Deputy PM and army chief visit Pattani

They are visiting Pattani to follow up policy implementation and to integrate works to ease continuing violence in the deep southern provinces as well as to give policy guidelines to local security personnel.

In addition, the trip is also aimed to listen to problems related to operations to tackle the unrest.

Speaking before heading to Pattani, Gen Prayuth explained that drug and contraband goods problems were major factors which have caused the ongoing violence in the region.

Meanwhile, retaliation by suspected insurgents against government officials resulted from drug sweep operations, the army chief said. He added that drug rings have linked with syndicates of suspected insurgents. Gen Prayuth said that the connections between drug smuggling and suspected insurgent groups were a major problem which made it difficult to solve the disturbances.

Regarding troop withdrawals from the violence-plagued southern zones, Gen Prayuth said the military personnel were ready to withdraw from the areas only if all concerned agencies were 

able to handle the situations.

He argued that police and village defence volunteers on their own are unable to cope with the 

violent incidents.

On March 13, the Cabinet approved further extension of the emergency decree in the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat for another three months.

The resurgence of the insurgency in the far South in 2004 has claimed more than 5,000 lives of residents, government officials and suspected insurgents themselves.