Southern emergency decree to be extended for another three months

Thammarat Thadaphrom

 

 

BANGKOK, 26th May 2018 (NNT) – The enforcement of the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations will be extended for another three months in the restive south of Thailand. 

 

Chairing a meeting of the committee on the state of emergency, Deputy Prime Minister for Public Security, Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said today committee members had agreed on the necessity to extend the emergency decree in violence-torn provinces for another three months. 

 

The extension, from June 20th to September 19th, covers Narathiwat province (excluding Su-ngai Kolok district), Yala province (excluding Betong district), and Pattani province (excluding Mae Lan district). 

 

The 52nd extension will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval. 

 

In Su-ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat, the Internal Security Act, B.E. 2551, will be enforced during the period as opposed to the emergency decree. 

 

The far South of Thailand began enforcing the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations in 2005 following the eruption of violence since early 2004. Its enforcement lasts three months at a time and may be renewed, if necessary. 

 

 

-- nnt 2018-05-27

Of course they are extending the decree. Why? They have absolutely no ideas whatsoever, for a solution to this mess. Those five provinces were part of the Sultanate of Malay, in the 19th century. The land was seized in a battle. Never given back. No attempt was ever made to settle this. So, now you have ethnic Malays, living in Thailand, and being treated as pariahs by one administration after another. Zero creativity, and zero willingness to come up any solutions, or even to treat the local people fairly. Fortunately, the Thai government is not brutal, like the genocidal Burmese clown generals, and their racist puppet Ahn Sang Suu Kyi. But, they are not coming up with any solutions either. 

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The 52nd extension will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval.

So four years of the current military government's solutions like the Safe Zones, "Kam Pong Tak Wa campaign" and "Bring People Back Home” program haven't produced security in the South. Until there's an elected government that can negotiate with the insurgents (principally the BNR) in the absence of military interference or threats from a military coup, the insurgency will continue.