Bangkok Urges Southern Thais Not To Panic Over Recent Armed Attacks

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, April 5 (Bernama) -- Thailand's Deputy Defence Minister Gen Udomdej Sitabutr has advised residents in southern Thailand not to panic over a spike of armed attacks on security forces in recent days. In an early morning incident yesterday, about 30 men armed with assault rifles and homemade bombs launched a coordinated attack on a military and police post at Kroh Pinang town in Yala, leaving 12 security personnel injured. Monday's incident followed another daring attack by a group of armed men on the Ranget police station, Narathiwat a few days earlier which left one police officer dead and five others injured. "We ask the people not to panic. Despite the recent attacks, the overall situation in southern Thailand has gradually improved," Udomdej told the media Tuesday on the latest flare-up of violence in the region. The deputy defence minister who also heads the "Forward Cabinet" on southern Thailand said, violent incidents did occur from time to time but the security forces had carried out their duty well. The government created the "Forward Cabinet" late last year which includes agencies dealing with issues related to development, labour, education and the economy, to effectively deal with problems in southern Thailand. According to Udomdej, the special body would address economic problems in the southern region by creating employment opportunities for the people and by uplifting their living standard. "If we succeed on the economic front, it will eventually lead to peace in the region," he said. Years of conflict between the government and militant groups in four provinces in southern Thailand have caused more than 6,000 deaths among civilians and members of the security forces. The Thai government and Mara Patani (Patani Consultative Council), an umbrella body representing several groups in southern Thailand, have been engaging in a peace process, facilitated by Malaysia. Last month, both sides agreed to the setting up of "Safety Zones" or violence-free areas in the southern provinces, although the exact locations are still being negotiated. -- BERNAMA