PM orders speedy development projects in Thai far South

BANGKOK, April 9 T(NA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered all ministries to accelerate their development projects planned for the violence-plagued Thai far South, as the government is further improving security measures to protect government personnel and forces, as well as local people. Yingluck told journalists on Tuesday that she made the instruction during the Cabinet's weekly meeting earlier in the day, in parallel with an ongoing peace process between the government, through the National Security Council (NSC), and representatives of insurgents in the Thai deep South. Yingluck affirmed that peace negotiations between the NSC and the insurgent side will continue to develop mutual trust and solutions and the NSC is ready to negotiate with all insurgent groups. The Thai prime minister, however, denied any acknowledgment on reports that the NSC may postpone its 2nd round of peace negotiations with insurgents from April 29, 2013. The prime minister noted she had paid visits to the southernmost Thai region to give morale to local authorities and people, confirming that her deputy, Chalerm Yubamrung, will later visit the far South. (TNA)