PM asks people to report suspicious movements to curb violence in far South

BANGKOK, March 16 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha assured that the government was implementing security measures in the far South while urging local residents to report suspicious movements to effectively ensure public safety in the region. The prime minister also said that violent attacks must be stopped and the government was finding out if they were linked with any political network. After the cabinet meeting on March 15, Gen Prayut who is also the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order said security measures were in place because violence had plagued the far South for longer than two decades. However, information from local residents could help authorities arrest attackers and informants would be rewarded, he said. The prime minister said that people could send letters to relevant government organisations or directly to him to give useful clues. “This is to get rid of networks behind the violence with legal actions, not with unlawful ones. I have ordered actions against them. I assure that the government views all as Thai people who must be subject to the law. It does not view anyone as a terrorist. They are considered as those who committed crime and violent incidents troubling both Thai Buddhists and Muslims. This is intolerable. In the next six months, I would like all parties to cooperate to stop violence,” the prime minister said. (TNA)