• 
• 
• 

While acknowledging security concerns in this violence-plague region, Kasit urged the governors of the three southernmost provinces and the Southern Boarder Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) to look for ways to help change that perception.

Taking part in the meeting were Thai ambassadors from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore.

 Local residents interviewed by The Nation often complaint about the high presence of the military in public domain, suggesting places such as hotels and supermarket should be demilitarize zone.

 Recently, this reporter witnessed a soldier walking though a local supermarket, toting an M16 rifle with a grenade flopping around his flak jacket.

 Pointing to the high number of checkpoints along the roads, Kasit said he was concerned that outsiders would equate the region to Gaza, a Palestinian territory recently invaded by the Israeli army.

 During his two-day visit to the restive region, Kasit urged government officials, especially those working on the ground, to be more sensitive to the cultural differences in the Muslim-majority, Malay-speaking region.

 He reminded them that world community is watching and that their utmost concern is the issue of human rights abuses.

Thailand is obligated to engage and explain "development and progress", not just to the rest of the country, but also to the international community, including human rights organizations, United Nations agencies and the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

 While certain elements abroad may be looking to exploit Thailand's domestic problem for poetical gains, said Kasit, generally speaking, the intention of the international community towards Thailand is good and positive.

 Kasit also urged stronger cooperation between stage agencies and local community, calling for more outsourcing of activities to local community and non-governmental organization, saying this could be one way to strengthen trust between the state and the local community.

 Budget allocations should be decentralized to include local residents, including women who could perform the role of midwife for their respective villages, Kasit said.

  When asked about the 130 ethnic Malay Muslims who fled their home from Narathiwat for northern Malaysia, Kasit vowed to look into the matter but reminded the public that they are not forgotten.