FM Kasit seeks lower profile for military in south

While acknowledging security concerns in this violence-plagued region, Kasit urged the governors of the three southernmost provinces and the Southern Border 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 complained about the high presence of the military in public areas, suggesting places such as hotels and supermarkets should be demilitarised zones.

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 cultural differences in the Muslim-majority, Malay-speaking region.

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

He said the government takes seriously the allegation of human rights abuses against the Rohingya boat people on a Thai island on the Andaman Sea, and added he plans to meet ambassadors from Bangladesh, India, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia to address this problem, which should be understood in the wider context of human trafficking.

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 organisations, United Nations agencies and the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

While certain elements abroad may be looking to exploit Thailand's domestic problems for political gain, said Kasit, generally speaking, the regard of the international community towards Thailand is good and positive.

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

 Budget allocations should be decentralised to include local residents, such as women who perform the role of midwife in 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 they were not forgotten.