PATTANI, Oct 25 – Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa on Wednesday urged security agencies in the southern border region to work to the best of their abilities to boost confidence among the local residents that authorities could protect them.
Gen Yuthasak and the Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha chaired a meeting with security agencies in the five southern border provinces at Ingayuthaboriharn milirary camp in Pattani. They were briefed about the latest situation, including the recent series of eight insurgent attacks in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district as well as preventive measures on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the Tak Bai incident.
The deputy premier, who supervises national security, urged all relevant agencies to make all efforts to ward off any recurrences of violence and assure the public that the state could take care of them.
He said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra instructed all agencies to exercise restraints and tolerance in enforcing security measures ahead of the Tak Bai incident anniversary on Thursday and during the Eid Al-Adha festival on Friday. The premier’s instruction was meant to prevent insurgents from creating public misunderstanding about the military operations for their own gains.
The government is ready to provide advanced equipment for security personnel, in particular those manning checkpoints to prevent violence, Gen Yuthasak pledged.
Meanwhile, the army chief said he assigned concerned agencies to urgently stamp out oil and drug smuggling, saying these problems make the troubles worse. He threatened to take immediate legal action against any officials found involved in the illegal businesses.
