Thailand and Muslim separatist rebels agree on roadmap to peace, Malaysian facilitator says
ABC News
Malaysia says the Thai government and Muslim separatist rebels in southern Thailand have agreed in principle to a roadmap to try to end a decades-long Muslim insurgency
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia's facilitator said Wednesday that the Thai government and Muslim separatist rebels in southern Thailand have agreed in principle on a roadmap to try to end a decades-long Muslim insurgency.
The sides held two days of talks in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, and will meet again over the next two months to iron out details of the peace plan, said Malaysian facilitator Zulkifli Zainal Abidin.
“It is a major breakthrough after the dialogue was stalled the past year due to the Thai election,” he told a news conference.
“The (peace plan), if the technical teams agree, will be signed as soon as possible. ... There is light at the end of the tunnel. Both parties are willing to put pen on paper. Previously there was no talk of signing any documents.”
Malaysia has hosted and facilitated talks between the separatist groups and the Thai government since 2013, but little progress has been made.
