New security strategy in the far South

Ten days ago, officials at checkpoints in the deep South started to focused on the convenience of local people in response to a plan designed especially for Ramadan.
Barisan Revolusi Nasional, a group believed to have authority over some insurgent factions in the region, agreed to refrain from any acts of violence during the Muslim holy month. A truce was agreed after BRN engaged in several rounds of peace talks with Thai authorities.
Colonel Banphot Poonpien, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command, said yesterday that the Santisuk 4567 plan was introduced to draw up standard operating procedures for officials working in the deep South during Ramadan.
“We focus on maximising safety via increased defensive measures and enforcement of laws,” he said.
The plan was also designed to provide convenience to people performing religious rites, he said.
Deputy National Police spokesman Pol Col Anuchai Rommayanan said the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre was assigned to support the people’s network in promoting Ramadan as a “Month of Virtue”.
“On defensive measures, we will focus on protecting lives and property,” he said. “For proactive measures, we will search for places where bombs and narcotics are hidden.”
While checkpoints would still to be manned, they would mainly provide convenience – not intercept.
The wave of violence in the deep South has dragged on for nearly a decade. Bloody attacks have caused huge casualties and upset the lives of many locals. In response to the unrest, security agencies have imposed special laws for the region.
Banphot said officials were now planning to reduce the use of special laws in some areas.
“That has already happened in four districts of Songkhla and Pattani’s Mae Lan district. We are mulling the plan to curb their use in more areas,” he said.
Vich Jeerapaet from the Attorney-General’s Office said a unit would be established under Provincial Police Region 9 to handle security cases and top public prosecutors would be sent to the unit. “The cream of the crop will be in charge of security cases especially those involving explosions to ensure cases won’t simply be dropped,” he said.
Authorities have relied on witnesses in most security cases and more than half of the cases are dropped in the end due to the lack of sufficient evidence.
“Some witnesses are reluctant to testify because they are worried about their family’s safety,” he explained.
Police and security agencies should be able to bring wrongdoers to justice, he said. The new unit will start operating on October 1.