Despite a recent public pledge to refrain from targeting civilians, separatist insurgents in Thailand’s southern border provinces continue to carry out deadly attacks, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Wednesday.
The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), a Malay Muslim separatist group, has been responsible for numerous assaults on civilians—both Thai Buddhists and Malay Muslims—since the resurgence of armed conflict in January 2004.
On 5 May 2025, the BRN issued a rare statement expressing regret over recent civilian casualties. While reaffirming its support for the right to self-determination for Malay Muslims, the group declared that it holds no policy of targeting civilians and remains committed to upholding international human rights and humanitarian law.
In response, HRW acknowledged the statement but urged the BRN to take concrete action to end its attacks on non-combatants.
“The BRN has taken an unprecedented step in publicly pledging not to target civilians after terrorising communities in Thailand’s deep south for over two decades,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. “However, a pledge alone is insufficient. The BRN must cease all violations of the laws of war.”
Despite the pledge, violence has continued. On 28 May, Pol. Sgt. Abdulloh Makaseng, aged 30, was fatally shot during an assault on a police station in Narathiwat Province’s Chanae District. That same day, insurgents opened fire at a local sporting event in Tak Bai District, seriously wounding two teachers—Muhammad Sukri Ha, 37, and Sainuddin Jehbueraheng, 34.
Earlier, on 2 May, insurgents in Chanae District killed 76-year-old Sa-Nga Saeng-Yoi, a blind Buddhist woman, and critically injured her son as they returned home from hospital. In a separate attack the same day in Tak Bai District, six armed insurgents stormed a Buddhist neighbourhood, killing nine-year-old Sasita Jankong and two adult relatives.
BRN insurgents have long been accused of perpetrating indiscriminate shootings and bombings, resulting in a tragic toll on civilian lives.