[Reuters] Thailand's military has reached a breakthrough agreement with a Muslim separatist group to create a safety zone in the southern provinces. The army has been negotiating with Mara Pattani, a longstanding umbrella group that claims to speak for the rebels. Major General Sithi Trakulwong, "Both sides have agreed to the creation of a safety zone in one of the three southern provinces to show their good faith. This is the most progress we've made in over two years of negotiations."
Sithi said the agreement would be finalized next week in Malaysia, once senior government officials arrive to conclude the talks.
Talks between the Thai government and the rebels began in 2013 under then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but stalled after the military coup in 2014.
Some analysts say the government is negotiating with a group comprised mostly of exiled fighters that is not influential on the ground. The rebel group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), which has been left out of negotiations, is now the main actor in the southernmost provinces, they say.