DPM, Army Chief visit Thai far South

YALA, THAILAND, November 24 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon and Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr are visiting the Thai far South to follow up solutions to violent unrest in the troubled region. General Prawit, who oversees national security, told journalists while visiting Yala and Narathiwat Provinces on Monday that the actual situation in the Thai far South has been improving, as authorities can now control sensitive areas. General Prawit explained that violence against vulnerable targets in the Thai deep South were caused by insurgents' retaliation against authorities' arrests of their leading members and raids in their hideouts, warning locals who are considered the vulnerable targets to also take precautions and take best care of themselves, while defence volunteers are considering extending areas in their jurisdiction. The deputy prime minister encouraged insurgents to enter into negotiations with authorities. The deputy prime minister denied that continual violent incidents against innocent people in the Thai far South were related to the upcoming new-round peace negotiation between government authorities and representatives of insurgency movements in the southernmost Thai region. Asked whether Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha may discuss the schedule and venue of the new-round peace negotiation in the Thai deep South with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak during his official visit to Malaysia in early December, the deputy prime minister acknowledged that the discussion is likely, as Malaysia has offered to facilitate the peace talks and preparations for the new-round peace negotiation are nearly completed. Meanwhile, a bomb was detonated near Ban Utae Buera-ngae School in Kapho District of Pattani Province on Monday morning, injuring two paramilitary rangers on patrol who were on duty to protect local teachers. (TNA)