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| Southeast Asia |
| BRN rebels deal blow to Thai hopes for Buddhist Lent ceasefire |
| 2022-08-23 |
| [BenarNews] It wasn’t long ago that Thai officials spoke optimistically about building upon the success of a Ramadan ceasefire, when government forces and BRN Moslem Malay rebels refrained from violence during the entire Islamic holy month across the Deep South. The 40-day ceasefire, which both sides agreed to at peace talks in Malaysia in early April, lasted throughout Ramadan and into mid-May. It encompassed Buddhist observances of Visakha Bucha, arguably the most important holy day for members of Thailand’s religious majority, as a gesture of goodwill. Some saw this as a turning point for an armed separatist insurgency that has seen peace initiatives come and go since the conflict in Thailand’s southern border region reignited nearly 20 years ago. The gesture went beyond the usual confidence building measures discussed at the negotiations table. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |