“PM” Chairs NSC Meeting, Proceeds with Revocation of MOU 2544, Urgently Submitting to Cabinet

Today (April 23, 2026) at 11:12 AM, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the 2nd National Security Council (NSC) meeting of 2026 at the Vichitvadakarn Meeting Room, 3rd floor, NSC Office, Government House. The Minister of Defense, representatives from the armed forces, and relevant agencies were present. A key agenda item was the appointment of a new peace dialogue committee for the southern border provinces, a matter under close scrutiny amidst the unrest in the area following the assassination attempt on Kamolsak Leewamoh, a Prachachart Party MP from Narathiwat, which has drawn widespread criticism, as well as comments made by the commander of the 4th Army Region regarding the incident.

Following the conclusion of the National Security Council meeting, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul gave an interview to the press, stating that the government will establish a new committee to replace the previous one whose term has expired, appointing government representatives to negotiate and establishing oversight committees for each area. Details will be provided by the Secretary-General of the National Security Council.

Regarding the cancellation of the 2001 MOU, Mr. Anutin stated that the matter has passed the security sector's procedures, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs will propose it to the Cabinet. He could not specify a timeframe but assured that it would be expedited. He emphasized that this only applies to the 2001 MOU; the 2000 MOU will not be reviewed or changed. He also stated that it is not necessary to seek opinions from other parties in this process.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chatchai Bangchawad, Secretary-General of the National Security Council, stated that the meeting approved five key approaches: 1. Education management, including structural, cultural, and community-based adjustments to the education system in the area, as well as appropriate Islamic religious education, with the Ministry of Education as the lead agency. 2. Enhancing the efficiency of the Volunteer Defense Corps (VDC) under the Ministry of Interior to prepare for future situations. The meeting discussed budget support for training and development. The third point concerned cooperation with Malaysia in resolving issues in the southern border provinces, encompassing security, economic, and law enforcement aspects. This includes enhancing border control, preventing troop or weapons movement, and continuing peace talks both domestically and internationally.

Mr. Chatchai further stated that the fourth point approved the appointment of Mr. Thanat Suwannanon, Director of the National Intelligence Agency, as the head of the peace talks delegation for the southern border provinces, with the National Security Council serving as the secretariat. The fifth point approved the appointment of a special government representative to continue the work of the previous government, as well as the appointment of seven advisory committees to the National Security Council under the National Security Council Act of 2026. Former Secretary-General of the National Security Council, General Supoj Malaniyam, will head each committee, comprising approximately 30 experts. The Secretary-General of the National Security Council confirmed that the meeting did not discuss the assassination attempt on the Member of Parliament from Narathiwat Province; this matter is the responsibility of the police to handle.

Mr. Chatchai added that the timeframe for revoking the 2001 MOU has not yet been clearly defined; only the principles and process have been approved. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for this process, and may need to coordinate with relevant parties, including Cambodia, while adhering to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNCLOS 1982).

Photo : Khanisorn Lorthongdaeng