The trip early this week was meant to be a friendly gesture from the soldiers after a spate of violence hit the area. As recently as March 18, three children and several others were hurt by the violence.

Distrust between locals and strangers runs deep in the region. Just the other day, a group of ill-intentioned people dressed up in military uniform to provoke even greater hostility.

Our lensman reported that the first impression was somewhat awkward. The locals were less than welcoming to the visitors. They were peeking out at the group from the windows of their homes.

Some inquisitive children went out to get a better look at the soldiers, but most of them wore veils. Of course, some wore them out of their religious beliefs, but there were obviously quite a number of children - boys and girls - who had donned veils to hide their faces out of concern for the ongoing situation.

They obviously don't know whom to trust now - the troops, the insurgents or the media.

Our photographer realised then that it would be a real bad idea to take pictures of these reluctant hosts.

The soldiers in uniform first were trying to break the ice with these kids. They tried to start up a conversation, but the children seemed shy or scared. They ran away but still followed these visitors steps behind out of youthful curiosity.

The soldiers wore smiles, but their smiles didn't work.

Then they came up with a brilliant idea. No, they didn't give away Bt500 bills like when former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited the region last year. The soldiers took out colourful balloons and blew them up for the youngsters.

The balloon inspiration worked well. The children ran to the soldiers to snatch the colourful balloons, and they couldn't care less about the veils, which by then had already drooped from their faces while they played with the balloons.

Balloons instantly turned the awkward scene into a festive one, with the kids playing with them and grinning at the visitors. Some asked their friends to come out to ask for more balloons from the officers, who well understood the balloons at that moment were more effective tools for winning over the people than were military tanks.

Now our photojournalist had a field day. The children were proudly acting like models with their veils off while holding a colourful balloon. More pictures can be seen at www.oknation.net/blog/samjaw/2007/03/27/entry-1.

And you will see the beauty of the children, who deserve to grow up in a peaceful environment.

jeerawat@nationgroup.com