Security authorities take precautions in Thai deep South during Ramadan

BANGKOK, July 15 (TNA) - Security authorities have still taken precautions in the violence-plagued Thai far South despite last week's truce announcement during Ramadan by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgency movement. Colonel Charoon Ampa, Adviser to the National Security Council (NSC), told a press conference, held by representatives of the Defence Ministry and other agencies responsible for solutions to the troubled Thai deep South, although the BRN announced a truce during the ongoing Ramadan, it is difficult to completely guarantee peace, as there remain insurgent movements which disagree with peace talks between the Thai government, through the NSC, and the insurgent side, led by the BRN. Therefore, Colonel Charoon acknowledged, local security authorities have still taken precautions to protect themselves and soft targets at their best. For instance, the southern outpost of Thailand's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOP) has intensified its passive security operations and facilitated religious activities of locals. Regarding a gun attack which injured two villagers in Narathiwat province last night, authorities initially attributed it to a personal conflict. In response to continual violence during Ramadan despite the BRN’s truce announcement, Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said, meanwhile, that she has ordered authorities concerned to find out if they have resulted from any insurgency movement. The Thai prime minister suggested that an intention to promote peace and cooperation is good, but concerned authorities must not be negligent. (TNA)