Thai politicians put aside partisan differences to attend a February 24th seminar in Narathiwat on finding peace in the Deep South.

The series seminar marked the 17th such discussion since regional violence flared in 2004. Closed to media, the discussion served as an open forum for local politicians to exchange ideas that could help lead to peace in the strife-torn region.

"The violence that is occurring is not solely the result of the activities of just one side, but has multiple possible motives including in many cases, revenge-taking and seizure of property by state officials, as well as personal disputes, business conflicts and so on," seminar moderator Gothom Arya said afterward.

"The state must proceed with transparency and efficiency through the criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving state officials, in order to build confidence in the system and restore peace," said Gothom, also director of Mahidol University's Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies.

Wehmahadee Waeduramae, a Bhumjaithai Party candidate from Narathiwat who attended the seminar, cited the shooting deaths last month of three brothers aged 6, 9 and 11.

"In reality, the [alleged] involvement of state officials in incidents of violence is not a new problem, but it came into the spotlight following the killing of three boys at their home in Balukasamoh Village in Bajoh district of Narathiwat," Wehmahadee said.

Thai authorities quickly blamed the violence on anti-government insurgents. It led to a slew of grisly reprisal attacks. Then on March 3rd, police announced the arrest of two local paramilitary defence volunteers for the attack, which they said was an act of revenge.

A death per day

Members of at least three parties attended the seminar. The Pheu Thai Party (PTP), affiliated with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's caretaker government, was represented along with the opposition Democrat Party and Bhumjaithai Party.

The months-long political crisis in Bangkok thwarted apparent progress on the ground following the government's decision to enter into direct talks with one rebel faction a year ago, Najmudeen Uma, a member of the PTP-aligned Wadah faction, told Khabar Southeast Asia.

The daily death toll in the Deep South fell by nearly half since 2011, with 2013s average rate at 0.88 deaths per day, Najmudeen said, citing statistics presented at the seminar.

"But the problem is that discussions between the Thai government and armed anti-government groups in the region had to be suspended and there is still no indication when they will officially resume," he said.

At a February 19th press conference in Malaysia on the peace talks' first anniversary, facilitator Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim said Thailand's political situation was the main obstacle to further headway. Some progress was not shared with media to facilitate further negotiations.

"There has been reasonable progress, although there is still mutual mistrust," he said.