Security in South boosted as Krue Se date nears
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Security in the deep South, especially the seven key cities, is being beefed up as the ninth anniversary of the April 28 Krue Se Mosque incident nears. The authorities are also keeping a close eye on Songkhla's Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi and Hat Yai districts after getting a tip off that Sainubase Sulongsen, a key member of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil insurgent group, and seven others were plotting to stir chaos.

Meanwhile, after a meeting with the prime minister and national security agencies to follow up on measures taken in the South, National Security Council (NSC) chief Paradorn Pattanatabutr said Yingluck Shinawatra had urged authorities to find peaceful solutions and open more communication channels with the insurgents.

Paradorn confirmed that the Thai government would not postpone the April 29 peace dialogue despite the attacks, as the meeting would be held in controlled areas.

He said if the event were to be cancelled it would first have to be agreed upon by all three parties, namely the Thai team, representatives of the insurgents and Malaysia, which is brokering the dialogue. He said the Thai team would comprise 15 members, with nine sitting at the table, as before.

He added that those who put up anti-peace slogans were not against the dialogue but actually wanted the authorities to talk to and seek opinions from local people.

He added that the peace dialogue would continue irrespective of whether the current Malaysian prime minister won the general elections because this matter affected both nations and the Malaysian opposition had not voiced any opposition to the previous round of talks.

Meanwhile, some 300 members of the Southern border provinces' student federation yesterday demanded an explanation from the Internal Security Operations Command's Region 4 Front about the interrogation of a female teacher from a "Tadeeka" (Islamic school for young pupils) in Pattani's Khok Pho district on April 16.

They also called for the protection of "Tadeeka" teachers. The teacher interrogated was later released.


-- The Nation 2013-04-25

15 to attend from the 9 previously (of the 5 that turned up). The PM is urging a peaceful solution? I was not aware she was aware of anything other than her continued absence from parliament and noted, nothing from the Police Minister/Deputy PM.