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It is not uncommon for politicians to act irresponsibly in pursuit of self-interest. But few politicians would have the audacity of Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in a sensitive issue that has cost some 4,000 lives. The Pheu Thai Party chairman has said he will be visiting the deep South in the coming days to gather information about the ongoing conflict so that he could help bring peace to the restive region. Pheu Thai MP for Nakhon Phanom, Phaichitr Srivorakhan, said such information would come in handy if and when the party forms the government.

If Chavalit has something up his sleeve, he should do something now. Why wait for more violence and killings to continue just because you are not in the prime minister's seat? But then, looking at his past record, one should not get worked up about his remarks.

This is not to say that Chavalit and his team of cheerleaders (retired military top brass who want to play politics) don't have any business in the deep South. They should make the visit, indeed. Perhaps they just might learn something.

Maybe they will come to the realisation of how immoral it is to seek political gains by gambling with people's lives, especially when one considers that many of the young men who died in the deep South are sons of people from the Pheu Thai's constituency in the Northeast. Unlike the sons of the generals who will be tagging along with him, these young men assigned to the deep South could not afford to bribe their way out of the military draft.

If history is any indication, Chavalit is being true to his old self. In September 2008, he announced publicly that an end to the insurgency in the Malay-speaking South was in sight. He said that starting mid-October there would be a steady decline in insurgent attacks and by December 5 that year violence would come to a complete stop.

The man also took a jab at General Chettha Thanajaro, who made similar claims about the end of the southern insurgency. It was immediately dismissed as a hoax when Chetta got three unidentified men in fake beards and moustaches to announce - in the Thai and Malay languages - an end to a century of fighting with the Siamese.

Chetta provided video footage of three unidentified ethnic Malays who claimed to be spokesmen for 11 unnamed "underground" groups. Perhaps they meant worms, not Malay-Muslim militants.

Many people, including members of the Patani Malay separatist groups living in exile, said they did not know whether to laugh or cry. And as Chettha quickly became a laughing stock, Chavalit saw an opportunity to cash in, hence the September 2008 announcement. But as time went by, the killings never stopped.

Chavalit stepped down as deputy prime minister to accept partial responsibility for the October 7, 2008 clashes in front of Parliament. Two people died and hundreds were injured during the clashes. Political insiders said Chavalit quit because few in the Somchai Wongsawat government gave this washed-up former general the time of day.

Last month, the National Anti-Corruption Commission filed criminal charges against Chavalit, along with ex-premier Somchai Wongsawat and former police chief Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan for their involvement in the October 7 crackdown on the yellow-shirted protesters.

But now Chavalit is back in the spotlight again, saying he is looking to do some good for the country. If Chavalit loves this country the way he says he does, perhaps he should stay away from public service completely.