Government Stepping Up Efforts to Reduce Losses from Southern Violence

(14/12/2012)

The Government is boosting its efforts to reduce losses caused by violence in the southern border provinces. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that the Government would allocate more funds for both development work and security operations in the deep South. Part of the funds would be set aside for projects in response to the needs of local residents. The Prime Minister on 13 December 2012 made an inspection tour of Pattani and other areas in the deep South to listen to complaints by southern teachers, following recent attacks against teachers by perpetrators. The attacks have severely affected the morale of local teachers and other officials. Prime Minister Yingluck said that the Government would consider the proposal by southern teachers on the setting up of a special task force to ensure security and safety for teachers. In the first stage, the Minister of Education was assigned to look into the proposal. The Prime Minister on 11 December chaired a meeting of the Committee on the Mobilization of Southern Border Provinces Policy and Strategies. At the meeting, she stressed the need for all relevant ministries to work in an integrated manner. The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center is responsible for development work, while the Internal Security Operations Command is in charge of security measures. Both agencies have been told to work closely with other related organizations in order to create better understanding among local residents and improve their operations. According to the Prime Minister, more police forces would be posted in the South to help protect local residents. The Government would also provide equipment and other supplies for officials operating in the deep South. She emphasized that His Majesty the King’s wise advice to “understand, reach out, and develop” was adopted as the central guideline for tackling southern problems. Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office Professor Tongthong Chandransu said that the Prime Minister on 30 November 2012 approved the setting up of a task force under the supervision of the Committee on the Mobilization of Southern Border Provinces Policy and Strategies. The task force, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Ubumrung, will facilitate the tackling of southern problems, so that operations will be carried out without delay and in accord with the conditions in local environments. Professor Tongthong Chandransu said that the Prime Minister also told officials concerned to focus on ensuring justice for local residents and showing respect for human rights. As for education, the meeting of the Committee on the Mobilization of Southern Border Provinces Policy and Strategies was of the opinion that education should be separated from development work and that a working group should be formed to handle the issue. The working group will also look into a special curriculum and education system, as well as job opportunities after graduation for southern residents.