Pol. Gen. Kowit: Situation in deep southern Thailand improves

BANGKOK, Aug 8 (TNA) - Thailand's newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Pol. Gen. Kowit Wattana said here Friday that the overall situation in the insurgency-plagued South has improved with the local population gaining more confidence and officials more enthusiastic about performing their work.

Gen. Kowit, who officially started his work Wednesday and flew to the
three troubled southern provinces -- Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat -- the
following day to observe situation in the region told journalists upon
returning to Bangkok that attempts by the government to solve the ongoing
violence had made progress.

The situation in the three provinces has changed for the positive, he
said, while cooperation between administrators, police and soldiers must
continue.

Asked whether operational strategies would be changed because daily
violence in the area is still continuing, Gen. Kowit said officials in the
area would deal with the unrest while the government would provide budget
and the necessary equipment.

He said the three southern provinces still needed special attention from
the government.

To date, over 3,500 people have been killed by insurgents since renewed
violence broke out in January 2004.

Touching on a plan by former prime minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to
gather the insurgent leaders in the restive South for a press conference,
he said it should be considered a good idea for any one who could help
solve the country's problems.