Bangkok: The Prime Minister praised civil servants and officials of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPC) for their dedication and work in the southern border provinces. Meanwhile, the Islamic boarding school federation and media outlets submitted a letter regarding the 4th Army Region commander's accusation that Islamic boarding schools are breeding grounds for terrorists and information operations (IO) attacks.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as Chairman of the Southern Border Provinces Development Strategy Committee, met with executives, civil servants, and staff of the SBPC who came to receive policy directives. The Prime Minister stated that he wished peace to everyone and expressed his great pleasure in visiting the SBPC. He commended the dedication and sacrifice of everyone working in the three southern border provinces, noting that it was no easy task, solving problems daily, and facing extremely difficult challenges. He added that those without dedication and strong willpower could not endure such a mission and expressed his admiration for their efforts.
Mr. Anutin emphasized the government's full support for their work to achieve progress, peace, and tranquility in the area. He firmly believes in the principle of "peace, tranquility, and unity," which must be achieved, stating that all religions can coexist and everyone is Thai, so they must understand, access, and develop.
He reiterated the desire for peace in the southern border provinces as it can create economic prosperity, generate income, and become a place everyone wants to visit. He acknowledged the long-standing discussions about the situation in the area and the persistent violence. He emphasized the need to build understanding and cooperation, with the government ready to support efforts toward peace.
Following the Prime Minister's meeting with government officials, Ms. Thapanee Eadsrichai, a reporter for the "Sam Miti" program on Channel 3 and founder of The Reporter news agency, submitted a letter of complaint to the Prime Minister. She alleged that she was being attacked and slandered through online media with accusations of being a "criminal journalist" and a spokesperson for the BRN, after she interviewed the commander of the 4th Army Region, even though the news had not yet been publicized.
Ms. Thapanee expressed concern that the attacks targeted not only the media but also various associations in the area, such as the Association of Private Religious Schools, the Association of Islamic Boarding Schools, and the Association of Tadikah Schools. She highlighted the potential danger of inciting hatred, increasing safety risks for those involved, and negatively impacting the peace process in the southern border provinces. Representatives from these associations have submitted a letter to the Prime Minister requesting an urgent investigation and resolution of this issue.
The Prime Minister assured that the government is aware of the problem and will expedite action to address it. He affirmed that physical assault by government officials will not occur, and if it does, it will not be considered an act of the state. He emphasized this point to relevant agencies at a security meeting and acknowledged the demands from various associations and information from the media. He assured that the problem will be resolved quickly.
The Prime Minister then departed from the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPC) to the residence of Mr. Wan Muhammad Nor Nor Matha, the Prime Minister's Chief Advisor, to continue discussions on related issues.