There are indications that Malaysia’s role in "facilitating" the peace talk process between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist organization was meant for domestic political gains.

The presentation of Women’s Peace Promotion Awards on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on March 8 this year caused a big "ooh and aah" because one of the recipients was the director of a pondok (ponoh) Islamic religious school in the deep South which was closed down for four years by the security forces on suspicion of providing shelter to separatists.

Immediately after the signing of the peace dialogue agreement in Kuala Lumpur on February 28 between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasionale (BRN) separatist group, many critics have questioned the credibility of Mr Hassan Taib, the man representing the BRN.

The government’s peace initiative to open talks with all southern rebel groups has picked up momentum at a pace so fast that warnings of caution and slow down have been sounded.

This commentary is an expanded version of the article of the same headline written by this writer which was published in Krungthep Dhurakij newspaper on Tuesday February 19.