Violence in Thai far South to be reduced by half

BANGKOK, October 8 (TNA) - The government has targeted to reduce violent unrest in the Thai far South by half in the foreseeable future. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday after chairing a meeting of the Committee to Mobilize Policy and Strategy to Solve Problems in the Southern Border Provinces, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees national security, insisted that violence in the Thai deep South could be reduced by 50 per cent because the situation has improved steadily. General Prawit, who is also Defence Minister, acknowledged that the improving situation in the Thai far South is due mainly to peace talks between state authorities and representatives of insurgent groups in the troubled region and better understanding between local authorities and people, as well as the development strategy advised by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. General Prawit said that new Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr, who is also Deputy Director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), is responsible for solving unrest in the Muslim-predominant southernmost Thai region because he has followed the crux since the beginning. Touching on the appointment of the new chief negotiator on the government side with representatives of insurgent groups, the deputy prime minister hinted that army advisory chairman General Aksara Kerdpol is considered one of the most capable persons, but the National Security Council (NSC), the ISOC and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) will have to discuss and finally decide on the selection of the head of the government negotiating team. Peace negotiations were held in Malaysia between high-ranking Thai government officials of the previous government and representatives of the insurgent groups in the Thai deep South, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgency movement, aimed at finding solutions to the violent unrest in the southern border region, mainly in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces. The Malaysian government acted as the facilitator, but the peace talks were suspended later due to Thailand's political protests from late 2013-mid 2014. More than 5,000 people have died and a number others wounded in violent incidents in the Thai deep South since January 2004. (TNA)