.

She expressed confidence that Malaysia would continue to push for a political solution because of the unique position it was on.

“Malaysia is not just a neighbour. In fact, we are a stakeholder because we are experiencing the spillover effect of the violence,” she said.

“The sheer volume of southern Thai youth coming to Malaysia is an example. It is in our own interest if there is peace in southern Thailand.

“Our official role is as facilitator for the negotiations between Bangkok and BRN, but we are also more than that. We have shared culture and religion with the south and a strong bilateral relationship with Thailand.

“The way forward for sustainable and long-lasting peace is a political solution and this can only occur via the negotiation table.

“Due to Malaysia’s unique position, we can play a role in helping to push for this political solution.”

The independence movement in the deep south led by separatist groups began in the 1960s. More than 7,000 people have been killed and 13,500 others injured in clashes in the region. – May 30, 2022.