PM reaffirms unity of agencies to overcome southern violence

BANGKOK, Aug 8 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday reaffirmed the unity of purpose of the government’s concerned agencies to overcome violence in Thailand’s insurgency-troubled deep south, and ruled out the possibility of and enforced curfew.

The premier made her remarks after chairing a meeting of security agencies this afternoon at Government House following more intense and more violent attacks in the restive southern border provinces.

The meeting was attended by the National Security Council (NSC), the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) and representatives from the Malaysian embassy.

Ms Yingluck said Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa will head a new command operation centre to drive and implement the government’s strategies in a unified and efficient manner in the same direction.

The government will focus on the security operations in parallel with the creation of a better understanding among the public and job creation for local residents.

Following the possibility of imposing a curfew in some violence-plagued areas, the premier said the issue was not raised for discussion awaiting the situation review. She said the curfew was not  the only approach to solve the problems in the far South.

The prime minister also urged the public not to panic over the situation and reasserted that security personnel remain alert and have their operation plan which could not be unveiled for safety reasons.

Ms Yingluck said that resolving the security problem in the restive region needs time and support from both security personnel and the people.

The government has also sought cooperation from the neighbouring country, particularly at entry and exit at the border checkpoints.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow said that the meeting focused on the overall strategy and the premier ordered all agencies to prepare clearer action plans for the next meeting next week.

As for the cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia, he said both sides agreed to jointly develop the three southernmost provinces and uplift their standard of living.

He said the meeting saw that the insurgents were trying to intensify their violent attacks to internationalise the southern problem issue particularly at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and at the United Nations (UN).

The setting up of the Southern Border Provinces Operations Centre would help speeding up the processes to resolve problems  in the southern provinces, the senior ministry official said. (MCOT online news)

 

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