The government is helping low income earners in the restive far South afford homes by encouraging them to shop from a list of land and buildings impounded from owners who were found guilty of committing crimes.
They are part of 208-million-baht worth of properties the Legal Execution Department is preparing to sell off, following settlement of their legal cases last month.
The department is asking the Government Housing Bank to consider granting loans with low interest rates to poor people who are seeking homes and land at prices at less than one million baht, Legal Execution Department chief Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol said Wednesday.
The aim is to reduce disparity between the rich and the poor as well as "discourage villagers from relocating out of the three provinces", she said, referring to the Muslim-dominated provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
The provinces are notorious insurgency hotbeds with separatist groups having carried out numerous attacks, disrupting the lives of villagers and inflicting many casualties since 2004.
The government's primary goal is to ensure people have more security and make them feel secure in housing, which will also help relieve their tensions.
A total of 86 plots of confiscated land, together with buildings, worth 46 million are currently available for sale in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, according to Ms Ruenvadee.
Most of them (45 plots) are in Pattani, followed by Narathiwat (34) and Yala (7).
Their prices range between 500,000 and 1 million baht.
To attract many low income earners, the government will also offer an incentive by reducing the deposit required for the purchases, Ms Ruenvadee added.
Instead of making the first payment of 50,000 baht, they need to pay only 40,000 baht for the properties, she said.
Meanwhile, a roadside bomb attack on Wednesday injured five people in Narathiwat's Chanae district, police said. They said it was likely another attack by insurgents.
A home-made bomb went off as four soldiers and a drug official were travelling in an armoured vehicle on Dusong Yo Road in Moo 1 of Ban Yamu in tambon Dusong Yo.
The five, who sustained minor injuries, were rushed to Chanae Hospital Wednesdaymorning.
Police examining pieces of explosive material at the crime scene found the bomb had been placed in a metal box. The attackers then placed the box by the road and hid in a nearby wood.
According to investigators, military ranger Numuk Hayuwani initially lost control of the vehicle when the bomb exploded, but he recovered and kept on going to avoid any follow up attack by the assailants.
The armoured vehicle eventually stopped about 250 metres away from the blast site.
Police said the group had left Chanae district office to withdraw money from a bank and were on their way to Narathiwat provincial hall to deliver documents when the bomb went off.