Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) on Wednesday denied reports that Malay-Muslim separatist organisations unilaterally suspended organised attacks in three districts of Narathiwat province.
The Patani Malay Liberation Movement had issued a statement over the weekend, claiming that the unilateral cease-fire - billed as a confidence-building measure - was implemented in Rangae, Yingor and Choh I-Rong districts from June 10 until July 10.
ISOC's spokesman Col Banpot Poonpien said that several attacks still happened in the province during the period the movement claimed to conduct the ceasefires.
"During the period of their said ceasefires, a bomb attack took place on June 18 in Joh I Rong district. The attacks which could be linked to the movement also happened in several areas of the province," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that ten attacks, one bomb attack and nine drive-by shootings, took place in the three districts between June 10 and July 10. Six people were killed and six others injured.
He also said that the army has never had any secret talks with the movement and other separatists' groups.
Fourth Army Region's Commander Lt Gen Pichet Wisaijorn has expressed doubts why the announcement of the ceasefires were released to the media as the ceasefires nearly finished.
"The aim of this limited cease-fire was two-fold: to indicate the movement's sincerity in wanting to hold a dialogue on the political future of the southern provinces, and at the same time to demonstrate the movement's command and control in the area," according to a statement sent to The Nation by the Patani Malay Liberation Movement.
The PMLM's statement claimed, "The aim of this limited cease-fire was two-fold: to indicate the movement's sincerity in wanting to hold a dialogue on the political future of the southern provinces, and at the same time to demonstrate the movement's command and control in the area."
The PMLM is a joint working group made up of members from the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) and representatives from the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Coordinate (BRN-C). Pulo and BRN emerged in the late 1960s but collapsed in the late 1980s following a blanket amnesty that crippled their armed resistance.
PMLM spokesman Kasturi Mahkota, who is also vice president of Pulo, said the "modalities of the suspension of hostilities covered only organised attacks on the security forces and attacks on government targets".