DPM, army chief visit Thai far South

BANGKOK, July 9 (TNA)- Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa and Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha are visiting the Thai far South Monday to inspect and get first-handed information on the updated situation, covering a recent arrest of 49 Thai nationals for illegal entry by Myanmar authorities. General Yuthasak and General Prayuth were scheduled to be briefed on latest developments by security authorities in Thailand's southernmost Yala and Pattani provinces and to also give them the government's policy guidelines, especially in military affairs. The top Thai security authorities were also set to look into needed budget for the country's southern border region in the 2013 fiscal year, starting from October 1, 2012. The defence minister and the army commander-in-chief were scheduled, as well, to meet chief of the 4th Army Area Command to discuss progress on addressing violence in the insurgency-plagued Thai far South and on assisting the 49 Thais having detained in neighbouring Myanmar on charges of alleged land encroachment for rubber plantations. According to the Thai army chief, all the Thai detainees in Myanmar were confirmed safe and Thai authorities have tried the best to seek their release as soon as possible through talks, acknowledging, however, that the Thai detainees were found carrying weapons when arrested. (TNA)