Bangkok: “Phumtham” plans to meet with the Chularatchamontri to discuss extinguishing the southern fires. “Phumtham” prepares to meet with the Chularatchamontri to discuss extinguishing the southern fire, orders security agencies to be more proactive, not lax, and to take care of vulnerable groups, and to be careful about using violence because the problems in the area are sensitive.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phumtham Vejjachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, gave an interview on the unrest in the three southern border provinces. Today, General Nattapol Nakphanit, Deputy Minister of Defense, traveled to the South. He said that yesterday, he clearly stated the government’s position and assigned General Nattapol to visit the area to meet and provide encouragement and confirm the government’s position, including surveying the problems and needs and the problematic issues to discuss in detail and solve the problems. Currently, he is talking with all sectors to obtain the facts. During the holidays, he called Lt. Gen. Paisal Noosang, Commander of the 4th Army, to discuss the problems. This is a sensitive matter that cannot be disclosed to the public. He understands the concerns of the people and asked them to wait and see the results after this. However, he asked for time to proceed because many things that were planned cannot be disclosed yet. However, there has been
considerable progress, such as meeting with a facilitator from Malaysia, assigned by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He is coordinating with many sectors. If he talks about it, it may affect relations between states. Therefore, he must be careful. He does not want this kind of result to happen because he does not want this kind of problem to arise. Sometimes, talking about it can be exaggerated from the truth. It will only create problems. I think that within a short period of time, various ideas will be summarized and implemented. Because from now on, there has been a plan for the process of solving problems between the end of May and the beginning of June.
As for the proposal to use the Anti-Terrorism Act because government officials are currently unsafe and may become targets for incidents, Mr. Phumtham stated that there is no such idea. Currently, under the existing law, care can be taken. However, if there is a change or a way to solve the problem in the future, he emphasized that it is something that must be thought carefully. There must be a mechanism and a law to provide confidence to officials who are working. Currently, there is no idea about this.
When asked if there was more emphasis on taking care of the safety of the officers, Mr. Phumtham said that the government has already emphasized it. Currently, the commanding officers have been given reassurance. As for the statement that officers should work proactively, it does not mean going out to fight or kill the perpetrators. Proactive work does not mean sitting in a station. But it is to go and inspect various checkpoints more, not to make it easy to move weapons of war, including sending forces to take care of military units. The people, both Buddhists and Muslims who are vulnerable groups, have been sent to protect them. He emphasized that officers should leave their stations more, not stay in one place and relax, which all parties agreed with.
Mr. Phumtham added that since he had talked with Gen. Pana Klaewplodtook, the army chief, and Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, the national police chief, there was clarity on the matter of launching proactive operations, not letting them stay still, and the most important thing is to reduce the use of violence as much as possible. Today, he will travel to meet Mr. Udom Boonchum, the Chularatchamontri, to discuss solving problems in the southern border provinces.