"This Saturday's visit to the region by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is not just an overnight trip but a signal for a situation turnaround," he said.

Surapon spoke after he and 10 colleagues from leading universities met with Surayud over a working lunch to exchange views on current affairs and how universities could contribute to restore peace in the South.

He said the PM had talked about the southern violence as well as a number of political issues.

On the South, Surayud outlined the completion of preparations to forge reconciliation and social harmony, he said, voicing optimism that the overhaul of security and administrative measures should bring back normalcy.

For universities, there would be more exchange programmes between students from the three southernmost provinces and those from other regions, he said.

Each faculty of medicine will increase admission quotas for southern students so that medical graduates would return to practise in their community, he said.

Surayud informed university rectors about the political activities of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. "I think Surayud has all the information and is on top of the situation," he said.

Mahidol University president Pornchai Matangkasombut said after listening to Surayud's views, he had the impression that the government was on course to steer the country out of political turbulence.

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation