BANGKOK, Thailand – A military advisor to the National Security Council confirmed to local media Friday (November 15th) that additional Deep South separatist groups would join peace talks next month, but he added that any discussion of territorial separation would be a non-starter.

Colonel Charoon Ampha said the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) would no longer be the sole representative of separatists, and that it would be given only four of the 15 seats at the talks, according to The Nation.

Two seats have been assigned to Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), one to Barisan Islam Pembebasan Pattani (BIPP) and another eight to individuals representing unspecified groups, identified as "those with different stances".

Though a definite date for the next meeting has yet to be set, authorities say it will certainly take place early next month in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian academics invited to attend.