PM convenes meeting on solutions to Thai far South

BANGKOK, June 6 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra convened security authorities concerned in Bangkok on Thursday morning to discuss solutions to the violence-plagued Thai far South, one day after the Cabinet approved a further 90-day extension of the executive decree imposed in sensitive areas in the Thai deep South. The meeting acknowledged the extended executive decree imposition, proposed by the government’s southern command center, until September 19, 2013, after it expires on June 20. The meeting also considered a proposal on the imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA), instead of the tougher executive decree, in some areas in the southernmost Thai region where the situation has been improving. Besides, the meeting discussed the Thai government’s stances for its ongoing peace process with representatives of insurgent groups in the southern border region, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgency, with the next round of their peace talks set on June 13, which cover a demand for the insurgent side to reduce violent incidents, a promise to facilitate the justice system and continual development projects in the southernmost Thai region. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat told journalists that the roles of the incumbent Secretary-General of the National Security Council (NSC), Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabutr, in the peace negotiations with the insurgent side, would remain intact although the Central Administrative Court recently ordered the reinstatement of an ousted NSC chief, Thawil Pliensri, Lieutenant General Paradorn’s predecessor. Regarding a proposal for the government to stop imposing special laws in the southernmost Thai region, the defence minister suggested that the government listen to feedbacks from local authorities and people first. (TNA)