Chalerm won't talk with rebel bosses in Malaysia

Chalerm won't talk with rebel bosses in Malaysia

NSC chief says trip focus is cooperation on South

Police officers and soldiers take up position during a search for explosives in Ban Raman after local farmers alerted them to suspicious activities in Yala province Tuesday. REUTERS
Police officers and soldiers take up position during a search for explosives in Ban Raman after local farmers alerted them to suspicious activities in Yala province Tuesday. REUTERS

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung's visit to Malaysia will not involve talks with southern separatist leaders, National Security Council (NSC) chief Paradon Pattanathaboot said Tuesday.

Chalerm Yubamrung

He said the three-day visit ending tomorrow is to seek Malaysia's cooperation in tackling the separatist movement in Thailand's deep South.

Lt Gen Paradon, speaking before leaving for Malaysia Tuesday, said the cooperation would focus on a broad bilateral engagement. The visit's agenda would not include meetings with separatist leaders, he said.

The delegates are due to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Thursday and they will request the Malaysian leader's help in resolving the southern unrest.

Malaysia will be asked for broad cooperation, as in-depth work to restore peace in the far South was already under way.

"If we look at the success in solving Malaysian insurgencies in the past, credit can be given to Thailand's cooperation," Lt Gen Paradon said.

"Similarly, success in solving unrest in Thailand's southernmost provinces requires cooperation from Malaysia."

In Yala Tuesday, security forces were mobilised to inspect a hole in the middle of a local road. They suspect insurgents planned to plant a bomb in the hole.

Residents spotted the hole in Ban Joh Leemat of tambon Asong in Raman district Tuesday morning.

Security officials later arrived and found the hole was filled with sandbags and dirt. A long wire was found near the site.

Authorities believe that separatists planned to attack the teacher-escort team travelling to, or from, Ban Bukeh Buerangae School, located about 500m away.

In neighbouring Songkhla, the army returned security duties in Chana and Na Thawi districts to provincial authorities Tuesday. The area has gone six months without an attack.

Songkhla governor Krissada Boonrat said that although soldiers had withdrawn from the two districts, they were ready to assist provincial authorities in any emergency situation.

Meanwhile in Narathiwat, Maroyaning Yusohmayu, 34, was shot while riding his motorcycle on the Ban Taya-Jakwa road in tambon Suwaree of Rueso district about 12.45pm Tuesday. The tambon Suwaree resident was shot once in his left thigh and was taken to Rueso Hospital.

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