The military-backed government yesterday appointed Pranai Suwannarat as chairman of the revived and revised Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC).

The move won broad if cautious support in the troubled region.

The former Nonthaburi governor was also handed the title of Interior Ministry deputy permanent secretary-general.

Ending violence is a top priority of the post-coup government.

A central plank in that policy was the revival of the SBPAC, the civilian-led agency believed to have played a crucial role in maintaining peace in the deep South since 1981. The agency has been dusted off, given a new name and wider responsibility.

It will be back at work today - known as the Southern Border Provinces Development Centre.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved the body in 2001 shortly after assuming power.

He said it served no useful purpose. Critics claim this move added to tensions and spawned the new wave of separatist violence.

Pranai's appointment won support from institutions in the South. But concerns were raised too.

Private Islamic schools official Abduroni Kahama said Pranai was suited to the job but people would wait to see how effective he was.

"I believe the government has carefully considered its appointment. Besides, he is a brother of the former SBPAC chairman".

A member of the former National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) and of the Yala teachers' federation, Prasit Meksuwan, believed Pranai would have access to information and the experience of older brother Palakorn, former SBPAC chairman. Palakorn was later appointed to the Privy Council.

Prasit remained cautious about the new centre ending strife in the region, however, worrying that the crisis had got out of hand.

A career bureaucrat, Pranai graduated in law from Thammasat University before pursuing post-graduate studies in public affairs at Indiana University in the US.

His sole position in the South before now was a 1985 stint as an assistant district official in Pattani's Sai Buri district. His postings include positions in North and Central Thailand including a spell as district chief at Chiang Mai's Omkoi. He was made governor of Sing Buri in 2003.