South residents urged to 'help themselves'
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With violent attacks continuing on a regular basis in the far South, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat yesterday urged civilians to "help themselves" and cooperate with the authorities and military.
“We need to mobilise cooperation from all parties, notably those who are in the South, since we cannot obtain sufficient cooperation while the insurgents are changing their targets,” he said.
“Every sector will have to strengthen themselves and some need to help themselves. The military will not lower their guard now, but it needs to be in an offensive mode,” the minister said.
Sukampol yesterday presided over a meeting of the military council, which picked General Daophong Rattanasuwan, the deputy Army commander, as secretary of the newly established Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre.
The centre has been widely criticised for having roles that overlap with operations of many existing agencies in the South.
Yesterday’s meeting follows an arson attack early on Wednesday morning on a Honda car dealership in Pattani, which authorities believe signals a change in tactics by the insurgents, even though it was not the first business to be targeted. Hotels, restaurants, shops and banks across the deep South have all experienced attacks since violence erupted in early 2004.
Yala Governor Dejrat Simsiri instructed agencies and district chiefs to strengthen security at all car and motorbike showrooms. The tightened security was most intense at an Isuzu dealership linked with Senator Anusart Suwanmongkol, owner of the Honda showroom that was torched in Pattani, as well as the CS Pattani Hotel, which has been attacked many times.
In Pattani, the Internal Security Operations Command beefed up its watch in seven business districts, according to deputy spokesman Pramote Prom-in.
He did not specify the exact location of the seven areas.
Pattani has been divided into three areas, with the midtown designated as a safety zone, the province’s outskirts as areas of surveillance and the provincial borders as patrol areas, he said.
A strong military offensive in recent months had damaged the insurgent movement, Pramote said, prompting the insurgents to take action. “The insurgents boosted their operations over the past month to show their power and call attention from the international community,” he said.
