Thai military mulls to expand ISA imposition in Far South

THAI FAR SOUTH, January 12 (TNA) - Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Theerachai Nakwanich has ordered the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) 4th Region Forward Command to consider enforcing the Internal Security Act (ISA) in more areas in the violence-plagued Far South, replacing the current Emergency Decree. ISOC Spokesman Banpot Poonphien told journalists that the order was made on January 11 during a one-day visit to the Thai Far South by General Theerachai, who is also Deputy Chief of ISOC. The spokesman said that ISA has been imposed in five least violent districts of the troubled Thai Deep South, and that the plan is aimed at eradicating the insurgency in the region through counter-insurgency and quasi amnesties. The spokesman elaborated that the Thai army chief has instructed authorities concerned of ISOC 4th Region Forward Command to evaluate the current situation and to consider expanding ISA to other areas in the troubled Deep South in lieu of the Emergency Decree, designed for encouraging insurgents to surrender themselves to government authorities. According to the ISOC spokesman, the Thai army chief has also ordered army personnel to strictly provide safety to people in the troubled region, acknowledging that security provided in 28 routes in the southernmost Thai region has been successful to a certain extent over the past few months. More than 5,000 people have died and there have also been a number of injuries slated in violent incidents in the Thai Far South since early 2004. Regarding development programmes in the Thai Far South, the spokesman stated that the Thai army chief has ordered soldiers deployed in the southern border region to also visit local villagers and help boost their income, while enquiring them what they need to improve their quality of life. Besides, the army chief has instructed army personnel to follow-up the green light having given by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee to Mobilise Policy and Strategy to Solve Problems in the Southern Border Provinces, to concretely install close-circuit televisions (CCTV) in the troubled Thai Far South, while a working committee from Bangkok will be soon set up to implement the order in an integrated manner. During his one-day trip to the Thai Deep South, the Thai army chief also exchanged views with chairmen of the Islamic Committees of three southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani before returning to Bangkok. (TNA)