The government appears to have reacted too strongly against the five demands and, lately, the conditions set by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) in return for the rebels’ scaleback of violence during the Ramadan. Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwannatat, in particular, announced vehemently that the conditions were totally unacceptable.

The ongoing peace talk between the government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional has a slim chance of success because the rebels were forced into the peace process against their will by the Malaysian government, said former deputy interior minister and ex-senator Den Tohmeena.

A few jokes have helped ease the tension at the third round of peace talk on June 13 in Kuala Lumpur between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist group. They have also helped save the talk from collapse.

Nine days after the replica of Phraya Tani cannon was installed in Pattani to mixed reactions from the local Malay Muslims, an improvised explosive device believed planted beneath the cannon by insurgents exploded and tore it into two pieces. The concrete block on which the replica cannon was the emplaced was also badly shattered by the powerful blast.

The ongoing peace talks between the government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist group is facing increasing resistance especially from the military in light of escalating violence perpetrated by bands of insurgents,