Deputy PM asserts southern situation improving
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Oct 8 -- Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said Wednesday that violence in deep southern Thailand “could be reduced by half because the situation has improved steadily.”

Gen Prawit told journalists after chairing a meeting of the Committee to Mobilise Policy and Strategy to Solve Problems in the Southern Border Provinces that the general situation in the deep south has improved mainly because of talks and better understanding between officials and the local people, mostly Thai Muslims, and the development strategy given by His Majesty the King.

Gen Prawit said army chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr who is also deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) will be responsible for solving the unrest problem because he has followed the problems since the beginning.

Touching on the appointment of a chief negotiator on the government side with representatives of insurgent groups, Gen Prawit said army advisory chairman Gen Aksara Kerdpol is considered one of the most capable persons.

However, the National Security Council, ISOC and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre must discuss the selection of the head of the negotiating team again, he said.

Peace negotiations were held between high-ranking Thai government officials during the ousted previous government and representatives of Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist movement in Malaysia, aimed at finding solutions to the bloody violence in deep southern provinces, mainly in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

The Malaysian government acted as ‘facilitator, but the talks were suspended later due to political unrest in Thailand while critics said the peace talks were held with the “wrong” representatives of the separatist movement.

To date, more than 5,000 people have died while many others wounded in incidents which resumed in January 2004.

On domestic security affairs, Gen Prawit said the interim government is putting efforts to maintain peace in the country but the “underground movements or those opposing the government must cease their activities.”

Gen Prawit also said lifting the martial law could be relaxed when the general atmosphere has improved and there are no undercurrents as promised by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-10-08

I wish it was so, but you hear this all the time. Then a car bomb or killings take place.

There's the green light for an upsurge of violence.

Outbreak of foot in mouth?

Another frivolous Thai "assertion."