Army chief in Yala to prepare for PM's visit

Prayuth was speaking during his visit to the province to prepare for Yingluck’s visit, scheduled for November 22, and to be briefed on the situation in the region, which has been hit by daily violence.
Yingluck is scheduled to chair the opening ceremony of a 1.125-kilometre stretch of the Yala-Betong Highway in tambon Mae Wat. The section runs across the Banglang Reservoir. The Army was assigned to construct the route and completed it within 720 days as planned.
Prayuth said the government and the Army remained concerned about the safety of residents of the province and the region, who continue to suffer from insurgent attacks almost every day.
“At present, there are security problems in the province and it is difficult to ensure 100-per-cent safety as long as some groups of people still want to see violence. I believe some people may support the groups without knowing or understanding the real situation. They may be brainwashed or support the groups because they fear for their safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Yala Islamic Committee member was gunned down on Yaha-Kabang Road in the province as he was riding in a pickup truck to pick up his child in tambon Patae.
Police found the body of Abdullatae Tohdei, 50, in the driver’s seat, riddled with six bullets. Several 11mm cartridges were found at the scene.
An initial investigation showed that the victim was on his way to pick up his children when two men who had been following Abdullatae on a motorcycle fired at him. His vehicle skidded off the road.