Defence minister to visit deep south Tuesday
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Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat is scheduled to visit Thailand's insurgency-torn deep South on Tuesday to follow up the situation and boost support to military personnel.
Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol said his visit has been scheduled towards the New Year season to boost the spirit of security personnel deployed in the restive southern border region.
The minister said he believes the situation there will improve, as all concerned agencies understand well the government's policy to tackle violence in the far South.
He said the operations plan would be adjusted in accordance with the situation, as the violence in the deep South is quite complex, while the assailants' operations are dynamic.
“The New Year gift that (we) want to give the public on behalf of the supervisor of security agencies is that (we) will monitor the situation in the restive region to our very best and there will be some changes in the areas soon," the defence minister pledged.
ACM Sukumpol urged the media to use caution in reporting the southern unrest, saying it is a sensitive issue.
More than 5,000 people, including local residents, security officials, monks and insurgents, have been killed since violence erupted in the restive southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat in 2004.
