BANGKOK, Sept 17 – Another batch of southern insurgents will surrender to the authorities in Thailand’s far South within this month, Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa said Monday.
It will be the second defection after the first group of 93 militants gave up to the government last week.
Gen Yuthasak said only three of last week’s 93 defectors will face criminal charges and that wrongdoers will not be exempt from punishment.
The deputy premier said the Fourth Army Region commander has been instructed to explain the situation concerning the defectors to southern people to create better understanding following allegations from some quarters that the mass surrender was a setup.
He said he will travel to the South again when the new group of defectors produce themselves to authorities.
Gen Yuthasak said last week that some of the defectors who turned themselves in were “significant figures” while the Fourth Army Region commander was told to encourage more insurgents to report themselves to authorities.
He added the government has yet to decide if the defectors will be covered by Article 21 of the Internal Security Act
“If we do not implement Article 21, other insurgents may turn against authorities,” he said.
Article 21 of the Internal Security Act states that a wrongdoer who innocuously violates the law and surrenders to the authorities may be allowed to undergo training for the maximum of six months. After the training under conditions set by the court, criminal charges may not be filed against him.
The purpose of the stipulation is to enable a wrongdoer to turn over a new leaf for the sake of the country’s internal security.
