A former southern separatist leader said that the ongoing peace talks process between the government and separatist groups would be successful only when the real perpetrators of the violence in the deep South were involved in the process.

The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) is pondering a plan to build a fence along the entire Thai-Malaysian border as a deterrent against cross-border illegal activities such as trafficking of oil, drug, human and bomb-making chemicals.

The 4th round of peace talks between the government and southern separatist groups scheduled for early December remains highly uncertain due to conflict among a few separatist groups.

The next round of peace talks between the government and southern separatist groups may take place in December because the government will have to reset its negotiating team, according to Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr, secretary-general of the National Security Council and head of the Thai team.

A special public prosecution office to handle security-related cases in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat plus four districts of Songkhla has become operational as of October 1.