Border gets B1bn career help fund

SOUTH

Cabinet members responsible for developing the southern border provinces have agreed to allocate more than a billion baht to support career development in nearly 700 border villages.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees national security, said the meeting of ministers yesterday resolved to spend 1,047 million baht to help border villages.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who chaired the meeting, wanted to accelerate the development process in the lower South, Mr Suthep said.

Meanwhile, army chief Anupong Paojinda said security in the southern provinces had been tightened for the New Year holidays.

Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam said security plans were in place for Bangkok and the lower South to prepare for any untoward incidents during the New Year festival.

He had set up a panel to deal with possible unrest and to work with civic groups in keeping an eye on possible troublemakers.

Meanwhile, two defence volunteers were killed and three others seriously wounded yesterday morning in a bomb blast in Pattani. The bomb went off about 8am as a pickup truck carrying defence volunteers was travelling on the Panare -Sai Buri road in Panare district.

Em Yodsri, 53, head of the volunteer team providing protection for teachers, and Anuwat Dermrat, 30, who drove the patrol vehicle, were killed in the explosion. Three other volunteers sustained serious shrapnel wounds. Police said the home-made bomb, weighing at least 15kg, was detonated by a mobile phone.