No one in the brn can give a clear

No one in the brn can give a clear explanation as to why its top leaders are willing to talk to the thais at this juncture. One explanation, a mid-ranking brn cadre said, has to do with the generation gap between the exiled leaders and the current crop of militants, the so- called post- thak bai generation, who could become increasingly uncompromising and/or unwilling to accept the guidance of the elders living in exile. Right now, the brn elders believe that they have what it takes to influence the combatants and change the course of the conflict, but such a task will be increasingly difficult as time goes by.