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Violence in Thailand's deep south likely to escalate, separatist warns

Violence in Thailand's deep south likely to escalate, separatist warns

Nikkei Asia15-07-2025
Soldiers patrol Tak Bai town in Narathiwat province in Thailand's deep south region. Independent monitors say over 7,700 people have been killed in separatist-related violence since 2004. (Photo by Getty Images)
AMY CHEW
KUALA LUMPUR -- Violence in Thailand's troubled deep south is expected to escalate following the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra as peace talks are now "extremely difficult" to convene, a senior member of the separatist Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) has warned.
The deep south, which refers to the Muslim-majority southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat in predominantly Buddhist Thailand, has experienced a marked increase in violent incidents since early 2025 following stalled peace talks between the government and the BRN.
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