Deputy PM orders cautious patrols in far South

BANGKOK, Sept 22 (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon expressed his condolences for the death of many paramilitary rangers in a bombing in Pattani province and ordered precautions in patrols. Regarding the bomb blast on Road number 41 in Ta Ping sub-district in Sai Buri district of Pattani, Gen Prawit said that he shared sorrow with relatives of the dead and sent moral support to officials who would have to perform their duties well in the region. “The site of the incident is on a regular patrol route of authorities. I ordered more precautions on patrol and commuting routes of officials. There are many local roads, so precautions must be intensified,” Gen Prawit said. He assured that negotiations for peace in the deep South would continue. Such talks in the past few years had not been successful because groups of different stances did not seriously want to negotiate, Gen Prawit said. Meanwhile, army commander-in-chief Gen Chalermchai Sittisart said he was sorry with the bombing. He admitted there were series of violent attacks and he ordered subordinates to take precautions. He also assured that peace negotiations would continue but he said such a process took a decade before success in some country. Gen Chalermchai said security authorities were already maintaining their careful operations but attackers might take opportunities during the transfers and replacements of forces which were happening frequently for the time being. (TNA)