BANGKOK, Thailand – The government rejected Tuesday (June 25th) insurgent demands that army personnel return to their bases during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan in exchange for a ceasefire, AFP reported.

Hassan Taib, a leader of the militant group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), with whom Thailand has been holding peace talks since late March, said the insurgents would stop operations if Thailand meets demands, including the pullback of security forces from villages.

In a video posted on YouTube, he also called for a suspension of "ambushes, road blocks or arrests" in the provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung responded that "there was no way" the government would concede to pulling security forces back to their bases.

"It's the government's right not to accept these demands," he said. "The BRN cannot control their people. I don't believe that violence will decrease – we have to have our own (security) measures."

Meanwhile, a new study suggests that the level of violence in the three provinces has doubled since peace talks began, The Bangkok Post reported.

A fact-finding committee chaired by Wisut Singkachornvorakul, a member of the Advisory Council for the Development and Administration of the Southern Border Provinces, blames militants who call themselves Warriors of Fatoni and who oppose the peace talks.

According to the committee, three such groups of separatists are apparently working to raise the level of violence in the border provinces in order to create an atmosphere of fear. The groups apparently want Thai negotiators to believe the BRN does not command armed militants in the areas.

Attacks could be ramped up during Ramadan, which begins in early July, the committee warned.