Improving situation in Thai far South foreseen

BANGKOK, May 10 (TNA) - The Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukulpol Suwanatat says he believes that the situation in the violence-plaged Thai far South will improve late this year, as the government has resorted to right solutions. In response to a series of bombings in the troubled Thai deep South lately, Air Chief Marshal Sukulpol told journalists on Friday that the government is trying to minimize such violent incidents and to protect vulnerable areas, especially in the lead-up to the new school term in mid-May. Air Chief Marshal Sukulpol acknowledged that southern border areas under the military protection have remained safe so far, suggesting that about 1,700 police officers who are being deployed in the southernmost Thai region to replace soldiers need times to adjust themselves to the local situation. According to the defence minister, there will not be a military reinforcement in the Thai far South, but police, volunteers and people will join forces to solve problems. The defence minister insisted that the government intends to restore peace in the Thai deep South and the administration is evaluating its solutions, which, he believes, are on the right track, announcing that he will visit the southernmost Thai region every month to follow up operations of the government's security forces. The Thai defence minister assessed that political issues in Malaysia should not affect the next round of peace negotiations between the Thai government, through the National Security Council (NSC), and representatives of insurgent groups, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgency movement, noting, however, that Malaysia is only a facilitator and does not involve in the negotiations, which should take some times. The Thai defence minister revealed that Thailand has also asked Indonesia to help monitor insurgents' movements in the Thai far South, where there are 8-9 active insurgency movements. On the possibility to stop imposing the executive decree on public administration in emergency situations and the martial law in the southern border Thai region, the defence minister cautioned authorities concerned need to consider the situation and listen to opinions from all concerned parties first. (TNA)