Security authorities are on the look out for possible violence in the deep South in the build-up to next Sunday's charter referendum.
Sign of the times: A motorcycle taxi rides past a billboard announcing the countdown to the charter referendum on Aug 7. Preparations for the vote are in full swing as the Election Commission hopes for high voter turnout on the day. Photo by Apichit Jinakul
Security has been heightened after a Mazda pickup truck was reported stolen on July 26 in Yala's Muang district, according to a military source in Yala. It is feared the vehicle will be used to instigate violence ahead of the referendum.
Authorities are tracing the stolen vehicle with some reports indicating it might be headed to Yala's Krong Pinang district, said the source.
Intelligence officials have also warned about possible attacks in Yala's Muang district to frighten voters and keep them at home on the referendum day.
Col Terdsak Ngamsanong, deputy chief of Yala Task Force, said security alerts are in place although there are no known targets.
A source said video clips are circulating in the area urging people not to accept the draft charter. The clips, which are allegedly the work of the Wada faction of politicians from the far South, claim those practising Islam will not receive fair treatment under the draft.
Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) spokesman Amorn Wanichwiwatana last week said clips were disseminated in the three southern border provinces with content attacking the draft charter and calling for Muslims in the deep South to reject the draft.
Col Terdsak said that otherwise, authorities have found no irregular activities from political groups in the province.
Meanwhile, Fourth Army commander Lt Gen Wiwat Pathompak insists security in the deep South will not be compromised after troops leave the area.
Troops from the First Army and the Third Army will be pulled out by October, leaving behind only the Fourth Army with 16 battalions, or 30,000 troops. Second Army troops have already started withdrawing.
Since 2007, about 22 battalions have been sent to the three southernmost provinces.
Lt Gen Wiwat said security operations will not be affected by the change.
According to a source, the 46th Army Circle will take over the Pattani Task Force in October. The Yala Task Force, which is under the the Third Army, will be supervised by the Fourth Army Corps.
The 15th Infantry Division will take over the Narathiwat Task Force while the Marines Corps Task Force will also be in charge of security operations in Narathiwat.
The Defence Council has endorsed a plan to set up a locally-recruited naval regiment of "para-marines" to support peace-keeping operations in the restive South.
Para rangers from the three army regions will stay on to support the nine regiments of para rangers set up to take charge of security in the three provinces to accommodate the troop withdrawal. Each regiment has 1,200 personnel.
Forces from the Border Patrol Police remain in charge of Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi districts in Songkhla affected by security unrest.
According to Rear Adm Somkiat Polprayoon, deputy chief of the coordinating centre attached to the Internal Security Operations Command, violence in the deep South has reduced 60% this year, making it the quietest in 12 years since the attacks flared in 2004.