Thailand military 'spoilers' step on peace prospects in troubled south

Rebels and government sit down for talks on future of bloody ethnic conflict

Police officers inspect burnt out motorcycles at a showroom in Thailand's Pattani province in 2013. Separatists were suspected of setting the fire in a series of arson attacks. © EPA/Jiji

MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Asia regional correspondent

February 20, 2024 11:36 JST

BANGKOK -- While a decadeslong ethnic conflict rages in Thailand's three southernmost provinces, online platforms are extending their reach as a political voice for Malay-Muslims, the largest minority in this predominantly Buddhist country.

Wartani, which is a local expression for regional news, attracted thousands more followers to its Facebook page soon after the Thai government and Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the troubled region's biggest rebel group, restarted peace talks in Malaysia this month after a year-long silence.