BANGKOK, Oct 5: The Thai army chief who staged last month’s coup said on Thursday he has agreed to hold the first talks with Muslim rebels since an insurgency erupted in 2004, an abrupt policy change from the administration of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Gen Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, who led the bloodless coup against Thaksin on Sept 19, said that officials from certain rebel factions had contacted a top army commander and requested talks.
“I have agreed to the talks,” Sondhi said. “I stress that these will be talks, not negotiations.”—AP
