Pracha will continue talks with BRN to know separatists' issues

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Pracha will continue talks with BRN to know separatists' issues
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- While Thai agencies are keen to assess and review talks held with Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) once the holy month of Ramadan is over, Deputy PM Pracha Promnok said yesterday he would like the dialogue to continue.

Ramadan starts on Monday.

Pracha, who was chosen by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to oversee the South, said he had also been put in charge of measures related to the development of border provinces in the South, including education.

He said he needed to discuss this issue in detail with related agencies.

Pracha also said he will continue using the moves in place to tackle the unrest, but would make some adjustments.

While peace talks should continue with BRN, he thought success hinges a lot on what happens in the future.

"But if we don't talk [with the separatists], we won't know about their issues," he said.

"He also called on the public to give the government time to resolve the southern crisis.

Meanwhile, violence in the South continued yesterday, with a bomb exploding at 6.35am outside an electronics repair shop in Yala's Bannang Sata district. A police officer was slightly wounded after the shop owner called the police to investigate a suspicious item.

Police managed to defuse another bomb found in front of a Krungthai Bank branch in the same district. It is believed that an insurgency group, led by Sakariya Hayisamoh, who is wanted for six national security cases, carried out these attacks.

In related news, Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said Yingluck was within her rights when she decided to take over as defence minister.

He said the PM had promised she would not do anything to damage the Army.

Turmoil in the South was a complicated issue that needed speedy decisions, and having Yingluck at the helm of the ministry should help things move forward faster, he said. He spoke to reporters just before leaving for the deep South.


-- The Nation 2013-07-04