If the government had mechanisms to encourage the defection of militants and return them to normal life, it could help improve the situation in the troubled region, Masakree Doloh said.

Masakree was accused of being involved in the storming of a military camp in Narathiwat's Joh I Rong district on January 4, 2004 in which four soldiers were killed and nearly 400 weapons were stolen. He had a Bt500,000 bounty on his head when he fled to Malaysia before surrendering when his situation became too difficult for him.

Masakree was among more than 30 suspects who were charged with treason and being a threat to national security under the Penal Code. His case was dropped as police could not compile sufficient evidence.

"Many Muslims in the region retain their faith in the justice system and believe the law can protect us, so if the amnesty law comes into force it will help bring justice to many people," he said.

Many insurgents were criminals as they used violence to hurt others, but a lot of people who had been forced to join the insurgency and were rarely involved in anything violent, he said.

"The government should give everyone a chance. For those who have done something terribly wrong, the government should allow them the chance stand before the law. But for those who are not directly involved, they should have the chance to clear their names," he said.

Surayud's amnesty suggestion was an attempt to contain the violence in the deep South which erupted after the January 4 raid. The spate of violence has killed more than 2,000 people.

Fresh violence took place yesterday in Yala's Than To district with a village head being injured in a shooting at noon while riding a motorbike home from a meeting downtown. Toleh Alimama, 36, was hit twice in the right leg.

In Narathiwat's Rangae district, a local resident was shot dead while riding his motorcycle. Mapaosee Doloh, 38, was shot in the head and died on the way to hospital.