Pm Leaves For First Official Visit To Troubled South

[sbk]

PM leaves for first official visit to troubled South

BANGKOK, Jan 17 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva left the Thai capital Saturday for a one-day official visit to country's restive South to gain first hand information in the region which has been plagued by intractable violence for five years.

Accompanied by a group of ministers responsible for developing five southern provinces, including Defence Minister retired Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, the prime minister, who was royally appointed last month, left by a military aircraft to make his first official visit to the insurgency-plagued region.

Mr. Abhisit and his delegation are scheduled to first receive a briefing on the general situation at Sirindhorn military camp in Pattani's Yarang district and then hand out his government's policy to officers.

In the late afternoon they will visit Pattani's specially tasked unit responsible for promoting peace before visiting a pilot farm sponsored by His Majesty the King in Nong Chik district.

Mr. Abhisit and his party are scheduled to Bangkok Saturday evening.

Some 3,500 people have been killed since renewed violence broke out five years ago in the troubled region including Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces.

(TNA)