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Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh on Tuesday began his visit to the Deep South even though his proposal for granting a form of self-rule, dubbed Nakhon Rat Pattani, drew a flak.

Hundreds of red shirts lined up to welcome Chavalit upon his arrival in Songkhla, the starting point to travel on to the three southernmost provinces.

In circulating his proposal on Monday, Chavalit insisted he did not condone any plans for sedition and secession.

He said he wanted the self-rule to be within the provisions of the Constitution. The objective was to allow the Muslim residents, which constitute the majority in the three southernmost provinces, not to feel marginalised like second-class citizens.

He added that the proposal had no definite details, hence opening for further negotiations.

He did not explain why he chose the word Nakhon Rat, which means a principality.

The Nation