Overall situation in deep South has improved, says Isoc
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THE overall situation in the deep South has improved and authorities will assess the landscape every three months, Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) spokesman Banphot Poonpien said yesterday.
Banphot said that October, for example, had a relatively low rate of attacks compared to previous years although insurgents still looked for opportunities to strike.
He credited the policy of engaging in dialogue with separatists as a reason the situation has improved.
He said efforts to tackle the unrest under seven working groups covered all dimensions including politics, the military, life-quality development and justice.
Banphot said Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr, the Army chief, had set a goal of reducing the violence by 50 per cent a year.
The operations would be adjusted to use one company from Army Region 1, one company from Army Region 2, three companies from Army Region 3 and 11 companies from Army Region 4.
In related news, village headman Deuraman Pohjibao, 44, and his 16-year-old subordinate were wounded after two men on a motorbike shot at them Yala’s Krong Pinang district yesterday afternoon.
The subordinate returned fire and seriously wound one of the attackers, later identified as Niroyali Kade, 30.
Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, meanwhile, met with Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin during the 14th Indian Ocean Rim Association’s Council of Ministers meeting in Perth.
They discussed bilateral activities including Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s upcoming visit to Malaysia, the annual consultation early next year and the fourth meeting of the Thailand-Malaysia Committee on Joint Development Strategy for border areas, which Malaysia will soon host.
