PATANI DARUL MAARIF

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BARISAN REVOLUSI NASIONAL MELAYU PATANI (BRN)

FINDING THE TRUTH
BEHIND THE PEACE ACCORD
BETWEEN BRN AND REGION FOUR ARMY

The signing of peace negotiation settlement agreement between Region Four Army of Thailand and BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani) dated 8th April 1995 stunted many political analysists and observers on Patani issues. The agreement were signed by Major General Chalermphol Charoenying (now Lt. General), Deputy Commander of Region Four Army and Police Colonel Paichet Sisongkhla (retired as Police Major General, presently an elected Senator from Songkhla Province), representative of Region Nine Police on behalf of Thai Government; and Lukman Iskandar, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of BRN and Ahmad Matnor, Deputy Commander of PKRRP (BRN's paramilitary wing). The meeting was convened for two consecutive days at Perdana Hotel Board of Directors' Conference Room.

A few months after the agreement was signed, an article was published in Bangkok Post claiming that Lukman had deceived Region Four Army. The article clearly prevailed the integrity, authority, sovereignty and supremacy of Thai government. Signing a peace agreement or a treaty, especially by the government division or sub-division is binding the entire government.

A member of Government delegation, law professor from Prince of Songkhla University, Associate Professor Thavorn said, "This agreement is a legal document." The agreement was signed on Malaysia's soil, in Kelantan. The agreement was type-written by delegates of Region Four Army, not by Lukman or BRN delegates.

A few days after the signing ceremony, Lukman went to Bangkok. He was seen at a conference with His Majesty's Chief Royal Guards (Raj Ongkaraj) on 17-19 April 1995. Lukman submitted what is known as PEACE PLAN. The contents were debated and thoroughly discussed for 3 consecutive days; and finally approved with some minor changes.

The delegation to the peace conference

TO KNOW THE DELEGATES?
DELEGATION FROM REGION FOUR ARMY:

1. Major General Chalermphol Charoenying, Deputy Commander, Region Four Army

2. Policle Colonel Paichet Sisongkhla, personal representative of Police Lt. General Michai Nukhunkit, Region Nine Police Chief.

3. Professor Thavorn, Law Lecturer of Prince of Songkhla University.

4. Colonel Nathapat Churasat, Commanding Officer of Camp Khohong, Hatyai

5. Thinakorn Surikawat, Deputy Director of Southern Border Provinces Administrataive Centre (SBPAC)

6. Colonel Sathakit, Commanding Officer, PTT3 (Camp Sirindhorn, Yala)

7. Phittaya Suchachuda, Vice Director of Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center.

8. Chamlong Chutitangporn, Public Prosecutor, Satun Province.

9. Dr. Ismail Ali, Dean of Islamic Studies, Prince of Songkhla University.

10. Aziz Benhawan, Senator, ex-Datuk Utitam, Yala Province.

BRN DELEGATION:

1. Lukman Iskandar, Secretary General & Secretary of Foreign Affairs of BRN.

2. Ahmad Matnor, Deputy Secretary of BRN & Deputy Commander of PKRRP.

3. Beraheng Yakyerit @ Cikgu Bakar, Commander of PKRRP & Secretary of Defense of BRN.

4. Ustaz Aziz, Commissioner of BRN, Satun Province.

5. Ahmad Toher, former BRN field commander & Deputy Secretary of Defense of BRN.

6. Ahmad Keladi, PKRRP field commander.

7. Ahmad Nor, PKRRP field commander.

8. Abu Mirzan, BRN Youth Chief.

9. Direk Mansanit, BRN Revolution Command Council (RCC) member.

10. Khamnan Donli, BRN Revolution Command Council (RCC) member.

11. Ali Ahmad, Ustaz Karim's personal representative (as an observer).

12. Sariyan Hassan (as typist & minutes recorder)

TO KNOW WHO ARE BRN DELEGATES?

