DPM concedes frequent violence occurs in Thai South during final week of Ramadan

BANGKOK, August 4 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Police General Pracha Promnog on Sunday visited the troubled southern province of Yala to follow up an ongoing unrest situation after insurgents stepped up attacks in the region. Accompanied by senior officials including Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasobdee and National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabut, the deputy prime minister told journalists before his trip that the purpose of his visit is to review security measures in the restive South. Pol. Gen. Pracha acknowledged that insurgents usually stepped up violence during the last week of Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in the past years and they also launch up more attacks this year. It is necessary for concerned security officials to revise security measures. He said the NSC has queried the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) militant group and has been told that “not all the attacks” were launched by the group. BRN and the government have agreed to reduce violence during the Ramadan from July 10 to August 18 in the three troubled southern provinces -- Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. But bloody violence still continues. In Yala, Pol. Gen. Pracha and accompanying officials plan to inspect damages at a rubber factory which was burned on Friday by the insurgents. The factory and three others were torched and damaged. They are due to also visit wounded officials now receiving treatment at a hospital before attending a meeting with local authorities and discuss ways to resolve unrest in the restive South. (End)