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Army chief General Anupong Paochinda on Wednesday said the proposed administrative body for the trouble-plagued southernmost provinces would "watch over" the existing agencies, including the army-dominated Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) and the civilian-run Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC).

Anupong did not elaborate on the sticky question over the whether the army will lose its leading role in the deep South. He would only stated that the existing mechanisms will remain in place and that the proposed administrative body will focus on cultural, educational and economic development for the restive region.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said past administrations tend to focus too heavily on security and not enough on other issues, such as cultural space and identity of the local community and promised to return the responsibility in the deep South to the civilians.

The Nation