Lukman is no doubt, established his name in Patani lieberation struggle long time ago and his name appeared in newspapers, magazines, articles and some historical and reference books on Patani.

Ahmad Matnor is popular by the name of Mat Jabat, BRN militia chief since the time of Pak Yeh and Kru Pak Su (end of 1960s and early 1970s. Late Cikgu Ding, Cikgu Pin and Cikgu Bakar were recruited by Mat Jabat during his military offensive against Thai army and police in 1970s. Mat Jabat is the most destructive and gruesome guerrila chief of BRN in Patani history.

Beraheng Yakyerit is popular by the name Cikgu Bakar, BRN 3rd. Brigade Commander who led serious attacks and ambushes on Thai military and police positions in Narathiwat, Yala and Songhkla areas in mid 1970s. Beraheng was predicted to be appointed as Deputy Commander of BRN Armed Forces known as ABRIP, but his racklessness led to the death of Cikgu Ding, then Deputy Commander. So Cikgu Ping was appointed as Deputy Commander.

Ustaz Aziz, now residing in Malaysia is Lukman's uncle. He bears a reputable name of Langputeh in his surname - the pride of Satun Royalty, nephew of Datuk Che Lah Langputeh, former Member of Parliament of Satun Province & deputy minister in Thai Cabinet.

Ahmad Toher was Pak Yeh's deputy commander in early 1970s, before Pak Yeh joined Tengku Jalal's BNPP.

Ahmad Keladi, though not popular, is PKRRP Intelligence Unit who was assigned to work with PTT3 since the reign of Lt. General Kitti Rathanachaya, Region Four Commander.

Ahmad Nor, is also PKRRP Intelligence Unit and Field Commander working relatively with Region Four Army at PTT3.

Abu Mirzan, is known as BRN Urban Guerrilla Unit Chief, jailed on suspect for BRN bombings in Bangkok in early 1981.

Direk Mansanit, elder brother of Dr. Anan Mansanit, a long time underground member of BRN since the time of Ustaz Karim (ex-student of Ustaz Karim at Thamawithaya Mulniti), a potential businessman. Direk is one of Dakwah Tabligh founder members.

Donli, a Sub-district chieftain from Chanak District, Songkhla Province, also a founder member of Dakwah Tabligh Movement in Thailand. This man who connected the entire group to Privy Councilor of Thailand, General Prem Tinsulanond and Chief of the Royal Guards.

Ali Ahmad, not only representing Karim, but also as an observer to Rajlekha Piset. This gentleman is not a member of BRN.

Sariyan is Lukman's wife - a school teacher.

About the Family Roots

On 16th and 17th February 1995, a meeting was convened at Hotel Wilayah Kuala Lumpur, at the same hotel where a preliminary meeting was convened between representatives of Region Four Army in 1991 and PKRRP. The delegation, led by somebody, who claimed to be representatives of General Wimul Pongpanich, then Thai Army Commander-in-Chief. They proposed that PKRRP deal directly with Commander-in-Chief of Thai Armed Forces, and abandon their preliminary peace pact duly signed with Region Four Army in 1992. PKRRP rejected the offer:
"We have been fighting wars with Region Four Army, we don't enter into wars with Region 1, 2 or 3 Armies of Thailand. Therefore we want to resolve disputes and problems with Region Four Army."

"We will proceed with this peace accord only with consent from Commander of Region Four Army. If we deal with Commander-in-Chief, we bypass Commander of Region Four Army. Therefore we will be in a very big tussle with Region Four Commander! On matters pertaining to the security and stability of Southern Border Provinces, Region Four Commander can over-rule the decisions of Commander -in-Chief!" That was Lukman's remark. "You can tell the other people but you can't fool us."

The delegates then disappeared. They established contact again via another entry point (Kelantan State of Malaysia) to enter into peace with the other Patani liberation group, but was untercepted by PKRRP Intelligence Unit. This happened during the time of Lt. General Kitti too. Kitti sent his Intelligence officers to talk and negotiate terms with the liberation group; but intercepted by Lukman's intelligence networking - PKRRP.

