The seven districts in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat are listed as “red zone” areas because of the number of attacks that have occurred in them.

The Southern Border Province Peace Building Command will map out a new action plan for the districts of Yaring in Pattani; Yaha, Bannang Sata and Raman in Yala; and Rangae, Joh I Rong and Sungai Padi in Narathiwat, Chidchai said.

District chiefs, the military and police in the districts will be responsible for implementing the plan, he added.

Officials are currently compiling a list of suspected militants in the areas and will enrol them and their supporters in re-education programmes and encourage them to cooperate with the government to contain the violence, he said. He declined to say how many names would be on the list.

The plan will be implemented tomorrow and be evaluated after three months, according to an informed source. Chidchai, who oversees the deep South, will remove officials from the areas if the violence has not abated by January 1.

The move to strengthen operations in the areas follows the hostage drama in Narathiwat’s Ban Tanyonglimo in Rangae district last week, when two marines were seized and beaten to death.

Chidchai was reportedly disappointed with the handling of the situation, accusing officials of being careless, an official close to the deputy PM said. Security officials on the ground had received several warnings not to enter red zones without sufficient back-up.

The two marines entered the village following a shooting at a nearby tea shop and were taken hostage by villagers who believed they were involved in the attack that killed two people and injured four others.

Academics have criticised the handling of command operations at Ban Tanyonglimo, blaming the marines’ deaths on the confusion caused by the involvement of too many parties.

Piyanart Srivalo
The Nation

A senior Foreign Ministry official, who asked not to be identified, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak’s statement confirmed Thailand’s doubts about Kuala Lumpur’s motives and sincerity concerning the sensitive issue.

“One day they pay lip service to non-interference, saying they wish to be of help. But the next day they wildly accuse the Thai government of human-rights violations,” the official said.

“They must know quite well that such accusations will only make our own people in the South mistrust us even more. It is hypocrisy at its best,” added the official who follows Thai-Malaysian relations closely.

The Thai-Muslims crossed over from Narathiwat to Kelantan last month.

The official said Malaysia had institutionalised discrimination between the races within its borders and introduced tough security legislation under which opposition politicians frequently ended up behind bars on a whim without the benefit of due process.

Malaysia yesterday invited the government to discuss escalating violence in Thailand’s mostly Muslim deep South and stop the conflict from straining ties between the two neighbours, according to Reuters.

Speaking at a news conference in Singapore, Najib said the recent decision to allow Thai authorities to interview the 131 Muslims was a way of engaging Thailand to tackle the issue jointly.

“We are very open about any proposals that Bangkok may want to make to us. In fact, if Prime Minister Thaksin or any of the top leaders want to talk to us formally or informally we are available anytime,” Najib, who is also the defence minister, said.

“But at the moment, I agree that we are missing that opportunity,” he added when asked if the continuing violence in the deep South was in part due to the lack of joint efforts between the neighbours to curb the unrest.

Thaksin said it was unnecessary for the leaders of both countries to discuss the matter, as concerned officials could handle it.

Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said yesterday he would visit Malaysia before the end of next month to negotiate the return of the 131 Muslims.

The government will ensure the safety of all Muslims who want to return home, he said.