BANGKOK, 14 October 2014 Commander of the Fourth Army Area Commander Lt. Prakan Chonlayut has emphasized that the local people in the southern border provinces need to take part in the process to bring peace back to the restive region.
Lt. Prakan said the 4th Army Area Command’s policy in the southernmost provinces would focus on the local people’s participation rather than deployment of army personnel. The policy was in line with the government’s strategies which sought to gain access to the local people and satisfy their needs, said the army official.
More army officers in the southern border provinces would be replaced with civilian forces such as police officers and security volunteers. The army officers who were responsible for security in high-risk areas would be assigned to help develop communities in line with His Majesty the King’s “Understand, Reach Out and Develop” guidelines, Lt. Prakan added.
