South arrests show we are on track: Boonrawd

Police in Yala's Kabang district detained six suspects yesterday for possessing radio-communication equipment without permission.

Authorities have renewed efforts to tackle militants. More than 300 people have been arrested and detained recently, with many charged with security offences under emergency law.

"We have got many key elements and sympathisers thanks to cooperation and tips from locals," the minister said. "We are on the right track to tackle this problem."

 What the government needs now is to secure the region for sustained peace, he added.

"The best way to sustain peace is to reach out to opponents and talk about what they really want," he said.

But the government will not allow militants their goal of a separate Muslim region, he said. "That's impossible. What we can do is intensive local participation in administration in accordance with their unique religious and cultural characteristics."

Negotiations with militant leaders remain elusive because the state does not know who they are.

Most-wanted suspect Sapae-ing Basoh, a former principal of Thammawatthiya Islamic school, is unlikely to be the person the authorities need to talk to, said Boonrawd. He has told the government he wishes to return to Thailand.

"The government believes there is somebody higher than him," Boonrawd said, adding that this person probably controls all cells in the region.

"We want to talk with the person who can stop violence in the region; talking to others is useless."

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation