Army chief will end southern violence with peaceful solutions : Udomdej

He would apply peaceful solutions pioneered in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district to expand his peace-oriented policy in the southern border provinces despite the recent arsons at six local schools in Pattani province.

 People in Thung Yang Daeng district of Pattani understand the government and have been cooperative but security at schools might be weak. That might have led toretaliation against government officials after the arrests of armed (insurgency) leaders. So measures and equipment must be increased. If the Thung Yang Daeng model is successful, it will expand to all other areas," Gen Udomdet said.

 He assured students of the torched schools would have temporary buildings in time for their next school term starting November 3 and repair of the damaged school buildings would be done soon.

 Gen Udomdet said Deputy Education Minister Gen Surachet Chaiwong and he would visit the far South.

 "The transfer of local personnel and commanders has finished. Despite the transition, there is not a problem about their work. I would like the new commanders to have a chance to work. Now most local personnel are local people in the area under the jurisdiction of the 4th Army and only a small number of them came from outside areas," Gen Udomdet said.

 He insisted that peaceful solutions would replace suppression measures at the village level and were aimed at convincing opponents to cooperate with the state.

 "The army will not tolerate the separation of the territory. That is impossible because the constitution makes it clear and local people do not want independence. Besides, other countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation understand the work of Thailand," Gen Udomdet said