Improving situation observed in troubled Thai Far South

BANGKOK, October 8 (TNA) - The situation in the violence-plagued Thai Far South has been improving, with Sungai Golok in Narathiwat Province to be the first area set to be soon imposed with a more relaxing special law. Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Spokesman Major General Thanathip Sawangsang told journalists on Monday that violent cases in the Thai Deep South have dropped by 24.69 per cent so far this year, when compared with last year, and fatalities in the southern Thai border have fallen by 44.09 per cent, proping up the number of tourists in the region; whereas prosecution cases of suspected insurgents and the number of people who have returned to their daily normal lives have increased, together with improved relations between local people, community and religious leaders and local government officers. The spokesman stated that Sungai Golok District in southernmost Narathiwat Province will, thus, be the first area in the Thai Far South to be soon imposed with the more relaxing law, the Internal Security Act (ISA), which will be later expanded to other areas, if officially-approved. According to the spokesman, the ISA enforcement in Su-ngai Golok is part of a strategic plan, already approved by the ISOC Board, on the prevention of and the solution to problems in the Thai Deep South that affect national security, while the other strategic plan is focused on peacekeeping in the southern border region through public relations (PR) channels to create proper public understanding domestically and internationally for the updated situation, as well as through security and legal measures and through development and job creation measures. The spokesman said all the two strategic plans are part of two master plans, approved by the ISOC Board at its meeting earlier in the day, which support the Thai government's 20-year national development strategy (2018-2037); while the other master plan is emphasized on the maintenance of internal security. (TNA)