Compensation graft claim sparks probe in South

Responding to Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapha’s comments on Wednesday about the existence of such opportunistic people, Yingluck said that if the deputy premier had evidence, the claims must be investigated. She instructed all ministries and provincial governors to find ways to prevent such corruption and stop officials from taking advantage of the people.

Meanwhile, Yutthasak has warned of the possibility of a flare-up in the violence in the deep South during a planned information-gathering visit by representatives of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference early next month.

The deputy premier said he was afraid insurgents were planning to stage more violent incidents during the May 8-11 OIC visit to get the organisation’s attention.

Yutthasak, however, said he had not received any information about who the OIC delegation would visit and talk to, or whether the team planned to visit violence-plagued areas in the South.

The southern unrest is an internal issue, and should be resolved by the country itself, not with help from outsiders, he said. The government would never let the OIC directly intervene in the southern unrest, he said.

A local official was killed yesterday in a shooting in Narathiwat’s Joh I Rong district while on his way to collect forest produce.

The victim was identified as Piak Chuenban, 40, assistant headman of Tanyonglimo village in Rangae district, according to Pol Colonel Prayong Kotsakha, superintendent of Joh I Rong police station.

Joh I Rong police said a gun and 10 spent cartridge cases from an AK-47 assault rifle were found near Piak’s body.