The Prime Minister signed the appointment of Thanat Suwannanon as the new head of the Peace Dialogue Panel to tackle unrest in the South and coordinate with foreign countries.
On 14 May 2026, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul signed Prime Minister's Office Order No. 148/2569 appointing Thanat Suwannanon as Chief of Peace Dialogue for the southern border provinces. This role aims to effectively implement administration and development policies for the southern border provinces during 2025-2027.
According to the order, Thanat holds key authority to advance the peace process, negotiate with dissenting groups and militants within the framework set by the National Security Council (NSC) and the Cabinet. He will assess the positions and attitudes of various groups to provide policy recommendations to the Prime Minister for resolving issues in the southern region. He will represent the government in coordinating with the Facilitator, government agencies, private sector, and international individuals to foster an environment conducive to reducing violence. He also has the power to appoint committees, working groups, or expert advisors to support his mission efficiently.
Additionally, the Prime Minister assigned the National Security Council (NSC) to serve as the secretariat and principal support agency, with all government agencies requested to promptly provide operational support and personnel as needed. This aims to ensure continuous and sustainable resolution of the unrest. The order took effect on 12 May 2026.