Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to officially introduce the chief negotiator on peace talks with separatist groups in the deep South during his trip to Malaysia early next month.
Gen Aksara, who is chairman of the army's advisory panel and a former army chief-of-staff, has been appointed as chief negotiator amid rumours that the Malaysian government preferred to have a civilian leading the talks.
An agreement on peace cooperation between the government and all insurgent groups will also be signed during the one-day trip, an army source said.
The main objective of Gen Prayut's trip to Malaysia is to introduce himself as the new premier, the source said. However, tensions in the South are high on the agenda, especially Malaysia's role as facilitator of the peace talks.
"During this trip, the agreement on peace talks in the deep South will be signed by the government and all southern insurgent groups. So far, the Barisan Revolusi Nasional and Patani United Liberation Organisation have said they will sign the agreement," the source said.
Negotiating teams will also be cut from 15 to 10 people, consisting of representatives from government agencies including the Foreign Ministry, National Security Council, Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), National Intelligence Agency and Army Region 4.
Gen Prayut will go ahead with the trip to Malaysia which was earlier postponed due to the busy schedules of both himself and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, said government spokesman Maj Gen Weerachon Sukontapatipak yesterday.
Details of discussions have been worked out by both sides and the deep South issue will definitely be on the table, he said.
Army chief Udomdej Sitabutr expressed regret and offered his condolences to those who were recently killed as a result of the insurgency in the deep South and said the authorities will award compensation to those affected as soon as possible, Isoc spokesman Banpot Poolpian said.
"This brutality is unacceptable and deserves condemnation. The authorities will hunt down wrongdoers and bring them to justice," Col Banpot said.
Pol Col Kornpong Panichprasert, chief of Khok Pho district police, said investigators are collecting evidence on the killing of teacher Issara Chairitchok, who was shot dead at her house in Pattani yesterday.
Police are close to concluding whether the shooting was in retaliation for a security raid on Pattani's Nong Chik district early on Friday in which two insurgents were killed and five were arrested, Pol Col Kornpong said.
Southern Teacher's Federation president Boonsom Thongsriprai admitted the shooting had dented the morale of local educators, adding that female teachers are increasingly being targeted.
He called on police to protect the people most vulnerable to insurgent attacks.
"We have to prevent loss of life. Teachers have to be more careful and security officers must monitor the situation and keep adjusting their security plans," Mr Boonsom said.