Thailand’s Muslim separatists vow to fight for independence ‘until the end of time’
Since 2004, over 7,000 militants, security forces and civilians have been killed in the region, once part of a Malay-Muslim sultanate
“This struggle will continue until the end of time,” Nikmatullah Seri, the spokesman for the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) peace negotiation delegation, said in a rare interview. “As long as our objectives remain unachieved, we will continue to fight.”
Militants from BRN have fought for an independent Islamic nation in Thailand’s Muslim-majority south since the 1960s, although the current unrest began in 2004.
Thailand has been negotiating with the BRN under Malaysian mediation since 2013, the most recent high-level talks taking place in December. But the process has repeatedly stalled, and Bangkok suspended dialogue in July following an attack that killed five soldiers.
