EXCLUSIVE | A Southern Thai liberation group is optimistic about former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor's role as the new facilitator for the region's ongoing peace talks.

The Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) told Malaysiakini that they were expecting significant progress soon to bring both sides – the Mara Patani coalition and Thai government – to the negotiation table.

Pulo president Kasturi Mahkota (above) said the peace talks with Thai authorities, which first started in 2013, have moved into a new phase since Rahim took over last month...