Deputy PM, Army chief visit South ahead of anniversary

Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), insisted that the government had taken good care of those affected by the incident.
Joining a meeting of related agencies at the Ingkayut Borihan military camp at 10am, Yuthasak and Prayuth thanked officials for their hard work and sacrifice. They urged security officers constantly to check for and eliminate operational weaknesses, and to suggest modifications in checkpoint equipment to boost efficiency.
They urged the governors of the southern border provinces to integrate their work with that of government ministries, and said the Army chief would soon assess the achievements of 66 agencies under 17 ministries.
Although the SBPAC had taken care of Tak Bai victims well, Yuthasak urged officers to be on guard today and also during tomorrow’s Hari Raya Festival, warning that Islamic teachings could be twisted in a bid to foment violence.
While confirming that the government had a policy to negotiate for the surrender of insurgents, and that local officers were working on this, Yuthasak urged authorities to seize illegal traders’ assets and crack down on extortionists. The operators of illegal drug and fuel businesses complicated the security situation by promoting violence to protect their interests, he said.
Prayuth said a special team from Bangkok would arrive soon to help investigate these illegal trades and cases of extortion, adding that those involved would be punished.
At 2pm, he and Yuthasak went to the CS Pattani Hotel to meet with 1,000 Muslim religious teachers in the region to explain the government’s policy, promote their vision for the Asean Economic Community, boost local communities’ cooperation with the state and restore peace to the South.