Two weeks later, an envoy was sent from the Royal Palace, representing his Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The meeting was held at Kosit Hotel, Hatyai City dated 13th - 15th March 1995. The name of this gentleman is upheld, but he was His Majesty's Personal Secretary (Rajlekha Piset), who is also a confidential (secret) member of Privy Council of Thailand. [This gentleman is known to General Prem, General Chavalit, Den Tohmeena, Wirat Visikapong, Wan Muhammad Nor Matha, Nikmuk Sulaiman and they always consulted him and sought his opinions and advices].

Ustaz Karim, the owner and the founder member of BRN, was also present. Ustaz Karim, was earlier admitted in Srinakarin Hospital, Bangkok because of health problem. All expenses were borne by the Royal Palace Special Budget. Ustaz Karim returned to Thailand on PKRRP's ticket, and was sent to Bangkok by Lt. General Kitti Rathanachaya to meet His Majesty's Chief of the Royal Guards.

We don't have to elaborate who is Ustaz Karim in Patani Liberation Struggle, the only Muslim Cleric who fled into the jungle to fight jungle guerrilla warfare against "Thai Colonilists". Lukman, during Ustaz Karim's flee also joined him whenever he felt convenience.

Lukman is not only a trained military intelligence officer, but is also a politician and a diplomat. He was pushed by Karim as a frontliner to debate, discuss and resolve problems related to the Muslims with His Majesty's personal representative. Also present, another hardliner of BRN in 1970s, Sofian Savari, younger brother of Masari Savari (son-in-law of Kru Pak Su, former Urban Guerrilla Brigade Commander who succeeded Lukman; at one time was a Provincial Legislative Council member of Yala).

His Majesty's representative went back to Bangkok for his final submission and report on the progress of his meeting with Lukman Iskandar. The Royal Palace had instructed new Commander of Region Four Army, Lt. General Parnthep Puwanartnurak to enter into peace negotiation settlement agreement with BRN under His Majesty's Decree known as Decree 66/23 pronounced by General Prem Tinsulanonda,Prime Minister of Thailand (1980).

The meeting was held again at Khohong Camp, Hatyai dated 26th March 1995 in the presence of His Majesty's personal representative (the name is uphold) and Lt. General Parnthep Puwanartnurak. In the words of General Parnthep, "I came on behalf of His Majesty the King to offer peace to BRN under His Majesty's Decree 66/23. This peace agreement is vital because I promised His Majesty to bring back this peace agreement as a Royal Present to remark His 50th Accession to the Throne of Rama Chakri. BRN can repeal, amend or change the original Decree 66/23 to suit the Muslims of Southern Border Provinces of Thailand."

In the words of Ustaz Karim "My thousand thanks to General Parnthep, Region Four Commander for his initiatives to bring peace in the disputed zone of five Southern Border Provinces of Thailand. My health is deteriorating, but due to the big task and mission, I join today's meeting. He are delegates from BRN led by Lukman Iskandar. Lukman will lead the delegation to peace negotiation settlement agreement. Let General Parnthep and I, monitor this peace accord from behind. I hopefully believe that this peace accord will become a reality. Please do not make a prey or victim on anybody, as a Malay saying "When an ant bites, the other takes turn to go up."

"On behalf of the Government of Thailand, I assign my Deputy Commander, Major General Chalermphol Charoenying to lead my Government delegation and as well as on my behalf. My government delegation will comprise of Attorney Officer, Administrative Officer, Military and Police officers as well as Religious scholars."

Ahmad Matnor asked General Parnthep, "What about our 22 POINTS DEMAND?"

"The government has agreed to enter into peace with BRN. Therefore BRN has rights to repeal, amend and alter Decree 66/23. 22 POINTS DEMAND can be added in Decree 66/23, to suit the Muslim communities."

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